THE STATE OF THINKING
thinking cap n. A state in which one thinks, esp. carefully —Webster’s New World Dictionary
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I don’t know about your state, but I don’t think the “red” state I live in bothers to do much thinking — or it wouldn’t be a red state. But, GOPolitics aside — and being in a thinking state of mind — I thought I’d do a thinking post today, including quotes about thinking by thinkers whom I think know what they’re thinking about. But first, here’s a thought-full ditty to get you in the mood:
There is no expedient to which a man will not go to avoid the labor of thinking. —Thomas Edison
Few people think more than two or three times a year. I have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week. —George Bernard Shaw
When all men think alike, no one thinks very much. —Walter Lippmann
Ours is an age which is proud of machines that think, and suspicious of men who try to. —Howard Mumford Jones
There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe everything, or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking. —Alfred Korzybski
When men talk, they seldom stop to think; when women talk, they seldom think to stop. —Evan Esar (sorry about that, ladies)
Men can live without air for a few minutes, without water for about two weeks, without food for about two months — and without a new thought for years on end. —Kent Ruth
Many people have eaten and drunk themselves to death. Many people have played themselves to death. Nobody ever thought himself to death. –Gilbert Highet
For God’s sake, don’t let us think. If we did, there would be an end to society. —Lucas Cleeve
But there will be no end to this post without one more song….
….or (on second thought) two….
Here’s thinking of you, kid.
Rivergirl 4:12 pm on January 29, 2023 Permalink |
I’d like to comment, but I feel as if I should think about it first…
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mistermuse 4:58 pm on January 29, 2023 Permalink |
If you were a Donald Trump supporter, I’d say DON’T STRAIN YOURSELF….but since you have more sense than that, I (like you) will go with the flow, River: 😉
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Rosaliene Bacchus 4:41 pm on January 29, 2023 Permalink |
Excellent quotes!
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mistermuse 5:00 pm on January 29, 2023 Permalink |
I think so too, Rosaliene!
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JosieHolford 6:44 pm on January 29, 2023 Permalink |
Useful collection of quotes.
Here’s one more:
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” – Hamlet.
And it is so true that most of us find thinking for ourselves just too much trouble. We come across a new situation, problem, or event, and off we run to our favorite go-to person or resource to help us with what to think. We then take that opinion or judgment on as our own without actually thinking it through for ourselves.
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mistermuse 7:13 pm on January 29, 2023 Permalink |
You said it, Josie — that’s how Hitler, Trump, and despots throughout history have been able to attract millions of followers who are either unable, or don’t want, to think for themselves. Reminds me of the Oscar Wilde quote, “I think God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated His ability.”
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JosieHolford 8:30 pm on January 29, 2023 Permalink
And all the time said alleged “thinkers” believe they are being thoughtful, aware, and sometimes even counter-cultural.
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magickmermaid 7:08 pm on January 29, 2023 Permalink |
Love the quotes and the tunes! 🙂
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mistermuse 7:16 pm on January 29, 2023 Permalink |
Thanks, mm. Only the best is good enough for my readers…. including you! 😀
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annieasksyou 8:26 pm on January 29, 2023 Permalink |
Where do AI CHATbot thinkers fit into all this? Those newest bits are apparently byting writers’ efforts. Bloggers beware! They may push our ROM out of the writers’ rooms.
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mistermuse 10:22 pm on January 29, 2023 Permalink |
I have zero experience with Chatbox, but even if it’s not a live human being doing the chatting, a live human being created it, so it’s not infallible (unless it was the Pope). 😀
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obbverse 8:29 pm on January 29, 2023 Permalink |
Just like Republicans; I think not.
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mistermuse 12:33 am on January 30, 2023 Permalink |
If the Tories in your country are even half as vile as the Republicans in America, I applaud your not thinking like them. 😉
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