I mused upon the ironic fate which had compelled a mathematical genius to make his sole confidant of a philistine lawyer, and induced that lawyer to repeat it confusedly to an ignoramus at twilight on a Scotch hill.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A brilliant man trusted a lawyer who poorly relayed his secrets to an uneducated person in a remote setting.
- In plain terms
- Genius often confides in those who cannot properly protect or share its secrets.
- What can you take from it?
- Trust those who understand the weight of what you share.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who do you trust with your deepest thoughts?
- Can true understanding exist across different worldviews?
Another view
It assumes the lawyer was incompetent rather than deliberate.
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