Here's another nice way of putting it:
From M. Fortes (1945) 'The Dynamics of Clanship among the Tallensi' p. vi
Hui Tzu said to Chuang Tzu, "Your teachings are of no practical use."
Chuang Tzu said, "Only those who already know the value of the useless
can be talked to about the useful. This earth we walk upon is of vast
extent, yet in order to walk a man uses no more of it than the soles
of his two feet will cover. But suppose one cut away the ground round
his feet till one reached the Yellow Springs, could his patches of
ground still be of any use to him for walking?" Hui Tzu said, "They
would be of no use." Chuang Tzu said, "So then the usefulness of the
useless is evident."
Evelyn
Quoting Margo Huxley <[log in to unmask]>:
> From: Thos. Sprat 1722 'The History of the Royal Society'
>
> It is strange that we are not able to inculcate into the minds of many
> men, the necessity of the distinction of my Lord Bacon's, that there
> ought to be Experiments of Light, as well as of Fruit. It is their
> usual word, 'What solid good will come from thence?' They are indeed
> to be commended for being so severe exactors of goodness. And it were
> to be wish'd, that they would not only exercise this vigour, about
> Experiments, but on their own lives and actions: that they would still
> question with themselves, in all that they do: 'What solid good will
> come from thence?' But they are to know, that in so large, and various
> an Art as this of Experiments, that there are many degrees of
> usefulness: some may serve for real, and plain benefit, without much
> delight: some for teaching without apparent profit: some for light now,
> and for use hereafter; some only for ornament and curiosity. If they
> will still persist in contemning all Experiments, except those which
> bring with them immediate gain, and a present harvest: they may as well
> cavil at the Providence of God, that he has not made all seasons of the
> year to be times of mowing, reaping and vintage.
>
> (original spelling and punctuation, but sadly, not emphases or typefaces).
>
> Margo
>
> ________________________
> Margo Huxley
> (until next Tuesday)
> Senior Lecturer
> Department of Town and Regional Planning
> University of Sheffield
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