Concise aphorisms that encapsulate wisdom often trade comprehensive nuance for brevity. It is up to the reader to look beyond the literal words for the value in

Concise aphorisms that encapsulate wisdom often trade comprehensive nuance for brevity. It is up to the reader to look beyond the literal words for the value in the aphorism. My favorite example is the golden rule, which invites you to consider other people's experiences and perspectives, to generously value their experience on par with how you value your own, and treat them accordingly. A literal and simplistic application of the golden rule, though, would often be a terrible idea as it ignores critical differences in our wants, values, life circumstances, and abilities.