“Let us be silent, for so are the gods.”
Emerson quoted this in his essay
on Intellect. He argued that speaking defiles the pristine nature of
observance; that the human intellect comes from our willingness to let the mind
flow. Perhaps, to some extent, it is true (though it is an odd statement from a
man who spoke so much). Working in insurance, I’ve always found it interesting
how society has attempted to neatly package our chaotic world. We define this
word in order to define another. We get into this mix of complex vocabulary to
ensure there is no confusion about what we mean only to make it more confusing
to the average person. Insurance policies appear to be largely sold to a
consumer base that never even attempts to understand what they are buying. They
buy because it is either mandated or because they have been told that it is a
good idea, despite stories of the big bad insurance company. As soon as we go
from watching how the world is to explaining how we see it, we falter. It is that
one step between our divinely operative brains and humanity’s rickety construct
of language where we find disconnect. The fallen Tower of Babel exemplifies
that vanity.
But, let
me now use the written word to state that intellect is not an art. Art is
creation – expression of our imperfect understanding of a world that either has
no meaning or a meaning which is beyond comprehension. We make for ourselves
our own meaning and it is the art of living, not sitting and simply being, that
we should pursue. We build and share at the risk of misunderstanding, but to
not do so would be a shame (there is no waste in a world without meaning, but I
say it would still be a shame). I have been guilty of silence, but I do not
advocate it. Still seek to understand, express yourself, and revel in
imperfection.
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