Wisdom.

[ducktrapper]

Problem solved. 

There was a problem? This ain't the Taylor Forum. 

[StringPicker6]

Hahaahaha!! For some bizarre reason, I have never played a Taylor. I don't know why, but I have no interest in them.  Maybe it's the larrivee effect: it's like I have steak at home, why would I want to go out for a hamburger?

[ducktrapper]

Hahaahaha!! For some bizarre reason, I have never played a Taylor. I don't know why, but I have no interest in them.  Maybe it's the larrivee effect: it's like I have steak at home, why would I want to go out for a hamburger?

I've played a few. Some very nice guitars. However, for me, not only are they overpriced (someone has to pay for all that fancy advertising) but they have an image problem. I seem to see a few too many CWT's. Chicks with Taylors. 

[Silence Dogood]

Regarding Taylor guitars, they are very nice and very popular for good reason.  I have played several that could've easily been lifelong keepers. As an American, I see the Taylor company as a genuine American Dream-type scenario as well.  A fellow starts making guitars in his garage/shop and over the next few decades becomes one of the biggest makers in the world.  Of course that kind of success will always garner a man plenty of haters, but it's to be commended IMO. 

.................................................

As far as Wisdom goes, I was thinking today about THAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH, one of my fav novels from CS Lewis.  Here are a couple bits to enjoy:

Mark: "Well, I suppose there are two views on everything."
Bill: "What's that? Two views? There are dozens of views on everything until you know the answer, and then there's never more than one."

During the same conversation:

Bill:
"That's what happens when you study men: you find mares' nests. I happen to believe that you can't study men, you can only get to know them, which is a much different thing."

.........................................................


"Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it."

^^^ Revisiting this idea. I still believe this is self-defeating and the opposite of wisdom.  If truth cannot be found, then the conclusion found in this statement is also untrue and suspect.  (It's like the people who dogmatically deny that dogma exists.)  It really means one can never get anywhere. 

I'll let GK Chesteron straighten it out for you:


"Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid."
 

[ducktrapper]

Regarding Taylor guitars, they are very nice and very popular for good reason.  I have played several that could've easily been lifelong keepers. As an American, I see the Taylor company as a genuine American Dream-type scenario as well.  A fellow starts making guitars in his garage/shop and over the next few decades becomes one of the biggest makers in the world.  Of course that kind of success will always garner a man plenty of haters, but it's to be commended IMO. 

.................................................

As far as Wisdom goes, I was thinking today about THAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH, one of my fav novels from CS Lewis.  Here are a couple bits to enjoy:

Mark: "Well, I suppose there are two views on everything."
Bill: "What's that? Two views? There are dozens of views on everything until you know the answer, and then there's never more than one."

During the same conversation:

Bill:
"That's what happens when you study men: you find mares' nests. I happen to believe that you can't study men, you can only get to know them, which is a much different thing."

.........................................................


"Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it."

^^^ Revisiting this idea. I still believe this is self-defeating and the opposite of wisdom.  If truth cannot be found, then the conclusion found in this statement is also untrue and suspect.  (It's like the people who dogmatically deny that dogma exists.)  It really means one can never get anywhere. 

I'll let GK Chesteron straighten it out for you:


"Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid."
 

I think you might be overthinking the quote that's bugging you. Like all philosophical or allegorical statements they break down if over thought.

Chesterton said, before you tear down a fence, you should understand why it was put up in the first place. Not enough of that wisdom going around today. 

[ducktrapper]

Hate is not conquered by hate. Hate is conquered by love. This a law eternal.

- Siddhartha Gautama.

[Queequeg]

Hate is not conquered by hate. Hate is conquered by love. This a law eternal.

- Siddhartha Gautama.

So. Marvin Gaye was right?
War is not the answer?
(Somebody didn't get the memo)

[ducktrapper]

So. Marvin Gaye was right?
War is not the answer?
(Somebody didn't get the memo)

That's for sure. There seems to be a whole lot of people who used to describe themselves as anti war who are all in on the new one.

I've been doing a John Prine song lately substituting this line. Your Ukraine flag won't get you into heaven anymore. 

[Riverbend]

Great thread!
My humble contribution; "No matter where you go, there you are." (Anonymous Yooper)

[Silence Dogood]

Great thread!
My humble contribution; "No matter where you go, there you are." (Anonymous Yooper)

I have always loved this quote and can't tell you how many times I've used it. 

[Silence Dogood]

My contribution on this fine Saturday morning will be from Alexander Pope (1688-1744) from 'An Essay On Criticism.'  Here are some various lines in no particular order:

Of all the causes which conspire to blind
Man's erring judgment, and misguide the mind,
What the weak head with strongest bias rules,
Is pride, the never-failing vice of fools.

