Shakespeare's Parrot

I enjoy a good quote and luckily, social media is littered with them. Quotes can inspire action, lift a gloomy day, guide business thinking or bring a laugh. The information contained within can simplify very complicated concepts and convey profound insights. There are many lessons to be learned, food for thought and deep wisdom to be discovered in the words of the masters and scholars, leaders and saints. But for a quote to have value, it must permeate through superficial layers and deep into the folds of understanding.

"I like this place and willingly could waste my time in it"

• As you like it: Act 2, scene 4

Most educational systems operate on a read and repeat cycle where information is provided and the ability to recall the information accurately at a later point is indicative of learning a lesson. As this process is repeated over and over, it conditions the mind into validating and equating good memory with intelligence or, lack thereof as the case may be. Many spend great deals of time and energy increasing the flow of information they are exposed to and pride themselves on retaining the information regardless of the usefulness or insight the information provides. A good memory for facts and figures is of course a great skill to have but is it synonymous with wisdom?

"The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool".

• As you like it: Act 5, scene 5

When we come across one that can quote from obscurity or remember facts and dates far in the depths of history we tend to make a number of assumptions. We presume education, intelligence, understanding, expertise, experience and authority. Because of our own educational bias, we conclude that the more numbers and facts one can produce from memory, the more qualified they are on the subject at hand. Remember though, the 2015 French Scrabble champion can recall the French dictionary but, does not speak French nor know what the words mean.

"The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose".

• The Merchant of Venice: Act 1, Scene 3

For ourselves, there is always a quote that will back what we are currently doing, or a study that will support us to change what we no longer wish to do. Either way, we tend to give weight to the information that supports our desires and discount that which does not. We post quotes that make us feel comfortable, justify our actions, portray a particular image or attempt to influence others into a certain way of thinking or movement. Posting or knowing a quote and understanding the information it represents, may be two very different things. The depth of understanding or what that understanding means to the individual can vary greatly from person to person and a cliche for one can be an epiphany for another.

"Nothing will come of nothing."

• King Lear: Act 1, Scene 1

The steps of creation are thought, word and action. And, only when these three things are performed without contradiction between can there be full understanding. The quotes themselves do provide food for thought but for true understanding, the meal cannot be nibbled at. It must be consumed wholeheartedly, tasted, chewed and digested and after, the energy it provides used to create action and movement, innovation and growth. Only then can value be produced and full potential realised.

"True nobility is exempt from fear".

• Henry VI: Act 4, Scene 1

Questioning the structure of intelligence and wisdom and challenging the concepts and precepts of the mind is useful to understand the nature of the self and by extension, all else. It can be awkward and very uncomfortable to truly question oneself and the ideas that have long been held dear as the very nature of mental programming avoids it. Our habits make us blind to new information and especially insensitive to information that threatens our ideological constructs. However difficult though, information is enormously valuable when used with understanding. To improve oneself, better the world or increase opportunity and potential, one must look to see what lays beneath the words to discover the real treasure. Words are never enough.

After all, Shakespeare's Parrot could quote its master.

Taraz

[ A Steemit Original ]