kennethreitz.org/data/values.md

# A Concise List of Personal Values

This is a concise list of my personal values. I iterate on them, from time to time.

- Trust and verify.<label for="sn-trust" class="margin-toggle sidenote-number"></label>
<input type="checkbox" id="sn-trust" class="margin-toggle"/>
<span class="sidenote">Adapted from Reagan's approach to nuclear treaties, this applies to code reviews, relationships, and any system where verification protects trust.</span>
- As above, so below.<label for="sn-hermetic" class="margin-toggle sidenote-number"></label>
<input type="checkbox" id="sn-hermetic" class="margin-toggle"/>
<span class="sidenote">The Hermetic principle suggesting patterns repeat at different scales—from code architecture to cosmic structures, from personal healing to societal change.</span>
- Creativity is crafted from strife.
- Full, 180° turns are encouraged.
- Communicate intent, always. Never stop.
- Life is not a race, but there's no speed limit either.
- Watch yourself closely and learn from your mistakes.
- Reality exists, regardless of your emotional support of it.
- There's a big difference between judgement and discernment.
- [Fallibilism](/essays/2009-01-fallibilism) over certainty—knowledge can be improved, beliefs can be wrong.
- Organize for peacefulness, love others, and craft meaningfulness — always.
- Negative atmospheres are toxic. Remove yourself from them.
- All things in the Universe are self–referential in Nature.
- Drink copious amounts of water—every day.
- Often, the best way to learn is to teach.
- Everything is an expression of its opposite.
- Please be cordial, or please be on your way.
- Everything's going to be okay.
- Be gentle with yourself.
- Inspire. Stay inspired.


*Attention is the only currency we have in life. Thanks for gifting me yours.*

---

## Related

- **[Worldview](/worldview)** - The deeper philosophical framework behind these values, informed by fifteen years of building technology and living transparently with mental health challenges.