The repeated experience of the irreversible teaches more than any study. Only if man is imbued with the notion of inescapable finitude can he fill his life with meaning and understand the value of the moment. This persistent repetition, magnificently represented by Poe in The Raven, teaches humility, responsibility and urgency all at once, something that no book can convey with such intensity.
Perhaps the Biggest Educational Problem…
Perhaps the biggest educational problem in the modern world, especially in metropolitan areas, is that man grows up in an environment almost devoid of immediate concerns and needs, which greatly impairs his perception. Prehistoric man, for example, was forced to be aware of constant threats, to plan for the future to prevent bad weather, knowing that neglect could be fatal. If he ate, he knew very well where his food came from, and he also knew what he had to do today to eat tomorrow. As for modern man, the immense facilities that surround him are not accompanied by the notion of the monstrous difficulty of making them accessible. And so he grows up with a deceptive sense of comfort, taking reality for granted, without the collaboration of his environment to show him how things work.
Sometimes, in Youth, Inconsequence…
Sometimes, in youth, inconsequence is an excellent omen, because it shows that the young man is trying to spend his share of stupidity right away. While it could be argued that there are no limits to stupidity, it must also be acknowledged that there is an obligatory and even indispensable minimum expenditure, which, the sooner it is spent, the better. Certain foolishness, once committed, teaches a lot; but there are phases that nullify the benefit of its lessons.
Although the First Few Years of an Intellectual Life…
Although the first few years of an intellectual life seem by far the most fruitful, in which each one of them seems to bring about a complete transformation in knowledge, after a certain time, although progress seems to lose momentum, the gain in direction is remarkable. In other words: at the beginning, when everything is new, we discover a lot, but knowledge expands simultaneously in many directions, and we can hardly see a direction, we can hardly see where the effort will lead. After a few years, we make far fewer mistakes, and although the difficulties increase, we move forward more consciously towards where we want to be.