Happy Friday.
While flicking through my journal entries I came upon the below quote by Herman Hesse from his 1922 novel Siddhartha:
"Words do not express thoughts very well. They always become a little different immediately after they are expressed, a little distorted, a little foolish."
It is a rare moment indeed when the words we put on paper are able to truly encapsulate our thoughts.
I didn't remember making a note of it or where I came across it so did a quick search which revealed the passage quoted continues:
"And yet it also pleases me and seems right that what is of value and wisdom to one man seems nonsense to another."
We are all unique and individual with our own stories and experiences so it makes sense that we each have a distinct way of looking at the world and divining wisdom after our own image. While it may seem nonsense to others, the likelihood is that our different "wisdoms" are more alike than we realise, just alternative interpretations of the same thing.
@colinwalker I've always liked Michael Polyani's slightly more positive spin on the same idea: “We know more than we can tell”
A perfect illustration of the point 😊
@colinwalker thoughts , things , thinks, gong reverberates. Thanks for the Hesse on a Friday evening- always a welcome reminder.