normative

Optimal rate of failure is greater than zero

In most domains the optimal rate of failure is greater than zero; if you never fail you may not be trying hard enough or taking on big enough things, so 'under-failing' can itself be a failure — but this depends on the cost of failure, which is high for those living month-to-month and lower when resources allow risk.

normativepending

Speaker

Amanda Askell

Evidence Quote

if the optimal rate of failure is often greater than zero, then sometimes it does feel like you should look at parts of your life and be like, are there places here where I’m just under-failing?

Source

Dario AmodeiLex Fridman Podcast
Created: 6/13/2026, 3:36:36 AM

My Notes

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