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Filed under Out & About, Science & Nature

Cherie’s Place – Thought for the Week

Wisdom should be cherished as a means of travelling from youth to old age, for it is more lasting than any other possession.

Bias of Priene (c. 750 BC)

At the Bend in the River

31 Comments CherryPie on May 5th 2013

31 Responses to “Cherie’s Place – Thought for the Week”

  1. Claude says:
    May 5, 2013 at 7:33 pm

    Who has it? Ever…..
    Great scenery!

  2. Marcie says:
    May 5, 2013 at 10:26 pm

    Love..love…love this quote. One – I’ll carry with me and remember!

  3. Don QuiScottie says:
    May 5, 2013 at 11:21 pm

    “more lasting than any other possession” eh? Well…I can only assume that dear Bias of Priene has not had the experience that I have had of relatives with various forms of dementia. Actually, and thankfully, the sense of humour survived long, long, long after any trace of wisdom had gone, although the humour came only in brief flashes, amid the dark and gathering gloom. As so often, I feel so many inspiring quotes reflect wishful thinking rather than reality. I do like contemplating them though. And our most lasting possession? … so far as I can see … is … nothing. The nothingness to which I expect we shall all return

    • CherryPie says:
      May 6, 2013 at 12:52 am

      I have the experience of relatives with dementia (and also multiple illnesses leading to death) and it is quite distressing to experience and cope with…

      But in relation to the quote, that is my learning point. Learning how to cope with that and at the same time wondering how I would cope in the initial stages if it happened to me… In the later stages I know it is those who are close to me that would have to cope with the situation rather than me…

      Whilst I have my full mental capacities the quote holds true. You may beg to differ and declare I am insane…

      • Sean Jeating says:
        May 6, 2013 at 9:20 pm

        Nietzsche (basically) once wrote: Only he who has chaos in his heart can give birth to a dancing star.
        I add: They who have chaos in their heads / brains can, too. Some of them. Sometimes.
        And the same chaos that can create dancing stars can create wisdom. Wisdom that sometimes lasts just a laughter long.
        Like Andrew I think one cannot ‘possess’ wisdom. I’d call wisdom rather an achievement, one though, of which the wise (wo)man does not even know that it is considered wisdom.
        Wisdom is always attributed.

        • CherryPie says:
          May 6, 2013 at 9:51 pm

          I think it probably depends on how you define wise…

          • Sean Jeating says:
            May 6, 2013 at 10:17 pm

            Did you ever hear a wise (wo)man say ‘I am wise’, even ‘I am in possession of longlasting wisdom’?
            That is why I say wisdom is always attributed.
            Well, I’ve heard people who hardly know the verb ‘to define’, attributing wisdom to people who simply are / were idiots. Yes, it always depends on one’s definition, regardless if one does know the word or not.
            And now, like Wellington before the Battle of Waterloo was hope for the Prussians to come, I wish it were night and Don QuiScottie came. :)

            • CherryPie says:
              May 6, 2013 at 11:07 pm

              Did you ever hear a wise (wo)man say ‘I am wise’, even ‘I am in possession of longlasting wisdom’?

              No I haven’t. And I agree with the thought that wisdom is attributed.

              But like you I would like to hear the thoughts of DQ ;-)

            • Don QuiScottie says:
              May 6, 2013 at 11:12 pm

              You wish it were night and Don QuiScottie came? … Well Sean, you must be in very desperate straits to wish for such a thing, for I do have the wisdom to notice that while people are often happy to see me arriving, they do often seem very content to see me go. Oh. Perhaps because I have cured all their troubles? Meanwhile I must soothe things closer to home, for Dulcinea just asked me, moments ago, “Why are you so grumpy tonight?” And she made me realize it was true. I was grumpy. So now I have pondered and told her why I was so grumpy (thinking about someone and somethings that have annoyed me, so will need smiting tomorrow). Everyone should have a Dulcinea to tell them when they are grumpy :) Goodnight. I hope you can manage without my presence meantime, but survive on just these few words, and smite any grumpiness of glumnosical gloom with Seanso’s golden sword of Seanhengeo. Oh, I forgot, this is Cherie the CherryPie’s place, not mine. Too many words. Goodbye.

