Aphorisms. I can’t figure out if I like them or hate them. I suppose the answer is, banally enough, that I like the good ones and the bad ones not so much.
I spotted one I do like a lot. Of course it’s on Twitter; where else would it be? (It’s a funny thing but just a few days ago I heard someone on NPR grumbling about “being told what entrée you chose.” Come on. I was born just as the Vikings invaded Britain and even I know that’s not what Twitter is. There is plenty of random chatty personal stuff, sure, but there are also many many other categories, including fomenting revolution and organizing protests outside the Dáil. And for that matter random personal chatty items have their value, and clever people can make them into an art form, which we might not have known if Twitter hadn’t come along. Stop griping.) It’s Neil deGrasse Tyson.
If the world is something you accept rather than interpret, then you’re susceptible to the influence of charismatic idiots.
It says a lot. There are many things that could follow the first eleven words. I might make mine “…you miss out on a great many ways of understanding.” You?
“…then I have a bridge to sell you.”
“…then DON’T eat any wild mushrooms you gather.”
“…then, no need to read it, just sign on the dotted line.”
“…please don’t drive.”
“…don’t go to a Catholic priest for private counseling.”
“…expect to have a LOT of children.”
I have to apologize for that little matter. It seemed like a good idea at the time and we didn’t think anyone would object.
“If you always accept rather than interpret the world, your mind will be so rested you might as well be brain dead.”
“If you sometimes accept rather than interpret the world, you’ll have spoons left to do a better job interpreting the rest.”
“If you’re good at deciding when to interpret the world and when to accept shortcuts, that’s a good first step.”
“If the world is something you accept rather than interpret, then your teacher will make you finish your science fair project.”
If the world is something you accept rather than interpret, then you’re susceptible to the influence of charismatic idiots.
Works with ‘word’ too.