He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains proves that he has no brains of his own.
Interpretation
Embracing the ideas and insights of others demonstrates intellectual openness and growth.
This quote by Charles Spurgeon emphasizes the importance of learning from the knowledge and experiences of others. It suggests that a refusal to acknowledge or use the thoughts of others not only limits one’s own intellectual growth but also indicates a lack of original thought. In a world filled with diverse perspectives, it is crucial to remain open to the ideas of others to enrich one's understanding and foster personal growth.
In practice
In a discussion about the importance of collaboration in the workplace.
Amusement should be used to do us good “like a medicine”: it must never be used as the food of the man...Many have had all holy thoughts and gracious resolutions stamped out by perpetual trifling. Pleasure so called is the murderer of thought. This is the age of excessive amusement: everybody craves for it, like a babe for its rattle.
When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight. Do God the honor to trust Him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle.
It is far easier to fight with sin in public than to pray against it in private.
You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.
After faith comes repentance, or, rather, repentance is faith's twin brother and is born at the same time.
["All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant."] The original Hebrew word that has been translated "paths" means "well-worn roads' or "wheel tracks," such ruts as wagons make when they go down our green roads in wet weather and sink in up to the axles. God's ways are at times like heavy wagon tracks that cut deep into our souls, yet all of them are merciful.
Our 'normal' 'adjusted' state is too often the abdication of ecstasy, the betrayal of our true potentialities.
By and large, talent is in such short supply that mediocrity can be taken for brilliance rather more than genius can go undiscovered.
Beware the tyranny of the weak. They just suck you dry.
It is foolish to tear one's hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness.
Once I gave up the hunt for villains, I had little recourse but to take responsibility for my choices.... Needless to say, this is far less satisfying that nailing villains. It also turned out to be more healing in the end.
'T is fortune gives us birth, But Jove alone endues the soul with worth.
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