Since 2015, I have taken a piece of wisdom to my heart: a fool looks at the destruction of his peer as an event to giddily discuss later. A wise man takes it as a warning.
Moral certainty is for those without the intelligence to develop their own thoughts, the sympathy to understand others, and the backbone to have any conviction.
Your writing feels so sharp and wise, without any pretentiousness. I love the phrase, "Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself." It's really hard to do, but if everyone strove for this, the world would be a much better place overall. But it seems like it's considered some sort of virtue to NOT look for humanity or nuance in others. Everything has to be black and white, and one step into gray demonizes a person entirely and immediately.
In my faith we have this mindset that's like, it's good to be forgiving of others even if only because each of us, ourselves, needs forgiveness from others. That's not exactly a universal, apply-all thing - everything has its context - but I do find it easier to make and maintain connections to people when I try to have that mindset.
All the mics just dropped. This is brilliant.
Too kind.
Moral certainty is for those without the intelligence to develop their own thoughts, the sympathy to understand others, and the backbone to have any conviction.
Agreed, key being the second one in dearth.
Your writing feels so sharp and wise, without any pretentiousness. I love the phrase, "Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself." It's really hard to do, but if everyone strove for this, the world would be a much better place overall. But it seems like it's considered some sort of virtue to NOT look for humanity or nuance in others. Everything has to be black and white, and one step into gray demonizes a person entirely and immediately.
In my faith we have this mindset that's like, it's good to be forgiving of others even if only because each of us, ourselves, needs forgiveness from others. That's not exactly a universal, apply-all thing - everything has its context - but I do find it easier to make and maintain connections to people when I try to have that mindset.
I don't know if that makes any sense, haha.
This does make sense (as does Marcus Aurelius!).
Also, I made Jim read this and he asked me to relay this message to you: "yaaaaas jennifa!!! Yaaaaas Maureen!!!!"
That made me laugh. Hope Jim is well.
He is doing fine! We chat on the Line app a lot.
This was so interesting and also so pleasurable to read.
Hey, John. Thanks for the encouraging words.