> “When faced with two choices, flip a coin. When it’s in the air, you’ll know which side you’re hoping for.” —Former gangster Arnold “The Brain” Rothstien
In the TV series Boardwalk Empire, he said that. I can't find any evidence he ever said it in real life.
In the TV series Boardwalk Empire, he said that. I can't find any evidence he ever said it in real life.
However, the poet Piet Hein did:
Stejler man foran et vanskelig valg
og vil ha det afgjord prompte,
er det et såre fornuftigt princip
at platte og krone om det.
Ikke at valget skal ske pr. hazard,
i mens man selv sidder og måber
men: lige når mønten er kastet til vejrs
så ved man precis, hvad man håber.
(His own translation:
Whenever you’re called on to make up your mind,
and you’re hampered by not having any,
the best way to solve the dilemma, you’ll find,
is simply by spinning a penny.
No – not so that chance shall decide the affair
while you’re passively standing there moping;
but the moment the penny is up in the air,
you suddenly know what you’re hoping.)