That's always a good approach: never assume you know it all, always be ready to learn more. At the same time, don't be afraid of approaching a subject because you aren't an expert.
Besides, new subjects are always the yummiest. It's after you know a fair amount that learning can become a slog. And when you're the most dangerous. It isn't the inexperienced who fall from aloft, it's the cocky.
A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again.
Alexander Pope, Essay on Criticism. Part ii. Line 15.
Pope had such luscious opinons. I like the stage of intoxication, myself. There's something so disillusioning about that stage of learning any subject where you realize how much "unknown" there is, compared to so little known.
So do I. The giddy joy of finding a new subject to be fascinated by is a lovely feeling.
The trick, I think, is to enjoy the intoxication without slipping into the mistake of thinking you're an expert, like a drunk thinking they're perfectly safe to drive when they're not. That's the 'dangerous' part of that stage.
The line between intoxication and inspiration can be a fine one. It's the stage of greatest creativity - but creativity, of course, can be dangerous. It makes us vulnerable, but it's worth it.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 05:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 05:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 05:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 05:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 05:36 pm (UTC)Besides, new subjects are always the yummiest. It's after you know a fair amount that learning can become a slog. And when you're the most dangerous. It isn't the inexperienced who fall from aloft, it's the cocky.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 06:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 06:48 pm (UTC)Here's the original:
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again.
Alexander Pope, Essay on Criticism. Part ii. Line 15.
:-)
no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 08:21 pm (UTC)So do I. The giddy joy of finding a new subject to be fascinated by is a lovely feeling.
The trick, I think, is to enjoy the intoxication without slipping into the mistake of thinking you're an expert, like a drunk thinking they're perfectly safe to drive when they're not. That's the 'dangerous' part of that stage.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-05 07:51 pm (UTC)