Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge. – Plato
In addition to being connected to the world by three degrees, three is the average number of tries it takes to connect with someone new. If you don’t hear back from someone the first time, assume it got lost in an inbox or cyberspace. If you don’t hear back a second time, assume they were out of town or otherwise engaged. When you engage the third time, you’ll pique their curiosity with your persistence; they’ll be grateful you’ve made it easy for them to respond.
I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. – Lao Tzu
There is science and art behind the number three. Threes appear in art and photography (the rule of thirds), in nature (Fibonacci’s sequence), in math (triangles), and in religion (the Holy Trinity). In design, the rule of three applies to the number of colors in a room and the number of different fabrics used. There is nothing sturdier than a three-legged stool, and the third time’s a charm.
The rule of three (or thirds) is so common that it often appears without us realizing it. When we list things in series, we often do so in threes (red, white, and blue). Many popular brand logos incorporate the idea of three, like Mercedes, Adidas, and Pepsi. Look around – you’ll see threes everywhere.
Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. – Joseph Addison
