In a time of cruelty, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor, spoke out against the atrocities. He came to believe that the root of the problem was not evil, but stupidity.

Bonhoeffer argued that stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of good than malice because reasoning with a stupid person is ineffective. Stupid people are easily satisfied with their own beliefs and become defensive when presented with contradictory facts.

Bonhoeffer believed that stupidity is not a result of low intelligence, but rather a moral failing. People become stupid by allowing themselves to be influenced by others and giving up their independence.

According to Bonhoeffer, stupidity is a sociological problem that is spread by powerful figures. Power seems to require stupidity in others in order to function.

The only way to overcome stupidity is through liberation, both internal and external. Until someone is free, attempts to convince them are likely to fail.

And it's possible to say yes to a person (reflect what you see in them, value them) but no to an idea. Good distinction.

• 00:00 🤔 Asking questions when you don't understand something is essential, even if it makes you feel like an "idiot" in the room.
• 01:00 🗣️ Speaking up about not understanding can encourage others to do the same and prevent misunderstandings in important discussions.
• 01:42 📚 Avoiding the fear of looking stupid allows for deeper understanding and clearer communication of complex ideas.
• 01:56 🔄 Once you grasp a concept thoroughly, simplify it to help others understand it better.
• 02:10 💡 There is value in being the one who asks questions until a concept becomes understandable to everyone in the room.

There's only accepting...the choosing was done a long time ago.

I am distinguishing mental suffering from physical pain. Pain occurs in the body and is a physical reaction—like when you stub your toe or break an arm. The suffering I speak of occurs in the mind only and describes things such as worry, anger, anxiety, regret, jealousy, shame, and a host of other negative mental states. I know it’s a big claim to say that all these kinds of suffering are the result of a fictitious sense of self. For now, the essence of this idea is captured brilliantly by Taoist philosopher and author Wei Wu Wei when he writes, “Why are you unhappy? Because 99.9 percent of everything you think, and of everything you do, is for yourself — and there isn’t one.”

00:58 1. Who are you spending time with?
01:43 2. Is this in my control?
02:34 3. What does your ideal day look like?
03:41 4. To be or to do?
04:30 5. If I am not for me, who is? If I am only for me, who am I?
05:31 6. What am I missing by choosing to worry or be afraid?
06:15 7. Are you doing your job?
06:59 8. What is the most important thing?
08:07 9. Who is this for?
08:48 10. Does this actually matter?
09:38 11. Will this be alive time or dead time?
10:49 12. Is this who I want to be?
11:33 BONUS: What is the meaning of life?

Skill...Life is not pleasurable without learning a skill or discipline. Hmmm..