If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness.In our society, the possession of knowledge is viewed as a good thing. So, many people spends years upon years of their lives in school earning one degree after another. Yet, for all the worldly knowledge they obtain, many have difficulty with normal everyday conversation. Their vast knowledge makes it very difficult for them to talk to average folks about typical mundane topics.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~
Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~
Pounding a blade and sharpening it Cannot be kept for long
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~
The engine won't start if you're always tinkering with it.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~
Knowledge is form of sharpness, but, without transcendent experience, it results in a dull blade. As with all things in the life, strike a balance.
To view the Index page for this series to see what you may have missed or would like to read again, go here.
the following essay is along the same lines as your points above. rather long, but extremely well written and memorable. i've referred people to it quite a few times:
ReplyDelete----------
http://www.theamericanscholar.org/the-disadvantages-of-an-elite-education/
The Disadvantages of an Elite Education
Our best universities have forgotten that the reason they exist is to make minds, not careers
By William Deresiewicz
----------
(he has some other very good essays too. one on solitude is quite good also.)
--sgl