“Most men do not understand.
Those who do, do not want to.”
This quote was taken from a friend as we were speaking one day. It got me thinking about how people hardly listen. The majority know only how to speak.
I realized this to be so because people (just as I) see only themselves. It is difficult for them to see beyond their own perspectives that they have come to understand within the span of their lifetime.
This is of course with the exception of those few who do listen. But do they really listen or are their personalities what make them seem so?
When one visits a psychiatrist, he expects to hear out the views of the psychiatrist. Although his purpose of going is to release his tensions Somewhere, overall, he wishes to find peace through an outside source. But that outside source could have never completely understood him. For that ‘outside source’ simply gave its own input in the end.
However, I have realized that by writing, one must understand several different perspectives. I began to observe those around me and realized that each man means well in his own unique way. But people who listen more than speak are so limited.
I want to know if anyone has any opinions or thoughts based on this.
I can vouch for the truth of this. The more I understand, the more I envy the bliss and stupidity of ignorant & indolent people.
Knowledge is a double-edged sword, a blessing and a curse.
That is the question dear dirt. Most people are not thinkers; they are talkers. Talkers get things done, more often than naught, but there is a huge difference of practicality between those that speak and those that listen. The listeners are not [b]utilized[/b] (pay attention to that word) until they are called upon. A person like me, who always listens and rarely speaks (except when necessitated) is rarely called upon. Pending immediate crises, the most intelligent men are stuck in a ditch, because it takes momentum to move such a man, a lot of momentum (i.e. force)…
What is so urgent in the world today to move me from my chair? I implore you to answer this question for me. What should I care about other than those things I do not understand? What crisis racks the world and your soul that I may cleanse / cure to which I must take notice? I can tell you personally that the only motivation of my personal philosophies right now revolve around the issue of social nihilism and how that affects men & women, children, and society on a global level.
What great questions are left to answer in this day & age that pure reason cannot strike down with an effortless blow? There are few that I’m aware of…
Perhaps you have some pressing urgency to “do something”, precisely because you are here now and writing what you already have.
Well said, here.
I felt I was aware of this, however, this opened my eyes a bit more.
Ah, my mother always told me to speak less. For little problems become so common for one who speaks too much.
Well put, R.
Why burden oneself with unnecessary and irrelevant tribulations.
I am simply frustrated and at my breaking point.
The fools in this world do not outnumber the intelligent. They simply talk their way into the public eye. Those who are intelligent never come out for they know that in this way they will be ruined.
It’s not so much being “ruined” as it is unnecessary. Why should the intelligent minds reveal themselves, except for when the desperation of the human spirit calls out to those who are able to achieve the impossible? In today’s world, in the West, everything is taken care of for the most part – provided for. There’s nothing to work for … or towards. That’s what I observe. When things get worse, to the breaking point, then once again, those that are burdened with intellect must be forced into the limelight.
In my case, being social is an embarrassing action in relation to myself. I went to a club awhile back for no other reason than to “be out(side)” and what I noticed was that average and common people have no guard against their natural instincts. Men are dogs. Women are cats. We are animals. I don’t either, but I know how to channel my instincts in a much different manner (which ironically leads to philosophy). However, the curse of intelligence is a public “nakedness” of sorts. I used to have a near-paranoid delusion that people thought just like I did and picked up the subtle details that I did – that people were in on some big secret that I wasn’t a part of. Then, not but a month ago, I realized that I’m just different than the crowd. In general, people are dense, collapsed within themselves and not observant of the world around them – lacking an astute cognition of things being interconnected. This “nakedness” that I felt is / was a subconsciously self-imposed awareness that I’m being watched by others when I’m not. They can’t read my mind, because they are incapable of it. The common mind does not understand the uncommon mind, but the uncommon mind absolutely understands the common mind, because it is both common and “un”-common. Therefore, there is no reason for the uncommon mind to expose itself except by necessity.
Why should those most intelligent and most capable of leading stand up in front of the nation, or the stage, when there is no pressing urgency for it?
Basically, I am contending to you that without public urgency & crisis, there is no need for the uncommon mind. Thus, it hides. The few of us that are able to think the unthinkable, must shroud ourselves from the public, because the common mass frowns upon the magnificence of intellect unless that intellect is useful. If they see beauty, then their first response is to tear it down in order to be equal to it, instead of pushing themselves to new heights. To the man who understands the pure reason of words themselves, there is no need to speak unless words must be said. And what must be said today? I suppose nothing … for now.
