Welcome to today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day, where we move from the wisdom of railroad tycoons to the wretchedness of marshmallow-based confections. Today, we’ll explore Cornelius Vanderbilt’s curious take on education and dive headfirst into a sugary showdown between Peeps, Candy Corn… and yes, the unspeakable circus peanuts. You’ve been warned.
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Thought of the Day: “If I had learned education I would not have had time to learn anything else.” – Cornelius Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt wasn’t against learning. He was against wasting time only learning. And maybe he had a point—after all, no one ever railroaded their way to success sitting in a seminar on 19th-century accounting. He was building, failing, trading, hustling.
This quote resonates in a world where people sometimes wait for permission to start. We often think we need more credentials, more training, more… something. But what if the most valuable lessons are waiting outside the classroom?
I’ve learned the hard way that experience is a tough but honest teacher. Life throws pop quizzes when you least expect them, and it grades on a brutal curve. But that’s how growth happens—not through perfect plans, but through imperfect action.
Curious about embracing uncertainty and learning through experience? Read “Life Finds a Way” or this reminder that “You can’t change the length of your life, but you can change its depth.”
Question of the Day: What’s a worse candy—Peeps or Candy Corn?
This question may seem lighthearted, but the emotions it stirs? Deeply personal. Ask this at a dinner party, and you may not be invited back.
Let’s start with Peeps: somehow both too sweet and utterly flavorless, like a sugar-coated betrayal. Their texture is confusing, their faces are haunting, and they never seem to go bad, which is… concerning.
Then there’s Candy Corn: a seasonal tradition wrapped in nostalgia, yet unmistakably the flavor of disappointment. It’s the candy equivalent of a decorative gourd—nice to look at, horrible to consume.
But wait—just when you thought the candy debate hit rock bottom, along comes the true villain: Circus Peanuts.
Who—who—decided banana-flavored foam was what the people wanted? I refuse to believe this was created with joy in mind. Circus peanuts are what happens when a packing peanut goes rogue and tries to pass as dessert. It’s like eating insulation that lost a bet.
And yet… somehow they still exist. Sold in bulk bins. Bright orange. Always suspiciously soft. Are they even candy? Are they legally food? These are the questions that haunt me more than the Peeps’ dead little eyes.
This discussion isn’t just about candy—it’s about what we accept and why. Sometimes we cling to things out of habit, not because they’re actually good for us. (Looking at you, stale life choices… and circus peanuts.)
For more divisive food takes, check out this question about your least favorite song or this post on least favorite candies.
So what do you think—was Vanderbilt a misunderstood genius or just lucky? And which candy is the worst offender: the Peep, the Corn, or the Peanut that should never have been? Leave a comment with your take, and if you haven’t yet, sign up for the daily email to get more food for thought (and less actual candy) delivered to your inbox every morning.
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