Today's quotes...

[fajrdrako]

From today's "Quotes of the day": "

If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be Enthusiasm. - Bruce Barton, 1886 - 1967

and

I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity. - Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884 - 1962

Which made me wonder: which is more important, enthusiasm or curiosity? They tend to go together. Curiosity is enthusiasm about something you haven't encountered yet.

Of course, I don't think either trait can be given, except by fairy godmothers. Too bad they aren't in greater supply.

Comments

[squashed.livejournal.com]

No, but they can both be encouraged or discouraged.

Happy Holidays!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

And a wise parent will encourage both.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

[teaphile.livejournal.com]

I think it's more important for the parent to have enthusiasm towards the things the child enjoys. A detached or barely-interested parent can actually sap the child of enthusiasm, and without enthusiasm you don't develop clear goals or any real determination to pursue goals. I know this from experience. Why succeed at something if nobody around you cares if you fail or not?

Bleh. That's too depressing for right now.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Depressing, yes, but a good example of what we're talking about.

To some extent, I think both enthusiasm and curiosity are instrinsic to a character. These can certainly be stifled by a parent, but the parent doesn't change the child's nature - just depresses and discourages the child. Equally, and enthusiastic and curious parent might have a child who is neither enthusiastic nor curious and nothing they can do will make them so. People come in all types.

I suppose most people are somewhere in the middle, and some nurturing of good qualities, and the setting of a good example, is always to be desired. Yet no parents are perfect people, even if we could imagine such a thing.

Could it be that I only value these qualities because I have them?

(Thoughtful pause.)

To what extent do we make our value choices based on our personality types? And if we do... is that good or bad?

[teaphile.livejournal.com]

And on the other hand, a parent can do real harm by pushing the child in too many directions or too hard in one direction without letting the child set her own interests.

Could it be that I only value these qualities because I have them?

Quite possibly, although I value enthusiasm because I don't have it. I love to see it in other people, especially children, and I try to encourage them as much as possible. I do have a lot of natural curiosity, and no one ever nurtured that in me. However, I've also known people who felt curiosity was a dangerous trait that should be curtailed as much as possible.

I fear it's far more complex than we can even begin to imagine.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

a parent can do real harm by pushing the child in too many directions or too hard in one direction without letting the child set her own interests.

There are a lot of ways to be a bad parent. And a laissez-faire attitude can be bad too. It's a wonder any of us grow up sane.

I value enthusiasm because I don't have it.

There are qualities I value that I see in other people, and don't have myself. And there are qualities that I have and hate, that I hate just as much when I see them in other people. (Shyness, for example.)

I've also known people who felt curiosity was a dangerous trait that should be curtailed as much as possible.

Ah, but they're simply wrong. I suppose they work on the principle that "Curiosity killed the cat?" But it's led to all human progress too, so I'll go with it....


I fear it's far more complex than we can even begin to imagine.

This is true of a lot of aspects of human nature. The more I learn, the more astounded I am - and the more confused.

[lmondegreen.livejournal.com]

Ack! I first read that as 'let it be Euthanasia'. 'Enthusiasm' works much better.
I only had one glass of wine with supper, honest...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I believe you. I'm the trusting sort.

[dargie.livejournal.com]

If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be Enthusiasm.
LOL, I read this as "Euthanasia." I must learn not to read complicated things while under the influence.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, that puts a whole new spin on things! I'm not sure it if makes it farce or a horror story...