“He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask remains a fool forever.”
I’ve written Sunday Snippet entries in the past about fools. I’ve written about how they feel compelled to say something and how that usually leads to complaining and criticizing. We can all be fools sometimes, but we don’t have to stay that way.
The quote above is actually a Chinese proverb and it provides us with a very simple, yet very profound lesson: ask questions. Consider the curiosity of a child, gazing upon the world with wide-eyed wonder. Why do butterflies have wings? Why is the sky blue? What is sushi? Where does the sun go at night?
And it is through these questions that they can gain a better understanding of the world around them. They don’t know, so they ask. Why is it, then, that adults can oftentimes shy away from asking questions and asking the right questions? Social pressures may intimidate someone, not wanting to look ignorant among his or her peer group.
But that’s exactly the thing. If you don’t ask the question and the conversation continues, your ignorance will only intensify. Believe it or not, you’re allowed not to know something. Just remember to ask. Then, you’ll know. And then you will be better equipped to spread this knowledge to others.
Now that 2012 has arrived, many of us may be taking on some new year’s resolutions. Some may aim to reduce debt or to lose weight, but we can all strive to learn something new every day. And learning always begins with a question. Don’t be a fool. Ask questions.
Happy new year!
Hey Michael,
It’s about right but there’s one thing that it would be good to be aware of. Asking questions is great as long as one uses their own mind before asking it.
Some answers should be thought and explored by the person on their own first before asking the question of others.
Cheers.
I agree completely.
Ask questions, but ask the right ones, and try and reason it through (to a reasonable extent) first, if only to figure out exactly what it is you need to know.
Hey Zagorath,
That’s what I meant. One needs to use their own brain first before asking others to use theirs as a help.
Yes, I was just putting my own spin on basically the same point.
I thought what you said was very intelligent.
There is no such thing as a stupid question is another way to put this. If you look at something and don’t understand, ask.
While it is the person that usually succeeds or is the self starter that will look for the answer first. I personally hate to ask for help, only doing it after I have exhausted my resources. But, I also know when to cut my losses and will not go on and on looking for a solution if I have tried and cannot come up with an answer,
I must admit I am always shy of asking questions for the fear of being perceived as stupid by my peers, like you said. Although that fear has made me try to stay more informed all the time so at times, I am the one answering others questions too!
-Jean