3 ms·

Tolstoi said something about this. Now he was talking about Jesus’ doctrine of “turning the other cheek“, and not to judge, I believe. And he says that that’s a

by leobg 4y ago

Tolstoi said something about this. Now he was talking about Jesus’ doctrine of “turning the other cheek“, and not to judge, I believe. And he says that that’s a very extremist position to take. But he compares it with a man trying to swim across a river that has a very strong current. If that man wants to land at a particular spot on the other side, he needs to aim at a spot much further upstream. Only by aiming much further upstream does he least have a chance of reaching his spot. Note that it also would not suffice to chose “pretend” that you’re aiming for the point further upstream. You actually do have to swim in that direction with all you’ve got. Otherwise you are going to be landing far downstream from where you intended to. I think that Heinlein quote here is trying to do the same thing.

spacephysics 4y ago
I like this analogy a lot, and hadn’t thought of it that way. To me the quote also meant that knowing disparate things could lead to useful knowledge to the individual, even if they didn’t think so before. A programmer learning how to fix an engine, despite not being interested in cars, may give them insights into how systems work that can be applied in their programming work
- leobg 4y ago
  I’m not even sure he thought of it as a utilitarian thing. The answer to OP’s question might depend on whether you’re trying to solve for maximum monetary profit / social influence or for inner contentment. I think the Heinlein quote addresses the latter question. I mean, Bill Gates probably never cooked a meal in his life (I believe he said so somewhere).
  - eternityforest 4y ago
    I didn't think of that! Do average people commonly feel an inner disquiet over the fact they lack skills, or is the quote saying that learning skills will help with the vague mental unwellness people might have but don't know why? For the most part I've always known, or at least thought Ive known, Why I'm Miserable, and the only skills that have a part in it are math and driving a car, and a few highly specialist things I wish I'd learned, like going into industrial controls. I do know people who are uncomfortable being a specialist that couldn't function without industrial society as we know it, but the quote seems to paint it as a universal thing.

by leobg 4y ago

spacephysics 4y ago

I like this analogy a lot, and hadn’t thought of it that way. To me the quote also meant that knowing disparate things could lead to useful knowledge to the individual, even if they didn’t think so before. A programmer learning how to fix an engine, despite not being interested in cars, may give them insights into how systems work that can be applied in their programming work

leobg 4y ago
I’m not even sure he thought of it as a utilitarian thing. The answer to OP’s question might depend on whether you’re trying to solve for maximum monetary profit / social influence or for inner contentment. I think the Heinlein quote addresses the latter question. I mean, Bill Gates probably never cooked a meal in his life (I believe he said so somewhere).
- eternityforest 4y ago
  I didn't think of that! Do average people commonly feel an inner disquiet over the fact they lack skills, or is the quote saying that learning skills will help with the vague mental unwellness people might have but don't know why? For the most part I've always known, or at least thought Ive known, Why I'm Miserable, and the only skills that have a part in it are math and driving a car, and a few highly specialist things I wish I'd learned, like going into industrial controls. I do know people who are uncomfortable being a specialist that couldn't function without industrial society as we know it, but the quote seems to paint it as a universal thing.