By our pontifical assertions, our superior impatience, and our casual brushing aside of their curiosity, we do not encourage their inquiry, for we are rather apprehensive of what may be asked of us; we do not foster their discontent, for we ourselves have ceased to question.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the importance of encouraging curiosity and questioning rather than dismissing it.
Jiddu Krishnamurti emphasizes that when we express superiority and dismiss the inquiries of others, we stifle their curiosity and inhibit the pursuit of knowledge. This behavior reflects our own apprehensions about facing difficult questions, ultimately leading to a society where questioning and critical thinking are undervalued, and discontent grows as a result.
In practice
This quote would be great in a discussion about fostering a questioning culture in education.
The following of authority is the denial of intelligence. [It] may help us temporarily to cover up our difficulties and problems; but to avoid a problem is only to intensify it, and in the process, self-knowledge and freedom are abandoned.
In seeking comfort, we generally find a quiet corner in life where there is a minimum of conflict, and then we are afraid to step out of that seclusion.
If you listen through the screen of your desires, then you obviously listen to your own voice; you are listening to your own desires.
If you have this extraordinary thing going in your life, then it is everything; then you become the teacher, the disciple, the neighbour, the beauty of the cloud - you are all that, and that is love.
Meditation is one of the greatest arts in life - perhaps the greatest, and one cannot possibly learn it from anybody, that is the beauty of it.
All of us have been trained by education and environment to seek personal gain and security and to fight for ourselves. Though we cover it over with pleasant phrases, we have been educated for various professions within a system which is based on exploitation and acquisitive fear.
Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something.
Rage is a powerful energy that with diligent practice can be transformed into fierce compassion. However much we disagree with our enemies, our task is to identify with them. They too feel justified in their point of view.
Worrying about bills, food, or other problems leaves less capacity to think ahead or to exert self-discipline. So, poverty imposes a mental tax.
Luck, bad if not good, will always be with us. But it has a way of favoring the intelligent and showing its back to the stupid.
All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.
One of the things I did when I discovered this huge importance of being vulnerable is very happily moved away from the shame research, because that's such a downer, and people hate that topic. It's not that vulnerability is the upside, but it's better than shame, I guess.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.