A collection of quotes to make you laugh and make you think in equal measure this week:
"Today the world changes so quickly that in growing up we take leave not just of youth but of the world we were young in"
- Peter Medawar
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is"
- Sir Francis Bacon
"If you believe everything you read, you better not read"
- Japanese Proverb
"Creationists make it sound like a 'theory' is something you dreamt up after being drunk all night"
- Isaac Asimov
"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity"
- Albert Einstein
"When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes"
- Desiderius Erasmus
"I believe that when I die I shall rot, and nothing of my ego will survive. I am not young, and I love life. But I should scorn to shiver with terror at the thought of annihilation. Happiness is none the less true happiness because it must come to an end, nor do thought and love lose their value because they are not everlasting"
- Bertrand Russell
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by"
- Douglas Adams
"Books are useless! I only ever read one book, "To Kill A Mockingbird," and it gave me absolutely no insight on how to kill mockingbirds! Sure it taught me not to judge a man by the colour of his skin...but what good does that do me?"
- Homer Simpson
:)
Friday, October 9, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Those Who Can.
There’s an old school of thought that mostly seems to be ignored in this day and age.
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
It’s a principle that can be applied to so many aspects of life, from hitting someone upside the head, to shattering someone’s illusions. It’s application is far reaching and should, in my humble opinion, be more widely used.
Upon consideration, it’s lead me into some interesting areas of thought. I won’t spend too long on it tonight, but here are my initial reflections on the subject:
Let’s start with a simple and well known fictional example. Jurassic Park. In that film, one fantastically cynical Doctor Ian Malcolm states, in one of many humours one-liners “Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.”
He was correct of course, as proven by the mass death caused by the carnivorous reptilian assailants that stalked he and his comrades across the island.
Lets remove the dinosaurs and insert any untested and potentially dangerous scientific development.
Whilst I am totally in favour of scientific advancement for the betterment of mankind, there are many examples of advancement that are far from bettering the world.
It is in those cases, such as the development of weapons, that the people behind them, those who realise they CAN, need to stop and question if they SHOULD.
What do they gain from it? A bigger stick than the next guy? Another means of destruction? Another stepping stone towards the desolation of mankind?
To take a more socially applicable view of the point, let us take a childhood staple for a lot of people across the world.
Santa Claus.
You know dear Cringle is not of the corporeal. Yet on the 24th of December his coming is anticipated by those younger than us, filling them with excitement and the wonder of the season. For a few scant years of youth, on that night, they believe in magic. A man will deliver toys and reindeer will fly through the sky, no matter what Mister Newton and his laws say.
You could easily ruin it though, couldn’t you? Take the children aside and tell them the truth of the matter. Shatter their ideals of that magic with the cold hard slap of reality.
You could.
Should you?
I’d say no. Let them have their illusion, their magic, their wonder. The future will have enough for them to contend with.
That very concept can be expanded further, beyond the boundaries of childhood.
If someone believes in something that is not damaging to them or those around them, that you know, for a fact, is untrue, should you ‘enlighten’ them?
Despite my stance for truth and justice and all that, I still firmly believe that sometimes all we need is a good lie!
I can hear some of you out there scoffing at that, but think about it. It has been medically documented that the placebo affect can have positive affects on a sick individual. In fact, the mere belief that they are going to be ok, can significantly enhance a patients recovery.
There are a million example of what one can do and what one should do, just as there are a million examples of moments when the ‘good’ and the ‘kind’ thing are two different things.
It’s complicated at best and completely baffling at worst.
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
Just because you should doesn’t mean you can.
Just because it’s good doesn’t mean it’s kind.
Just because you know that, doesn’t make it easier to make up your mind.
I need a coffee.
-K
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
It’s a principle that can be applied to so many aspects of life, from hitting someone upside the head, to shattering someone’s illusions. It’s application is far reaching and should, in my humble opinion, be more widely used.
Upon consideration, it’s lead me into some interesting areas of thought. I won’t spend too long on it tonight, but here are my initial reflections on the subject:
Let’s start with a simple and well known fictional example. Jurassic Park. In that film, one fantastically cynical Doctor Ian Malcolm states, in one of many humours one-liners “Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.”
He was correct of course, as proven by the mass death caused by the carnivorous reptilian assailants that stalked he and his comrades across the island.
Lets remove the dinosaurs and insert any untested and potentially dangerous scientific development.
Whilst I am totally in favour of scientific advancement for the betterment of mankind, there are many examples of advancement that are far from bettering the world.
It is in those cases, such as the development of weapons, that the people behind them, those who realise they CAN, need to stop and question if they SHOULD.
What do they gain from it? A bigger stick than the next guy? Another means of destruction? Another stepping stone towards the desolation of mankind?
