What of “Great Minds”? Quote Day.

“Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.”

It’s disputed that Eleanor Roosevelt actually said that, however, it’s a very interesting thought.

We all know the tween or teenage mind that incessantly gossip and talk about other people.

Many never leave that stage of life, if it’s an evolutionary stage at all. We will discuss that later.

We also all know those who read about events, current or historical.

These are the knee-jerk’rs in life;  observe and react,  observe and react, observe and react: observe something judged as bad or unwanted-react-and feel bad or angry.  They don’t yet have enough power or self control to direct their own thoughts.  These are the critics, complainers, whiners, commentators, skeptics, cynics, it reminds me of a quote Quinn pointed out to me:

“Doubters do not achieve; skeptics do not contribute; cynics do not create.”   Calvin Coolidge

These are the people who adamantly think they are the smartest people in the world.  They will scoff at any who are tried up in pop-culture.  They are primarily fed on distorted lies and propaganda the news feeds them, they take it in from all sources they can so they can claim to be “unbiased” AM talk radio, political commentators and shock jockeys, etc.  That like to point out what’s wrong, and – even better – what will not work.   They don’t really have any answers.  They never do anything about it other than complain, and join groups of other like minded complainers to join their voices and fight against unwanted things.

Then there are those in which the small minds roll their eyes at and think are boring and the average minds probably think are way-up-there-in-the-clouds with all their crazy ideas; the great minds.

They are sort of fridge dwellers. They are not hermits, they are part of every day society, they are just more visionaries than observationists.  George Bernard Shaw confirms this whole line of thinking with his famous quote, “Some look at things that are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not?”

These are the ones who do pay attention to what is, but just enough to give them a launching point into what IS wanted rather than hang out in unwanted things.  They are the ones who cure diseases, solve problems, invent things that have never been before.  I am reminded of the story of a man who, much against the adamant advice of his neighbors, told him NOT to take his entire life savings go to Detroit and buy a new Ford only to take it apart.   The man’s name was Chrysler, yes there is a skyscraper named after him (The Chrysler Building).  There is yet to be any skyscrapers with the names of the cynical neighbors on it.  However, there are some dusty six foot holes in the ground with their names displayed above.

I personally couldn’t be happier anywhere in the world than deep inside a leading edge discussion about new ideas and thoughts.  Does that mean I have a “great mind”?  Is such a conversation more “higher minded” than pop-culture or current events?  I like what Aaron said to the affect that in regarding that quote at the beginning, ” Whoever said that quote, just espoused themselves that ideas are the pinnacle of thought.”   Talking about other people, or focusing on events could actually be the pinnacle of human thought; I’m not trying to disparage anyone who enjoys such conversation or topic.

So I don’t know if I will entirely recant passing along the advice millionaires have given me to read what looks like the the best life changing books on the best sellers list.  This is a very narrow topic which is primarily philosophical, spiritual and meta-physical in nature. Sometimes you need a specific answer rather than one based on quantum physics.  If you go to a surgeon, she will cut.  If you go to a baker, he or she will bake.  If you to a philosopher, he or she will … pontificate?  The point is if we were all on the same level, we’d only need a single teacher.

I never like to ‘should on’ people, but I will now: Whatever gives you joy in life, you should seek.  Since “ask and it is given” is still in effect, then following your own guidance and bliss (Joseph Campbell) will always lead you perfectly to what you’ve asked for.  While following the advice I passed along was meant for me and my path – not for you and yours.  If your personal dominate intent is to be joyful (and it should be!) then you will find people to talk about, or events to interest you, or ideas that thrill you, help you create and make your heart sing.