Know Much, Say Little

“People who know little are usually great talkers, while men who know much say little.” Rousseau

One of my favorite books was Emile, written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. An work he wrote on the raising of his child, but also the commentary on growing up and becoming an adult. Interesting how suspicious he was of any knowledge learned without experience. From books, from religion, from schools.

The freedom we enjoy allows us to choose our own chains, he would say and we should all be wise to choose carefully as to which sources we look to for education. Experience, as it were, is the greatest teacher. I saw my daughter in a play today and that is what got me thinking along this line. I saw her learning by experience. A love for music, for dance, for friendships, for great literature happening right before me.

Guy

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