Some Poor grad student pressing on the flanks of a hamster and out comes a doctorate on the other side
Interpretation
Success often comes from persistent effort and creative problem-solving, even in the most unexpected situations.
This quote humorously illustrates the often arduous journey of academic pursuit, likening it to the whimsical notion of pressing on the flanks of a hamster to yield a doctoral degree. It highlights the challenges and absurdities faced by graduate students, suggesting that through determination and innovative approaches, they can achieve significant accomplishments, even if the path seems bizarre or unlikely.
In practice
This quote can be used at a graduation ceremony to inspire students about the unexpected paths to success.
I love science, and it pains me to think that so many are terrified of the subject or feel that choosing science means you cannot also choose compassion, or the arts, or be awed by nature. Science is not meant to cure us of mystery, but to reinvent and reinvigorate it.
We live well enough to have the luxury to get ourselves sick with purely social, psychological stress.
As I teach, I project the condition of my soul onto my students, my subject, and our way of being together.
It is the writer who might catch the imagination of young people, and plant a seed that will flower and come to fruition.
I loved books; I read my childhood away. I was more interested in my interior world.
The humanities have been forced to disguise, both from themselves and their students, why their subjects really matter, for the sake of attracting money and prestige in a world obsessed by the achievements of science.
As public schools deteriorate, the upper-middle class and wealthy send their kids to private ones. As public pools and playgrounds decay, the better-off buy memberships in private tennis and swimming clubs. As public hospitals decline, the well-off pay premium rates for private care.
If your children want to alter society, listen to their reasons and the idealism behind them. Don't crush them with some clever remark straight away.
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