Let's hear from Ralph Waldo, Quotable Quotes Guy, Emerson:
"Ideas must work through the brains and arms of good and brave men, or they are no better than dreams."
Yeah, and good and brave women, Ralph. Don't forget that.
My slogan for the big intro philosophy class I taught at Notre Dame for many years was “Ideas rock the world.” Because they do. But only through people and relationships.
My professional mantra is “Relationships rule the world.” No one ever accomplishes anything really important alone. It takes a network of friends and colleagues, collaborators and believers to make anything big happen.
We need to put these two insights together. As Plato saw, ideas are tremendously important realities, because they can lead the way into a better future. But ideas need to work through us every day in order to do their good in the world.
Do you have some dream of the future based on ideas about how things could be different? Don’t let it remain unrealized. Use your neural capacities to think out some supporting ideas - the implementation strategies you'll need. And then get into motion with arms and legs to make it happen.
You know the dream I’m talking about. Do something about it.
Today.
