Quote from austinp:
For awhile this gossip topic was interesting to me. Now it's run the course. In all reality, what impact does VN have on any of our lives? None. What do we stand to gain = benefit from his ascent and/or demise? Nothing.
His demises collectively represent an object lesson on the dangers of hubris. Pride goeth before a fall, said Solomon. (Then again, this is a guy who married well over a hundred women, which seems a bit much considering it's enough of a challenge to deal with just one, thank you).
I re-read Roger Lowenstein's book on LTCM once a year for that very reason.
Brains do not necessarily translate into long-term success in this business, and the "big boys" can fall just as readily as the small fry (they just make more noise when they fall, since they're so big).
These are truths that cannot be reinforced enough.
Success can breed confidence, and confidence can bring forth arrogance.
Everyone has it within themselves to do serious damage to their accounts.