Statistics

"A Contribution to Statistics" by Polish poet and Nobel laureate Wislawa Szymborska

"Out of every hundred people:
Those who always know better-- fifty-two
Doubting every step-- nearly all the rest
Glad to lend a hand if it doesn't take too long-- as high as forty-nine
Always good because they can't be otherwise--four, well maybe five
Able to admire without envy-- eighteen
Suffering illusions induced by fleeting youth-- sixty, give or take a few
Not to be taken lightly-- forty and four
Living in constant fear of someone or something -- seventy-seven
Capable of happiness-- twenty-something tops
Harmless singly, savage in crowds-- half at least
Cruel when forced by circumstances -- better not to know even ballpark figures
Wise after the fact-- just a couple more than wise before it
Taking only things from life—thirty (I wish I were wrong)
Hunched in pain, no flashlight in the dark-- eighty-three sooner or later
Righteous -- thirty-five, which is a lot
Righteous and understanding -- three
Worthy of compassion -- ninety-nine
Mortal-- a hundred out of a hundred. Thus far this figure still remains unchanged."

Thanks to Rob for this and so many other words of wisdom.