“Humility engenders learning because it beats back the arrogance that puts blinders on…. Because they consistently observe and listen, the humble improve. They don’t assume, ‘I know the way.'” — Wynton Marsalis

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Thoughts on Today’s Quote

I’ve never met a kind thoughtful person who didn’t possess a strong sense of humility.

I’ve always found that the more I learn, the more I’m in awe of how little I actually know. It’s a humbling experience to come to the recognition that no matter how much I learn, I will never run out of knowledge to acquire.

The world is a vast ocean of knowledge buried in a sea of noise and interference. Life is like a treasure hunt that I can never truly master.

Were I to consider it mastered, it would be only my own arrogance rising up, not mastery.

I have met the arrogant, the ‘know it all’ and generally they know very little. The more they cling to ‘knowing it all’ the smaller their island becomes as the ocean of knowledge grows ever larger.

Sometimes, I feel as though I live on an island in this vast sea of knowledge around me. Rather than finding the centre of the island secure that I know all I need to know, I run to the shore and scoop up bucket after bucket of knowledge. I examine each bucket to learn what I am willing to learn, knowing that there will always be new buckets for me to delight in.

Are you looking for the buckets or the island centre?

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Who is Wynton Marsalis?

Wynton Marsalis was born October 18, 1961 in New Orleans, Louisiana into a musically inclined family. By the age of 8 he was playing music in church and on his way to becoming a trumpeter, composer, teacher and musical educator.

He also wrote five books related to the arts. Marsalis promoted an appreciation of classical and jazz music to young audiences.

At 17 he was admitted to the Tanglewood’s Berkshire Music Center, becoming the youngest musician ever admitted. There he won the Harvey Shapiro Award for outstanding brass student.

In 1979, he was accepted into Juilliards in New York and received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. By 1982 he was described as the best classical and jazz trumpet player of the day.

Marsalis was the winner of numerous awards including nine Grammy Awards and several honorary degrees. In 1997 he became the first jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.

*I will try to find information on the author of the quotes I share. I wont always be successful.

Don’t know about you, but I find it interesting to know who the person was that anyone took the time to record or quote that person.*

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About Coffee Time Meditation

I love being inspired by other people’s quotes. I thought I’d start sharing some quotes that inspire me along with my own thoughts the quote evokes within me. So, think of someone, like me, sitting quietly with the first fresh coffee of the day and mediating about the words of the quote. That would be me, or it could be you.

I invite you to share your own thoughts on the quote in the comments.

If you like this series, please upvote it and share with others.

Have a great day
Path to Success

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Past Coffee Time Meditations

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