Related quotes: I, as a human, am...

The society is stagnant.

I, as a human, am endowed with
An abnormal ability to learn
From the experience of others,
And also with certain disinclination
To follow what I have learnt from theirs.
That is why the society is stagnant.
08.07.2006

poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
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Related quotes

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

Douglas Adams in Last Chance to See
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Why do we learn?

I learn to show that I know.
I learn so that I can teach well.
I learn so that I can write well.
To learn is to not follow.
09.07.2006

poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Human Experience

What other experience,
Would one wish to have...
Than this as it is.
This human experience?

Having life,
Which is not always happy or sad!
Although on occasion ecstatic.
And at other times life sits in a static.
Emphatically stagnant,
That seems to drag!

Blending in with nature's mix...
Are the 'have nots' with those who 'have'.
And many interpret this,
Based upon materialistic wishes.
With accumulated treasures...
To fulfill dreams and hopes,
The human experience teaches...
Showers those who are persistently consistent.
And driven by 'ethics' of hard work.

And yet there are others,
Who would rather sit and complain.
As they seek someone devoted to listen to them...
With patience enough,
That does not exhaust with a straining of the brain.
Or completely drain to leave one insane.

Relationships diverse and complex...
With choices chosen by preferences.
To tease with variety,
That appease appetites craved...
To quench a thirst that exists.

Having life,
Which is not always happy or sad!
Although on occasion ecstatic.
And at other times life sits in a static.
Emphatically stagnant,
That seems to drag!

But what other experience,
Would one wish to have...
Than this as it is.
This human experience?

Would it be better enjoyed...
If taxes and the stress of living it,
Were totally eliminated?
And the ease of laziness...
Awarded those who are,
With prizes and gifts...
For this accomplishment!

poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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The only thing we have learnt from experience is that we learn nothing from experience.

quote by Chinua Achebe
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Follow Me

You’re hanging over a precipice,
looking down; you know you are going to fall.
At the last moment, a hand grasps yours.
A stranger whom you cannot see.
Slowly they haul you from your fate to be.
Their face you still cannot see,
but their words echo around you,
come on my brother follow me.

Foot holds come one at a time,
safety is now assured.
Slowly you move upwards,
one-step at a time along the way.
At the top the stranger is waiting,
his face blocked by the sun.
His voice is gentle and serine,
come on my brother follow me

You climb to your feet and follow,
as he begins to lead the way.
In his footsteps, you follow,
each and every day.
You learn things with every step.
You learn to have humility,
with everyone to you chance to meet,
a lesson well learnt and greet.

You still hear his words,
come on my brother follow me,
you still have a lot to learn,
and I have little time to teach thee.
You follow him through dangerous paths,
but no ill falls upon you.
You follow him until your dying day,
and into the next life to.

And, all the time his words,
they seem to follow you,
come on my brother follow me.
You walk where he walks,
and see what he sees,
and when its time to part,
his words are still with you,
come on my brother follow me.

poem by David Harris
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Nature, not content with denying him the ability to think, has endowed him with the ability to write.

quote by A.E. Housman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Nature not content with denying him the ability to think, has endowed him with the ability to write.

quote by Alfred Edward Housman
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Sonnet -On Experience

One cannot learn from experience always,
For Knowledge is a sea; experience, Lake;
Some learn the same in hours or weeks or days;
Some never do all life, forever fake.

Experience implies one had done mistakes;
It is much wiser to learn from others;
To forget knowledge too, experience makes;
A continued process, it is, brothers.

