We may lose our memory as we get older, but this might not be such a bad thing - who wants to drag a mental junkyard around at a time of life when you're starting to grow interesting little wings?
Michael LeunigRead
Perhaps life is actually more confusing and unknowable to an adult than a child, but grown-ups have learned to deceive themselves and act as if they understand what's going on; and some are elected to high office on the basis of their ability to create this impression.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Adults often pretend to understand life better than children, leading to a façade of knowledge and control.
This quote highlights the paradox of adulthood, where individuals, despite facing greater confusion and uncertainty, often project an image of understanding and control. It suggests that societal roles, particularly in leadership, may rely more on the ability to create a confident façade than on genuine comprehension, raising questions about authenticity and the nature of knowledge in adult life.
Themes
LifeConfusionUnderstandingAdultsChildren
In practice
Example use cases
This quote would be great for a discussion at a philosophy club about the nature of knowledge.
More from Michael Leunig
All quotes →Sometimes I wonder if the semi-conscious agenda of the media is to get between people and their souls. It is the the soul with its myriad tiny nerve endings that notices the neglected pathos, poignancy and practicality that lies at the heart of life. It's as if the media are somehow irritated and envious that anonymous people should have the quiet brilliance of their rich and sustainable inner lives.
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What a magical thing is the bed, and what a vulnerable, innocent creature is the sleeping human - the human who never looks more truthful or pitiful or benign; the curled-up, childlike dreaming soul who has for a few hours become an angel adrift.
Michael LeunigRead
So few humans seem to fully exist themselves that I wonder if all this endless speculation and haggling about God is really an exploration of a more interesting and embarrassing question about ourselves.
Michael LeunigRead
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