4 ms·

If you can’t tell a story about it, it isn’t real

3 points by azhenley 3y ago

jacknobody 3y ago
Only things that can be described exist. A thing is something that can be thought about. The description of something new causes the new thing to exist.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
anonymouskimmer 3y ago
The main point is an important one. History is forgotten if it isn't told to, and remembered by, people. And as the saying goes, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Figuring out and remembering the lessons of events is far more likely if the event itself is remembered, and remembered accurately. Whether it's remembered or not though, it did actually happen.
- NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
  The correct quote is: "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -- George Santayana https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/search?q=Those+who+do+not+remember+the+past%2C+are+condemned+to+repeat+it https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/search?q=Those+who+do+not+r...
  - anonymouskimmer 3y ago
    Here it's just memory, but frequently enough I change the wording of sayings to something that seems more in line with how I'm using it. Both reasons are why I paraphrase without quotes. I liked the ancient meaning of the word "doom". https://www.etymonline.com/word/doom https://www.etymonline.com/word/doom
  - defrost 3y ago
    To quote Martin Porter ( https://tartarus.org/martin/essays/burkequote2.html https://tartarus.org/martin/essays/burkequote2.html ): I therefore formulate and offer to the world the following Principles for Quotations, two for quoters and two for readers, which, if universally followed, would make an immense improvement to the reliability of the information available on the world wide web. Principle 1 (for readers) Whenever you see a quotation given with an author but no source assume that it is probably bogus. Principle 2 (for readers) Whenever you see a quotation given with a full source assume that it is probably being misused, unless you find good evidence that the quoter has read it in the source. Principle 3 (for quoters) Whenever you make a quotation, give the exact source. Principle 4 (for quoters) Only quote from works that you have read. <<<< END QUOTE >>>> So, perhaps: “Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. In the first stages of life the mind is frivolous and easily distracted; it misses progress by failing in consecutiveness and persistence. This is the condition of children and barbarians, in which instinct has learned nothing from experience.” ~ George Santayana, The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress (Five volumes, 1905 - 1906)

3 points by azhenley 3y ago

Only things that can be described exist. A thing is something that can be thought about. The description of something new causes the new thing to exist.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

anonymouskimmer 3y ago

The main point is an important one. History is forgotten if it isn't told to, and remembered by, people. And as the saying goes, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Figuring out and remembering the lessons of events is far more likely if the event itself is remembered, and remembered accurately. Whether it's remembered or not though, it did actually happen.

NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
The correct quote is: "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -- George Santayana https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/search?q=Those+who+do+not+remember+the+past%2C+are+condemned+to+repeat+it https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/search?q=Those+who+do+not+r...
- anonymouskimmer 3y ago
  Here it's just memory, but frequently enough I change the wording of sayings to something that seems more in line with how I'm using it. Both reasons are why I paraphrase without quotes. I liked the ancient meaning of the word "doom". https://www.etymonline.com/word/doom https://www.etymonline.com/word/doom
- defrost 3y ago
  To quote Martin Porter ( https://tartarus.org/martin/essays/burkequote2.html https://tartarus.org/martin/essays/burkequote2.html ): I therefore formulate and offer to the world the following Principles for Quotations, two for quoters and two for readers, which, if universally followed, would make an immense improvement to the reliability of the information available on the world wide web. Principle 1 (for readers) Whenever you see a quotation given with an author but no source assume that it is probably bogus. Principle 2 (for readers) Whenever you see a quotation given with a full source assume that it is probably being misused, unless you find good evidence that the quoter has read it in the source. Principle 3 (for quoters) Whenever you make a quotation, give the exact source. Principle 4 (for quoters) Only quote from works that you have read. <<<< END QUOTE >>>> So, perhaps: “Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. In the first stages of life the mind is frivolous and easily distracted; it misses progress by failing in consecutiveness and persistence. This is the condition of children and barbarians, in which instinct has learned nothing from experience.” ~ George Santayana, The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress (Five volumes, 1905 - 1906)