Quotes

I really have been meaning to update this sucker following my journey in What Jesus Demands, but I’d really like to share some things I’ve been pondering lately.

I have always loved quotes. Funny quotes from friends and movies or tv shows, wise quotes from wise people, and quotes that just sound cool. Quotes can often enlighten something about the world. For example, one of my favorite quotes says, “Some days you’re the dog. Some days you’re the hydrant.” This is a humorous, yet interesting take on how the world gives us good and bad. I believe that many famous quotes from people contain some real truth about the world. However, I have recently noticed how just a simple quote can absolutely direct and define someone’s philosophy. It seems that no matter how little truth is contained in a statement, if that statement catches someone’s attention with elegant wording or great usage of literary elements, it can make a huge impact on what someone believes.
Take the well-known quote, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” It sounds like a very profound statement. However, is there really truth in that? Perhaps some. Why would we fear something? Most likely because it brings harm or something bad upon us or the world. Fear does indeed have negative effects on the world, mostly indirect, such as unwillingness to take on challenging circumstances, or perhaps distrust of an unfamiliar person. However, greed brings harm into the world as well. And greed is not fear. I suppose in some very general sense, one could suggest that greed springs from insecurity, which comes from fear. But that is a great stretch, and to say that everything negative in the world is rooted in fear does not seem logical to me. However, when people make this statement a vital part of their personal philosophy, they are trying to convince themselves to fear absolutely nothing. This presumes that fear is always negative. Fear, however, can be used in some positive senses as well. Animals who have a sense of fear when a predator is near can escape and preserve their lives. When people fear the consequences of a harmful action, they are less likely to do it. This is not always the best motivation, but it is not necessarily bad. All this to say that the statement, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” does not really seem to hold up against the reality of the world. But the language within the quote captures the minds of many people and convinces them that this is completely true. Perhaps this is not the best possible example, but it is one that seemed easy to use to explain my point.
I think the purpose of this post is to both spark a discussion about the truth within some great quotes and to suggest to all who would listen to be careful when allowing what any person says to define your personal philosophy or worldview. Just because Albert Einstein or Martin Luther King Jr. or Ghandi or Bono said it does not make it true. Each of these people were/are fallible and could potentially lead people astray. I think it is important to test anything they say against the world and against alternate perspectives of the issue from other wise people around the world and throughout history. Language is a powerful tool. It is amazing how much influence one small quote can have on an entire philosophy, policy, or culture. By all means, I encourage everyone to continue quoting wise people, but before you take anything too seriously, ponder it deeply. Please share any quotes you love or hate that you feel either accurately or falsely describe the world around us.