"I lived through the following spring, at 18, with that knot in my chest, but I struggled against becoming serious. Becoming serious was not the same thing as approaching the truth, I sensed, however vaguely. "
- Norwegian Wood, Haruki Murakami
This line always stuck with me, and is very much in the same vein as "the cynicism trap". Murakami seems to suggest that there's this pull to cynicism as we turn to adults, as the abhorrent truths we'd be protected from as children and teens comes into full view. Being intelligent means observing these, appreciating them, but disallowing them to nip the heart from you.
Murakami is the kind of authour who I enjoy and cannot really say why.
I have to recommend Norwegian Wood - it's got this gloomy, odd, peculiar feeling about it which reels you in somehow. I read it while in Japan which was a bonus.
I also read Kafka on the Shore - not my favourite. Some great parts but all in all too surreal and abstract for me.
"The guy who stays critiquing without ever creating. Complaining without ever building. Saying why something won’t work without ever trying. Always looking for the worst people." - love it.
so what do you think the solution to the cynicism catch is?
Very very true - and a fine antidote - thank you for sharing. Have you read the Beginning of Infinity by Deutsch? Lots of stuff about real optimism there
Wild you say that. I’m reading it literally right now! Love his “principle of optimism.”Still grappling with understanding much of that book! Making highlights everywhere snd listening to Brett Hall break it down on YouTube. Absolutely fascinating stuff so far.
"I lived through the following spring, at 18, with that knot in my chest, but I struggled against becoming serious. Becoming serious was not the same thing as approaching the truth, I sensed, however vaguely. "
- Norwegian Wood, Haruki Murakami
This line always stuck with me, and is very much in the same vein as "the cynicism trap". Murakami seems to suggest that there's this pull to cynicism as we turn to adults, as the abhorrent truths we'd be protected from as children and teens comes into full view. Being intelligent means observing these, appreciating them, but disallowing them to nip the heart from you.
Thank you for the thoughtful comment, Ned. That’s a wonderful line. I have heard great things about that author. Any book recommendations?
Murakami is the kind of authour who I enjoy and cannot really say why.
I have to recommend Norwegian Wood - it's got this gloomy, odd, peculiar feeling about it which reels you in somehow. I read it while in Japan which was a bonus.
I also read Kafka on the Shore - not my favourite. Some great parts but all in all too surreal and abstract for me.
Hahaha definitely a bonus that you read it in Japan! Thanks for the book recommendations.
"The guy who stays critiquing without ever creating. Complaining without ever building. Saying why something won’t work without ever trying. Always looking for the worst people." - love it.
so what do you think the solution to the cynicism catch is?
Realizing that most successful people are optimists. Something like a line I saw on Twitter once “pessimists sound smart, optimists win.”
And also realizing that too much cynicism is the perfect recipe for misery.
Very very true - and a fine antidote - thank you for sharing. Have you read the Beginning of Infinity by Deutsch? Lots of stuff about real optimism there
Wild you say that. I’m reading it literally right now! Love his “principle of optimism.”Still grappling with understanding much of that book! Making highlights everywhere snd listening to Brett Hall break it down on YouTube. Absolutely fascinating stuff so far.
“The guy who stays critiquing without ever creating.” - well said!
Do you even have a creative outlet bro?