That’s a good point about words not needing to be said.
I myself find it really hard to just speak and discuss things for the sake of doing it, as we’re required to at university in my sociology classes. We get graded on it. I will speak up if I need to, but otherwise I sit there and think, and it’s not that I have no opinion. It’s even harder when Ms. Loudmouth over there in the corner feels the need to make a comment and analyse every concept in front of everyone. So inevitably, it’s the quiet ones that will get a lower grade, just as in schools shy children are overlooked.
I don’t know if it’s ‘a common characteristic throughout the world’ though. Western countries are more focus on the self and the individual, and people see themselves as the center of their lives. This is become increasingly so as the years pass. But what about, for example, Asian countries that are concerned with the whole, with the respect for elders etc?
It is not as much as you may think so, concerning Asian countries. Yes, there focus WAS upon these things. However, these ideals have been wearing “as the years pass” along with religion and culture. I feel we are all merging into one at a rather quick pace.
Also, I believe intelligence in this matter does not contain multiple definitions - as does stupidity. Intelligence is one and all who contain it are generally alike. If I were to look back into ancient texts even, great souls were found in times of Need. These great people of our past did not arise on their own. They were risen by those who needed them most. R is correct in saying that intelligence does not come out and declare its presence. It hides until it is utmost necessary for it to transpire.
I think this is exactly what the movie The Matrix was getting at. We all want more knowledge, more awareness, more access to the truth, likes it’s bound to be such a blissful experience, but none of us ever stop to think that the truth may be horrible and unbearable.
I struggle with that all the time. To me, it just seems so unfathomable that people can really be that dumb, and it sometimes seems more plausible that people are just putting on an act, and it’s me who’s too stupid to follow suit and understand the reasons why we all ought to play dumb, but then there’s other moments when it seems less surprising that people can be that stupid and this fills me with a subtle sense of relief and a sense of superiority over them (though still helpless to do anything about it).
I do not exactly think that people are dumb. Rather I always felt that they Chose not to be more Aware of certain things.
Each person sees the majority of the world to be dull in one way or the other. Perhaps because each person has a different perception of the world in which he or she is most intelligent. I know that when I perceive the world, I see it through my eyes only. Yes, those who are intelligent are more aware of the remaining world about them. But those who do not come to this state of realization are only more aware of other aspects. I feel the capacity of intelligence we each hold is exactly the same. Even a serial killer contains the same capacity whether it is made up of negative or positive understanding. And so, each of us has something ELSE to offer or share. Some sort of intelligence. It only depends upon which Kind of intelligence we are speaking of.
I was aware of this. I was simply thinking aloud. This has been one of those things that I have thought upon for long periods at a time. Simply because it somewhat bewildered me.
I am referring to intelligence in a way that it may be both stupid or smart. I was generalizing the entire idea.
However, considering you have hit this point, I will further explain that Each and Every person on this planet has something to Give. Knowledge wise. This knowledge can be used in whatever way we now Choose to use it. This is where Choice comes into play. And also what the people of this world have determined to be the distinction between those who are Fools and those who are Intelligent.
Men fail to realize that they can learn from the lowest and most impecunious of their kind.
It is How we put this knowledge to use that puts us in our place.
Sorry?
It can only be Harmful if you use their Moronic ideals and Follow them rather than Understand and refrain from doing as they have done.
One gains knowledge and INTELLIGENCE through understanding those around him - in this case - both the ‘stupid’ and the ‘smart.’ This intelligence cannot be found only by observing ‘smart’ ideals. For does not intelligence hide? It must be found and can only be done so if one walks through all obstacles first. One cannot ride around a storm he is already in. He must pass through it to find light, my friend.
Yes. And it becomes but a form of intelligence in the end.
Even by observing a simple man living on the streets one can learn many things. What he may take from the sight may be negative or positive. The average person would not want to be that hobo. He may either see this to be the reason to steal for a living Or work hard and stray from such an impoverished path. I think the thing that most people do not understand is that either way, you must Suffer to find Peace. Negatives & Positives work alongside one another. Just as Good & Evil. A ‘Good’ intelligence is not achieved as easily - hence most are pushed into a self-destructive, negative, and misunderstood path.