              • Don QuiScottie says:
                May 6, 2013 at 11:17 pm

                Oh! And while I wrote my reply to Sean there was Cherie popping in to seek the Noble words of the Don as well! My goodness! Are you both completely mad already? I am in truth but a Noble Nutter don’t you know? Not one word of sense lives within me whatsoever, really. The wisdom of self-awareness though, still resides within my ignorant mind. Goodnight.

              • Sean Jeating says:
                May 6, 2013 at 11:32 pm

                Ah, once the head that is covered by the Golden Helmet of Perthino will count 58, which is a lucky number [digit sum 13], all grumpiness will vanish. Cheer up, dear Don. Just three more days and it will be done.
                The peace of the night.

                • Don QuiScottie says:
                  May 6, 2013 at 11:45 pm

                  I meant, of course, Seanso’s Silver Sword of Seanhengo, forgetting both the universal rule that “In Alliteration There is Truth”, and that Silver is good enough for a mere servant such as Seanso (fine and superior servant though he be). The Platinum Platter of Perthino fits me well too, and looks very fine (provided I take the fruit off of it first)

                  • Don QuiScottie says:
                    May 6, 2013 at 11:48 pm

                    And 58? Who is counting? :) I am a mere youngster (for a nutter – most do not reach my advanced insanity at such a young age, hence I must have a special talent for it.)

  4. Ginnie says:
    May 6, 2013 at 6:25 am

    I cherish wisdom even if it doesn’t last forever, Cherry! Wonderful quote for this image.

  5. Ayush says:
    May 6, 2013 at 10:09 am

    a great shot and a sobering message that goes with it, CP

  6. Chrysalis says:
    May 6, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    Well I say, “Amen” to the quote, Cherie (we’ll just add the caveat of “unless you have dementia”, after reading these comments ;)

    However, as you mentioned, perhaps the wisdom comes to those around them. And often, the short-term memory may be impaired and the fluid intelligence, but they can surprise you with what they remember they learned, 40 years ago.

    Along these lines, I’m reminded of my grandfather the day before he died. (This is actually an inspirational story, so bear with me)

    I’m lucky enough to not have dementia in my family (that is not to say there aren’t many of the younger sort who’s cogntive dysfunction I question), but in this case, my Pap had finally consented to pain medication and was either obtunded or delusional from the heavy sedation.

    However, during a lucid moment, the tiny little screw had popped out from the hinge on his glasses. He grabbed it quickly and with shaking hands, tried to put it back in. My cousin hopped up quickly to help and for some reason, instincts took over and I grabbed his arm and said, “No, don’t….let him do it”.

    And sure enough, my grandfather had popped that little screw back in within 15 seconds, when it still would’ve taken us an hour, with tools lol.

    I’ll never forget the look on his face, a dignified smile at me, then at my cousin, showing the finished product to us like a child would.

    I just said, “Hey, you still got it, Pap, look at that! You’re amazing.”

  7. Don QuiScottie says:
    May 6, 2013 at 11:52 pm

    That is a very lovely photograph, by the way. Obviously. Those tiny branches are exploring their freedom while still being constrained by what branches have to do (a bit of a metaphor for us, perhaps).

    • CherryPie says:
      May 7, 2013 at 12:14 am

      Thank you :-) The branches are what attracted me on this occasion, it is usually the bend in the river that is the focus of my photo…

      I like the metaphor :-)

  8. Claude says:
    May 7, 2013 at 1:24 am

    I said only 6 words, at the top, for this post:
    “Who has it? Ever….
    Great scenery!”

    And (for me) that’s all that was needed.
    Good thing that others are more volubile!