Because gods perceive future things, men what is happening now, but wise men perceive approaching things.
--  Philostratus, Life of Apollonius of Tyana, VIII, 7. 



An intellectual is a person whose mind watches itself. 
-- Albert Camus (1913-1960) 

I believe that a scientist looking at nonscientific problems is just as dumb as the next guy.
--Richard Feynman

The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.
--Richard Feynman


"Whenever a rude awakening occurs - it's an eclipse to behold!"
Lani Picard


Humanity is far from perfect in its understanding,
abilities, or intentions. We must not imagine, however,
that we and our civilization are less than precious.
We have the gift of intelligence, and that is the
finest thing this planet has ever produced.
-- Michael A. Seeds

Intelligence: what you use when you don't know what to do. Jean Piaget
1929

An expert is someone who knows all the possible mistakes -- and how to
avoid them.

You know you're diametricly opposed to someones point of view when their
description of the horrific is to you one of beauty.
Michael Bowling

       Most learning does not teach understanding, it is nothing more
than a transfer of data. Context is the key to wisdom, for it is the
transfer of the tools and not just the product. Consumers are weak,
because they possess only products. Creators are powerful, because
they contain within them the secrets of life.  Exile


I don't know whether understanding how I tick is going to help me make
modifications later. But I DO know that understanding something has
helped me modify that thing on previous occasions, whereas not
understanding something has generally been a hinderence to the
process.  Darren Reynolds

No computer has ever been designed that is ever aware of what it's doing; but
most of the time, we aren't either.  -- Marvin Minsky

        "Children need a flood of information, a banquet, a feast."
              Martha Pierson, Baylor College of Medicine


    Human reason is a hierarchy of heuristics for seeking,
    recognizing, storing, and exploiting information.  But those
    heuristics were invented at random, and they were selected for
    within a very narrow evolutionary environment, cosmologically
    speaking.  It would be miraculous if human reason were
    completely free of false strategies and fundamental cognitive
    limitations, and doubly miraculous if the theories we accept
    failed to reflect these defects.
          -- Paul M. Churchland
            (A Neurocomputational Perspective, 1989)


   >If we haven't the brains to choose the best track --we 
          >should choose the track to better brains.
 Bradley Felton 

In fact, this platform-independence of most current software is a good 
model for the future of "life" and "mind" in the transhuman scenario 
contained in, but not unique to, the OPT.  The soul speaks UNIX!
Vic Stenger


"If you listen to me, then I must be worth hearing.
If you ignore me, I must be a bore.
If you approve of my views or values, then I have something of worth to offer.
If you disapprove of my comment or contribution, then I apparently had nothing to say.
If I cannot be with you without using your comments for self-evaluation, then leveling will be
impossible.
If I am preoccupied with what you think of me, then I have already shut you out." 
       -Dr. David Augsburger 

"Becoming a Better Communicator: 

    1.Work at it. 
    2.Learn to compromise. 
    3.Seek to understand. 
    4.Affirm your correspondant's worth, dignity and value. 
    5.Be positive and encouraging. 
    6.Practice confidentiality. 
    7.Wait for the right time. 
    8.Share your feelings. 
    9.Avoid mind-reading. 
   10.Give a response. 
   11.Be honest." 

       -Josh McDowell 
       The Secret of Loving 
       pp. 43. (modified) 

 And if I close my mind in fear, please pry it open 
 And if my face becomes sincere, beware
 - Metallica, "The Outlaw Torn"



It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well.
Discours de la Méthode. 1637.


> "Intelligence has fewer practical applications than one might think"

       "I think it is an extremely valuable thing, to train our mind to stand apart and examine its
       own program." --Stephen Covey 

Considered in its entirety, psychoanalysis won't do. It is an end 
product, moreover, like a dinosaur or a zeppelin; no better theory 
can ever be erected on its ruins, which will remain for ever one of 
the saddest and strangest of all landmarks in the history of 
twentieth century thought.
Sir Peter Nedawar