This idea comes from stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius, who wrote in Meditations:

“Most of what we say and do is not essential. Eliminate it, you’ll have more time and more tranquility. Ask yourself, is this necessary.”

So why don’t more people follow this advice?

John Maynard Keynes offers an explanation in The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money: “Worldly wisdom teaches that it is better for reputation to fail conventionally than to succeed unconventionally.”