Modern Ronin Reflections is a collection of essays on engineering, learning, discipline, and life from Dr. Jack Yeh, exploring the mindset of a modern-day ronin.
Modern Ronin Reflections
Over the past few years, I’ve come to realize something: Competition often means imitation. When people compete, they are usually doing the same thing—just trying to run faster on the same track. Venture capitalist Peter Thiel once said: “Competition is for losers.” At first, that statement sounds arrogant.
Modern Ronin Reflections
To me, clothing is not about chasing fashion. It’s about finding the one piece that truly fits you. Our body is already the best work of art in the world. Good clothes simply highlight the shape, the character, and the presence that already belong to you. That’s why
Modern Ronin Reflections
Over the past few years, I have experienced a significant shift in my thinking. Earlier in my life, I strongly identified with grand national narratives. I believed that the unity and strength of a nation or culture were ideals that should naturally be protected. But over time, through reading, observation,
Modern Ronin Reflections
Many philosophical discussions today are filled with grand narratives. They speak endlessly about nations, civilizations, ideologies, and humanity. But very often, these conversations become empty. If a person cannot even manage his own life—if he is constantly troubled, anxious, or lost—then speaking about saving the world or defending
Modern Ronin Reflections
Refinement is simply compounding in disguise. The Japanese spirit of craftsmanship shows this clearly. A craftsman does not chase dramatic breakthroughs. Instead, he improves his craft little by little, day after day. Each small improvement may appear insignificant. But over time, these improvements compound into mastery. In many ways, this
Modern Ronin Reflections
Many people write autobiographies. But the details of a life are rarely transferable. Different backgrounds. Different eras. Different opportunities. Reading someone else’s life story does not necessarily teach you how to live your own. From the perspective of information theory, the problem becomes clearer. Autobiographies often have low information
Modern Ronin Reflections
We often say that time is scarce. But in the modern world, something may be even more scarce than time: attention. We live in an age flooded with information. News, social media, endless content — and with it, endless noise. The real problem today is not the lack of information. It
Modern Ronin Reflections
Many people believe that since the Industrial Revolution, human identity has become increasingly defined by occupation. A person’s job is no longer just a way to make a living. It becomes a label. Over time, many people begin to believe that this label is who they are. And when
Modern Ronin Reflections
Discomfort and frustration are not obstacles to growth — they are part of the process. Learning to accept them, and even becoming comfortable with them, is what allows continuous improvement and long-term compounding. From my personal experience, compounding growth is often counterintuitive to human nature. Most people naturally seek comfort and
Modern Ronin Reflections
A strap often interrupts that clarity. That’s why I prefer a hand-carried bag. It may be less convenient, but it preserves the discipline of the silhouette. To me, style is not display. It is restraint and proportion. 男裝的關鍵在於線條與比例。 背帶往往會打斷這種俐落感。 所以如果需要帶包，我更喜歡手提包。 它或許不那麼方便，但能保持造型的簡潔與平衡。 對我來說，風格不是炫耀，而是克制與比例。
Modern Ronin Reflections
I have noticed that many people simply stop caring about their appearance and their body. They stop exercising, stop grooming themselves, and slowly become indifferent to how they present themselves. But I believe that a sense of beauty and self-care are deeply important. If a person cannot appreciate the person
Modern Ronin Reflections
I believe that the pursuit of beauty and elegance should begin the moment we become conscious of ourselves, and continue until the day we leave this world. Beauty and elegance are not merely superficial decorations. They are, in many ways, a resistance against entropy. Without conscious effort, people naturally drift