Knowledge and Risk

If I limit myself to knowledge that I consider true beyond doubt, I minimize the risk of error but I maximize, at the same time, the risk of missing out on what may be the subtlest, most important and most rewarding things in life. — E.F. Schumacher

From a great Brainpickings essay, “What Children Can Teach Us About Risk, Failure, and Personal Growth

along with this, from John W. Gardner:

One of the reasons why mature people are apt to learn less than young people is that they are willing to risk less. Learning is a risky business, and they do not like failure. In infancy, when the child is learning at a truly phenomenal rate — a rate he will never again achieve — he is also experiencing a shattering number of failures. Watch him. See the innumerable things he tries and fails.

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One Response to Knowledge and Risk

  1. Betty says:

    They always say trying is important. Failing is OK. I did a lot of both. Still trying things. Sometimes good other times not so good. Heck that is OK.

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