When I left home after graduating high school, I left as a migrant agricultural worker with a Modern Library edition of Plato in my duffel bag. It sounds kind of crazy, but I loved it. I loved the stuff. Before I knew there was a subject called philosophy, I loved it.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a love for philosophy that transcends formal education, highlighting a passion for learning.
In this quote, Dallas Willard reflects on his journey of self-discovery and the intrinsic love he had for philosophy even before understanding it as a formal subject. By mentioning his background as a migrant agricultural worker, he sheds light on the contrast between his humble beginnings and his intellectual pursuits, suggesting that passion for knowledge can thrive in any circumstance, regardless of one's life situation or educational background.
In practice
In a graduation speech to inspire students to pursue their passions, I might say, 'Remember the words of Dallas Willard, who found love for philosophy even in the most unexpected circumstances.'
The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’ will become disciples – students, apprentices, practitioners – of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence.
The first act of love is always the giving of attention.
So many people would like to have guidance from God because obviously, if you have a word from God, it's the best possible thing. But they don't relate that to life as a whole. Often they want guidance as a way of opting out of the responsibility of making decisions.
What is truly profound is thought to be stupid and trivial, or worse, boring, while what is actually stupid and trivial is thought to be profound. That is what it means to fly upside down.
The basic question 'will I obey Christ 's teaching?' is rarely taken as a serious issue. For example, to take one of Jesus' commands, that is relevant to contemporary life, I don't know of any church that actually teaches a church how to bless people who curse them, yet this is a clear command.
Few people arise in the morning as hungry for God as they are for cornflakes or toast and eggs.
The education of women is the best way to save the environment.
It is not systematic education which somehow molds society, but, on the contrary, society which, according to its particular structure, shapes education in relation to the ends and interests of those who control the power in that society.
Teachers are the one and only people who save nations.
I imagine that one of the biggest troubles with colleges is there are too many distractions, too much panty-raiding, fraternities, and boola-boola and all of that.
Young cat! If you keep Your eyes open enough, Oh, the stuff you will learn! The most wonderful stuff!
If you are reading in order to become a better reader, you cannot read just any book or article. You will not improve as a reader if all you read are books that are well within your capacity. You must tackle books that are beyond you, or, as we have said, books that are over your head. Only books of that sort will make you stretch your mind. And unless you stretch, you will not learn.
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