Today I will offer a few quotations from writers from earlier eras about creativity, learning, and teaching.
(illustration from Cassell’s History Of England – Century Edition – published circa 1902)
“And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche”
“And gladly would he learn, and gladly teach.”
These are the Middle English and the Modern English versions of this quotation from “The General Prologue” of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. This idea is of enormous importance to me, because I am both a teacher and a life-long student. All people should try to continue to learn throughout their lives and to teach someone else the wisdom they have amassed.
(Portrait of William Shakespeare, attributed to John Taylor
NPG London)
“Suit the action to the word,
the word to the action, with this special observance,
that you o’erstep not the modesty of of nature. For
anything so over-done is from the purpose of playing,
whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to
hold, as ’twere, the mirror up to nature, to show virtue
her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age
and body of the time his form and pressure.”
William Shakespeare (Hamlet Act 3. Scene2. lines 16-23)
Shakespeare speaks to the importance of representing life and humanity as it is and to examine the world in its complexities; it can also be an injunction for all creative efforts. I do not mean we should eliminate abstraction, metaphor, or altered forms, but that, at our core, we are creating art about humanity and our world.
“…at our core, we are creating art about humanity and our world.” ❤️
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Thank you!
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Nice choices Charles.
Hugs
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David, thank you!
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I don’t know what it is about that particular portrait of Shakespeare, but he looks kinda shifty.
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He might have been shifty.
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If he was, I’m sure some scholar somewhere has written a dissertation on it.
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That is certain!
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🙂
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I think so too, Liz.
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So, it’s not just me, then!
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Great quotes from two great writers… and I certainly agree about continuing to learn, then sharing what you’ve learned. Keeps the old noggin’ busy 🙂
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Yes, it does!
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Such wonderful quotes and perfect for us writers and perpetual learners.
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Thank you!
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Thank you!
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Two great writers I grew up with. Brilliant.
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Thank you!
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Thank you!
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I am not good at teaching, Charles. I can teach my sons and other children, but I can’t teach adults. I just don’t seem to be able to explain things to colleagues at a level they can understand. I try, but I can tell when people don’t get it. I don’t always know how to make my thoughts understandable to other people.
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Hi Robbie, please allow me to point out that your writing comments are always excellent, clear, and to the point. I always understand them.
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Thank you, Charles. I am glad to know that.
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Robbie, you are very welcome!
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Yes, we are creating art about humanity and our world. Hear, hear Charles!
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Jennie, thank you so much!
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You are welcome, Charles!
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