Rational free spirits are the light brigade who go on ahead and reconnoitre the ground which the heavy brigade of the orthodox will eventually occupy.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Rational thinkers pioneer new ideas that mainstream orthodoxy later adopts.
- In plain terms
- Free thinkers scout ideas that the orthodox follow later.
- What can you take from it?
- Progress comes from independent thinkers.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Are you ahead of your peers?
- Do you value pioneers?
Another view
It romanticizes the vanguard and ignores their possible failures.
More from Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
With prophecies the commentator is often a more important man than the prophet.
Permalink to quote #84 A schoolteacher or professor cannot educate individuals, he educates only species.
Permalink to quote #86 Virtue by premeditation isn't worth much.
Permalink to quote #83
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