Experience can't vouchsafe a man is wise;
And wisdom comes to one who God well loves;
Too much of experience could turn a vice.
All need not see the burst of bombs or stoves.
By experience, no man should turn haughty,
Nor should he try to be with peers, naughty.

poem by John Celes
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The link between ideas and action is rarely direct. There is almost always an intermediate step in which the idea is overcome. De Tocqueville points out that it is at times when passions start to govern human affairs that ideas are most obviously translated into political action. The translation of ideas into action is usually in the hands of people least likely to follow rational motives. Hence, it is that action is often the nemesis of ideas, and sometimes of the men who formulate them. One of the marks of the truly vigorous society is the ability to dispense with passion as a midwife of action - the ability to pass directly from thought to action.

quote by Eric Hoffer
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It may be an extreme example brought about by abnormal circumstances - but the criteria of human rights kick in, surely, precisely when the conditions are extreme and the situation is abnormal.

quote by Breyten Breytenbach
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Advice is in vain

Worthy advice is born
Out of one’s experience
No one would follow it
Until one experiences it.
29.01.2006

poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
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What Makes Us Human

I believe ability makes us intelligent, it distinguishes us from animals
I believe all have the ability to learn, to create art, to love
I believe we can let our ability go to waste, or we can let it flourish
I believe our ability that makes us human is our intelligence and good judgement
I believe many choose to ignore this ability and rely on animalistic instinct
I believe some humans treat animals better than humans
I believe to make this world peaceful we need to let our abilities flourish

It is curious that many people advocate humane treatment for animals, but treat actual humans inhumanely

poem by Lenore Lee
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It is fine, let us learn from swine

It is fine
Let us learn from swine
The flu that has inflicted millions nine
And made them confine
Suffering in pain
With a totally new fatal design
Defying all understanding developed to define
An infection and its ways malign
And with the ability to make medicines resign
Forcing us to redesign
Our medical approach and tune-fine

It is fine
Let us learn from swine
What we have not learnt from the virus
That made our immune system porous
And created a situation disastrous
More than three decades of research rigorous
With no solution really vigorous
To put an end to that problem stupendous

It is fine
Let us learn from swine
What we failed to learn
From tsunami that raised concern
And killed millions to earn
A notorious name all over, but we failed to discern
The cause of this killer govern
Tsunami was only a word to learn
From a dictionary till then, but when we saw its thorn
We came to know how far we were torn

It is fine
Let us learn from swine
That all the above only showcase
The greedy ways
Of the human race
In the name of developmental phase
With no regard for nature’s grace
To see that every one has
What all his needs surface

It is fine
Let us learn from swine

poem by Bashyam Narayanan
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Human beings are accustomed to think of intellect as the power of having and controlling ideas and of ability to learn as synonymous with ability to have ideas. But learning by having ideas is really one of the rare and isolated events in nature.

quote by Edward Thorndike
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Nourishing My Mind

I've learnt what's required, and now I'm bored:
My mind feels the need to learn something more.
To learn new things, my heart is now yearning;
I need to keep my mind's cogwheels turning.

The information I've learnt, I need to revise;
To move on and forget it, wouldn't be wise.
For learning, I've suddenly discovered a taste;
What I've learnt so far, will not go to waste.

In learning, as a child, I possessed less interest,
But now, I'm a lot older, I am trying my best.
As an adult, I'm finding I really love to learn:
The flame, within my soul, has started to burn.

What I've learnt so far, just doesn't seem enough;
I feel ready to learn a whole lot more new stuff.
Nourishment for my mind, is what I'm needing,
So, now each and every day, more I am reading.

I need more information to help me fill the hole;
I need more information, to help achieve my goal.
With studying, I have become somewhat obsessed,
But I need to be prepared, so as I can pass the test.

I hope that all this new knowledge that I require,
Will give me the confidence to rise a little higher.
To broaden my mind, I suddenly feel really keen;
Maybe, one day, I will achieve all of my dreams.

poem by Angela Wybrow
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Experience

Education is not experience.
Experiment is not experience.
A going through is experience.
Durable are you by experience.

You should cook to be a cook
16.03.2006

poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
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I learn

I learn when I teach others
I learn when I listen
I learn when I read
I learn from children

I learn from animals
I learn from nature
I learn how to breathe
I learn how to live
I learn how to love
I learn how to be a human being

I'm always learning ...

poem by Viorel Vintila
Submitted by anonym
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