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Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.
-- Admiral Hyman G. Rickover
You may be wondering why I call this section "expositions" instead of "ideas."
After all, I use Admiral Rickover's two other objects -- "people" and "events" -- as banner links.
Two reasons come to mind, actually. You get to read one reason now.
I firmly believe that, to date, I have had no original thought, no unique idea, no epiphany --
and probably never will. Therefore, though I enjoy and would rather discuss "ideas," I must confess that
all my "ideas" have thus far been mere "expositions" built on the thoughts and ideas of others.
By inference, perhaps, everyone's thoughts before me were also built on the thoughts and ideas of others.
Or maybe, as Plato points out in Meno,
we know all the answers already, and this life merely offers us an oppurtunity to reacquaint ourselves with them.
Hence, I can barely, meagerly, and with due humility claim only to have projected, extended,
or expanded already known ideas (if even that). Moreso, I cannot yet come close to a claim of even having
grown any already known ideas further into unknown, uncharted territory. I am merely standing on the
shoulders of others, struggling, striving to see as far as I can see -- and hoping ever so
slightly to broaden the horizon just a little further. What, if anything, will be my contribution?
My sidebar links on this page, and additional
"fountain" links found elsewhere on
my web site, reveal ideas (expositions) of some teachers who
have influenced my thoughts and actions in small -- or large -- ways. If, after reading these
expositions, you gain a little insight into my being and becoming, please feel free to
send along your own expositions. Thanks.
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