I love what astonishes me and only retain that which would excite but forgetfulness in the mind of a wise man.
~ Paul Valery, The Dialogue of the Tree
If wisdom is retaining only ideas that are somehow useful or relevant then I will be content with foolishness. But I don’t really believe in wise men, only in differing capacities for astonishment. We see it in our children and it’s the same for us. You may commit briefly to memory a whole encyclopedia of facts – two days later you will only retain those things that surprised you.