To take a more socially applicable view of the point, let us take a childhood staple for a lot of people across the world.
Santa Claus.
You know dear Cringle is not of the corporeal. Yet on the 24th of December his coming is anticipated by those younger than us, filling them with excitement and the wonder of the season. For a few scant years of youth, on that night, they believe in magic. A man will deliver toys and reindeer will fly through the sky, no matter what Mister Newton and his laws say.
You could easily ruin it though, couldn’t you? Take the children aside and tell them the truth of the matter. Shatter their ideals of that magic with the cold hard slap of reality.
You could.
Should you?
I’d say no. Let them have their illusion, their magic, their wonder. The future will have enough for them to contend with.
That very concept can be expanded further, beyond the boundaries of childhood.
If someone believes in something that is not damaging to them or those around them, that you know, for a fact, is untrue, should you ‘enlighten’ them?
Despite my stance for truth and justice and all that, I still firmly believe that sometimes all we need is a good lie!
I can hear some of you out there scoffing at that, but think about it. It has been medically documented that the placebo affect can have positive affects on a sick individual. In fact, the mere belief that they are going to be ok, can significantly enhance a patients recovery.
There are a million example of what one can do and what one should do, just as there are a million examples of moments when the ‘good’ and the ‘kind’ thing are two different things.
It’s complicated at best and completely baffling at worst.
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
Just because you should doesn’t mean you can.
Just because it’s good doesn’t mean it’s kind.
Just because you know that, doesn’t make it easier to make up your mind.
I need a coffee.
-K
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Smelling the Roses
I spent my time in the company of a good friend yesterday, talking as the sun went down and dancing in the cold, harsh light of it’s rise.
It was a wonderful time, full of deep thought, humour and comfortable silences and I realised, as the sun rose and I walked my way back along the river bank towards my transport home… that these where the moments I should treasure.
For some reason or other, people think the only worthwhile moments are the huge ones. The weddings, the funerals, the parties. The extravagant moments. The spectacle.
This has led me here, to this moment, where I feel I must point out something very simple:
Learn to take joy in the smaller things.
It’s not about flashes and bangs and wonder and awe… the best parts of life are being in good company, having interesting conversations, laughing at 8am after an all nighter for no reason other than you didn’t want the night to end.
It’s about smiling to yourself at the clink of a tea spoon as you put the sugar in your tea and then go relax in front of a television for a bit or waking up to the sound of people you love starting their day.
Life is not always easy. It can get very dark, very cold and more than a little tough. There will never be enough spectacular moments to counter that… so I urge you, appreciate what happens everyday. The little intricate things that make up the day. The things we take for granted. The people around you. The way the rivers look from one moment to the next. The fact that the sky is just the right shade of blue. Everything.
Go dance in the sun rise, laugh in the rain and talk the night away with someone you care about.
Say what you’re thinking. Run, because you want to, not because you have to. Walk because you can and you don’t want to just pass everything by. Listen to the world around you and appreciate its sound. Call up a friend and ask them about their day.
Do something other than wait for the next big event.
Make the fact that you’re alive and can experience the world the event.
Make your life the event.
You’ll be better for it.
We all will.
-K
It was a wonderful time, full of deep thought, humour and comfortable silences and I realised, as the sun rose and I walked my way back along the river bank towards my transport home… that these where the moments I should treasure.
For some reason or other, people think the only worthwhile moments are the huge ones. The weddings, the funerals, the parties. The extravagant moments. The spectacle.
This has led me here, to this moment, where I feel I must point out something very simple:
Learn to take joy in the smaller things.
It’s not about flashes and bangs and wonder and awe… the best parts of life are being in good company, having interesting conversations, laughing at 8am after an all nighter for no reason other than you didn’t want the night to end.
It’s about smiling to yourself at the clink of a tea spoon as you put the sugar in your tea and then go relax in front of a television for a bit or waking up to the sound of people you love starting their day.
Life is not always easy. It can get very dark, very cold and more than a little tough. There will never be enough spectacular moments to counter that… so I urge you, appreciate what happens everyday. The little intricate things that make up the day. The things we take for granted. The people around you. The way the rivers look from one moment to the next. The fact that the sky is just the right shade of blue. Everything.
Go dance in the sun rise, laugh in the rain and talk the night away with someone you care about.
Say what you’re thinking. Run, because you want to, not because you have to. Walk because you can and you don’t want to just pass everything by. Listen to the world around you and appreciate its sound. Call up a friend and ask them about their day.
Do something other than wait for the next big event.
Make the fact that you’re alive and can experience the world the event.
Make your life the event.
You’ll be better for it.
We all will.
-K
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