Poetry operates by hints and dark suggestions. It is full of secrets and hidden formulae, like a witch's brew.
Anthony HechtRead
A lot of the fun lies in trying to penetrate the mystery; and this is best done by saying over the lines to yourself again and again, till they pass through the stage of sounding like nonsense, and finally return to a full sense that had at first escaped notice.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The joy of understanding complex ideas comes from repeated contemplation until clarity is achieved.
This quote emphasizes the importance of persistence and active engagement when grappling with difficult concepts. Hecht suggests that rather than being discouraged by initial confusion, one should embrace the process of revisiting and reflecting on the material, allowing deeper meanings to emerge through repetition and contemplation.
Themes
UnderstandingMysteryLearningPersistenceReflection
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in an academic setting to motivate students to engage deeply with challenging texts.
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Margaret MeadRead
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John Taylor GattoRead
If you punish a child for being naughty, and reward him for being good, he will do right merely for the sake of the reward; and when he goes out into the world and finds that goodness is not always rewarded, nor wickedness always punished, he will grow into a man who only thinks about how he may get on in the world, and does right or wrong according as he finds advantage to himself.
Immanuel KantRead