Words are like leaves; and where they most abound,
Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found.

At every word a reputation dies.


This one from 'Moral Essays To Mrs M Blount' is one I go back to a lot:

The ruling passion, be it what it will,
The ruling passion conquers reason still.

[247hoopsfan]

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"- Solomon

[ducktrapper]

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so. " – Mark Twain

[Riverbend]

At a young age I learned to appreciate the bits of wisdom like those being shared in this thread. From ancient philosophers to modern scribes, so many more forgotten than remembered, but all with their ability to contribute to the stitches of our life's tapestry. The one's that have tended to stick with me often seem to be the boiled down, reconstituted versions, clean in their simplicity. The one's like Grandma shared at appropriate moments.
"If you treat all your problems like nails, all your solutions tend to be hammers". Thanks Grandma

[Silence Dogood]

At a young age I learned to appreciate the bits of wisdom like those being shared in this thread. From ancient philosophers to modern scribes, so many more forgotten than remembered, but all with their ability to contribute to the stitches of our life's tapestry. The one's that have tended to stick with me often seem to be the boiled down, reconstituted versions, clean in their simplicity. The one's like Grandma shared at appropriate moments.
"If you treat all your problems like nails, all your solutions tend to be hammers". Thanks Grandma

I like that one.  The way I've heard it most often is: "To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail."

[Silence Dogood]

Here is a pretty famous bit from Theodore Roosevelt circa 1910, POTUS 26, and all-around general baddass dude. 

To be clear, the reason I enjoy and wish to acquire more wisdom is because it has had a genuine effect on my life and in many ways has changed my behavior for the better.  I admit, early on when I was younger it was just about ideas and learning things made me feel smart, but somewhere along the way things began to take root and change me.  This is the beauty and value of shared wisdom.

This idea from TR really has changed my life.  If I am ever tempted to criticize someone, I seldom fail to think of this quote and it stops my mouth. 

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

[Riverbend]

Here is a pretty famous bit from Theodore Roosevelt circa 1910, POTUS 26, and all-around general baddass dude. 

To be clear, the reason I enjoy and wish to acquire more wisdom is because it has had a genuine effect on my life and in many ways has changed my behavior for the better.  I admit, early on when I was younger it was just about ideas and learning things made me feel smart, but somewhere along the way things began to take root and change me.  This is the beauty and value of shared wisdom.

This idea from TR really has changed my life.  If I am ever tempted to criticize someone, I seldom fail to think of this quote and it stops my mouth. 

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Wonderful wisdom from TR. What sometimes haunts my consciousness is the feeling that there's at least 4 billion people roaming the planet that have no concept of, nor use for, wisdom that might lead us to a better existence. As for the other +- 4 billion, the idea is debatable.

[Silence Dogood]

Wonderful wisdom from TR. What sometimes haunts my consciousness is the feeling that there's at least 4 billion people roaming the planet that have no concept of, nor use for, wisdom that might lead us to a better existence. As for the other +- 4 billion, the idea is debatable.

I realize there is nothing new under the sun (some wisdom from Ecclesiastes there), but this age in which we find ourselves seems to be particularly unwise and highly emotional.  Smartphones, social media, and 24-hour news cycles bent on outraging and instilling as much fear as possible (all for profit) seem to be making it worse.  Modern people can't seem to focus on anything but what excites or upsets them for the moment. 

But at the same time, and as is perennially true, there is a pretty large group of people waking up and seeking a better way.  This site has a growing number of followers (many very young!) and is a great example:

https://dailystoic.com/

I recommend signing up and checking out the podcast as well. 

[ducktrapper]

I like that one.  The way I've heard it most often is: "To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail."

I own several hammers and it's just not true. However, if your only tool is a hammer ...

[ducktrapper]

Here is a pretty famous bit from Theodore Roosevelt circa 1910, POTUS 26, and all-around general baddass dude. 

To be clear, the reason I enjoy and wish to acquire more wisdom is because it has had a genuine effect on my life and in many ways has changed my behavior for the better.  I admit, early on when I was younger it was just about ideas and learning things made me feel smart, but somewhere along the way things began to take root and change me.  This is the beauty and value of shared wisdom.

This idea from TR really has changed my life.  If I am ever tempted to criticize someone, I seldom fail to think of this quote and it stops my mouth. 

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Very true but that's not to say that criticism is never valid, constructive or worthwhile. People who don't do well with any criticism whatsoever are likely to be narcissists. People who do nothing but criticize are just a P.I.T.A.