Having learned something, we tend to cling to that belief, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. New information comes in all time, and the thing we ought to be thinking about doing is changing our beliefs as that new information comes in.
Interpretation
We often hold onto our beliefs despite new evidence suggesting otherwise, and we should be open to changing our views as we learn.
This quote by Daniel Levitin highlights a common human tendency to cling to existing beliefs even when faced with contradicting evidence. It emphasizes the importance of adaptability and the willingness to update our understanding based on new information, suggesting that personal growth and wisdom come from being open-minded and flexible in our beliefs.
In practice
A speaker addressing a group about the importance of adaptability in the workplace may use this quote to encourage employees to embrace new ideas.
As soon as you hear a proposition, the creative brain in humans assumes for the moment that it's true, and starts trying to find evidence. It's what computer scientists in the old days used to call 'Fifo:' first in, first out. The first piece of information that gets in has a privileged position, even if it's misinformation.
What music is better able to do than language is to represent the complexity of human emotional states.
Information overload refers to the notion that we're trying to take in more than the brain can handle.
That walk around the block, that fresh air, is going to help you work more quickly and effectively when you get back.
There are a lot of books about how to get organized and a lot of books about how to be better and more productive at business, but I don't know of one that grounds any of these in the science.
There's an ancient connection between movement and music. Most languages don't make a distinction between the words 'music' and 'dance.' And we can see that in the brain. When people are lying perfectly still but listening to music, the neurons in the motor cortex are firing.
I get up every day and work in the morning. I have my coffee and get to work. On good days I look up and it's dark outside and the whole day has gone by and I don't know where it's gone. But there's bad days, too. Where I struggle and sweat and a half hour creeps by and I've written three words. And half a day creeps by and I've written a sentence and a half and then I quit for the day and play computer games. You know, sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you. [Laughs]
Grant what thou commandest and then command what thou wilt.
Thoughts, like water, will stay on course if we make a place for them to go. As you learn to control your thoughts, you can gain courage, conquer fear and have a happy life.
Tell your readers to use it or lose it. If you don't use your muscles, they get weak. If you don't use your mind it begins to fail.
Youth, have no pity; leave no farthing here For age to invest in compromise and fear.
You are not saintly (a good person) because an organization says so, but rather because you stay connected to the divinity of your origination. You are not intelligent because of a transcript; you are intelligence itself, which needs no external confirmation. You are not moral because you obey the laws; you are mortality itself because you are the same as what you came from.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.