The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him.
Who said this? Conceptually, it is not difficult to understand the point this quote is trying to make. But the quote raises several arguable points: 1) does it matter the slow witted man had formed any ideas? it seems more important that this slow witted man we have is open to new ideas. 2)Who is trying to explain to the most intelligent man? if we have a most intelligent man wouldnt it be true that the simplest things are already clear to him and that indeed it is the less intelligent person who is trying to explain to him who is unclear about what is going on?
ReplyDeletelol
Thanks for keeping this alive Jere. Time soon for me to put some effort.
Hmm... to me i read it more as a metaphor than in a literal sense. The intelligent man is the man who thinks he is more intelligent than everyone else, hence in the literal sense he is the arrogant man, thinking his ideas/understanding are set in stone/or the only way to think/do things. the slow witted man is the man who is humble and willing to take in alternative opinions.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes you're right. lol. I just exposed to the world how uncultured and dense I am. D=
ReplyDeletefour of us are not the world.
ReplyDeleteYour dirty secrets are safe with us.