"In short, since true fortitude of understanding consists "in not letting what we know be embarrassed by what we do not know," we ought to secure those advantages which we can command, and not risk them by clutching after the airy and unattainable. Come, no chimeras! Let us go abroad; let us mix in affairs; let us learn and get and have and climb. "Men are a sort of moving plants, and, like trees, receive a great part of their nourishment from the air. If they keep too much at home, they pine." Let us have a robust, manly life; let us know what we know, for certain; what we have, let it be solid and seasonable and our own. A world in the hand is worth two in the bush. Let us have to do with real men and women, and not with skipping ghosts." (Emerson, "Montaigen: or a skeptic")
I do not want to turn this blog into some sort of shrine to Emerson but the man just speaks to me. When I read one of his essays he seems to hit on exactly what I'm thinking about at that time and express it in a very eloquent manner. This excerpt from an essay on the skepticism of Michel de Montaigne basically hits on exactly my feelings between thought and action. I've realized that a lot of the necessary things we need to learn in life must be obtained through doing. I believe that it is through mixing "in affairs" that we learn quickest. I love Utah and BYU but I am looking forward to following Emerson's advice and seeking to have "a world in the hand" and not "two in the bush."
1 comment:
I've thought a lot about this. When you are young (and ignorant) you believe that you know. As you grow and experience, you know that there is so little you know and you need to be open to experience (sometimes old people still think they know and are not open). I think it's best and wise to admit you don't know and that you are seeking enlightenment.
You know what I'm saying Tim?
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