Friday 11 December 2020

Reminder

 

[Hat tip aynrandorg]

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6 comments:

Rick said...

It's quotes like this that help those of us with oppositional defiance disorder think we are creative and libertarian and individualistic.

Lindsay Mitchell said...

I dislike imperfect analogies. It makes no sense to fight the rip and nobody should be advised to. Unless of course they are trying to save someone's life. Second part I have no problem with.

MarkT said...

Interesting comment Rick. It points to the possibility that quotes like this can be mis-applied, to suggest opposition and defiance per se is a value. For individual's naturally inclined that way, it can lead to attempting to make a virtue of that necessity.

The reality is that to be creative at anything , you need to be *prepared* to go against the flow and stand alone. Every single act of creativity in history has required this to varying degrees. That's the reality this quote identifies. But that doesn't mean the defiance per se is a value, or that you should oppose everything you don't like, or that creativity necessarily implies standing alone. You need to pick your battles and know what's important to defy and what's not, when to go with the flow and when not to.

All creativity requires the willingness to oppose, all opposition however does not result in creativity.

MarkT said...

I don't think the quote implies you should fight the rip. You shouldn't however assume the rip is all powerful, and that where it's taking you is all for the best. Instead you should recognise the reality of where the rip is carrying you and it's danger to your life; and that you need to swim sideways as soon as it's power lessens, so you can get out of it and back to shore.

Dinwar said...

Not all currents are rip tides, and nothing in the quote says rip. A flowing stream has a current. The difference between sheep and creators is the difference between meandering aimlessly downriver and actively paddling (note that one can paddle in the same direction as the current).

Rick said...

You're onto it. If you could make that succinct as well then you'd be able to improve on the Fountainhead.