Peter N Davidson
The Fisherman
Learning is much like fishing, you never know what you are going catch, but unless you cast a line, you will catch nothing. My five year old granddaughter taught me another lesson today when she said to me: “Dada, how do you know so much?”
She unknowingly shamed me as I really don't know too much at all, and it made me think again about how much we don't know yet think we do. So I've gained some knowledge over the years to impress a five year old, but the most important knowledge gained is the one being how ignorant I am of nearly everything.
But that's a good thing as it at least means I know enough to understand how ignorant I am. She sweetly reminded me to be more humble. You never stop learning. My ignorance is vast but the knowledge to be learned is infinite, so there's no shame in knowing you are always ignorant of something. The shame comes from any arrogance born of ignorance. Beware the confident expert certain of all things. I wish I was five again. There's so much to discover and wonder at, and so few years left. I'd better keep casting that line out there.
The Fisherman
Learning is much like fishing, you never know what you are going catch, but unless you cast a line, you will catch nothing. My five year old granddaughter taught me another lesson today when she said to me: “Dada, how do you know so much?”
She unknowingly shamed me as I really don't know too much at all, and it made me think again about how much we don't know yet think we do. So I've gained some knowledge over the years to impress a five year old, but the most important knowledge gained is the one being how ignorant I am of nearly everything.
But that's a good thing as it at least means I know enough to understand how ignorant I am. She sweetly reminded me to be more humble. You never stop learning. My ignorance is vast but the knowledge to be learned is infinite, so there's no shame in knowing you are always ignorant of something. The shame comes from any arrogance born of ignorance. Beware the confident expert certain of all things. I wish I was five again. There's so much to discover and wonder at, and so few years left. I'd better keep casting that line out there.