Society cannot continue to disable themselves through their need to categorize people or make assumptions as to another individual's abilities.
Interpretation
Judging others by categories limits their potential and individuality.
Evelyn Glennie's quote emphasizes the detrimental effects of categorizing individuals and making assumptions about their abilities. It suggests that society's tendency to label people can prevent them from realizing their full potential, as these labels often overshadow their unique talents and contributions. By urging society to move beyond these constraints, the quote advocates for a more inclusive perspective that values individual capabilities over preconceived notions.
In practice
During a workshop on diversity, this quote can be used to address the importance of inclusivity.
I just assumed the world was full of solo percussionists. I couldn't find sticks or music or anything where I was, but that was expected because there was nothing there anyway. And I think that was possibly the greatest asset for me, just not knowing.
If we see someone in a wheelchair, we assume they cannot walk. It may be that they can walk three, four, five steps. That, to them, means they can walk.
If we lived in a State where virtue was profitable, common sense would make us good, and greed would make us saintly. And we'd live like animals or angels in the happy land that /needs/ no heroes. But since in fact we see that avarice, anger, envy, pride, sloth, lust and stupidity commonly profit far beyond humility, chastity, fortitude, justice and thought, and have to choose, to be human at all... why then perhaps we /must/ stand fast a little --even at the risk of being heroes.
There was something awesome in the thought of the solitary mortal standing by the open window and summoning in from the gloom outside the spirits of the nether world.
It makes me feel guilty that anybody should have such a good time doing what they are supposed to do.
Whoever is winning at the moment will always seem to be invincible.
How did Rue end up on that stage with nothing but the wind offering to take her place?
Asking who won a given war, someone has said, is like asking who won the San Francisco earthquake. That in war there is no victory but only varying degrees of defeat is a proposition that has gained increasing acceptance in the twentieth century.
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