"Such an Interesting Quote"
November 16, 2010, 10:35 a.m.

"Striving to be superior by defining inferiority, in my opinion, is a monumental waste of our energy. What we should be striving for, I believe, is understanding and knowledge because it affords us the stronger possibility that we can adhere to our values in any given situation."      --   J. R. Turner

This is such an interesting quote by J.R. Turner.  This striving for "understanding and knowledge"..."because it affords us the stronger possibility that we can adhere to our values in any given situation" is the reason that people of faith read and study their holy texts, or follow the teachings of their holy leaders. It's the reason that scientists (not politicians) create breakthroughs in areas we'd never dreamed of before.

Striving to be superior by defining inferiority is enjoyed on an elemental level, by those who would be bullies. I won't name names. You know who they are, you've seen them. Whether they are individuals, groups, cultures, or countries. They exist to build themselves up by bringing others down.

The interesting thing to note, is that sometimes, people strive for a very particular understanding and knowledge which only furthers and affirms their own need to be superior by defining inferiority. Therefore, not only do they get to feel superior by making that definition clear, they also get to appear humble and wise and thought of by many as a great person.

Such is the stew of life.

What I think really makes this quote interesting, is that our adherence to our values in any given situation is not assumed to be certain.  The power behind the quote is the fact that our striving for knowledge and understanding only affords us the stronger possibility of doing so.

Read Turner's full quote here.

.