I still vividly remember the day when I first came across a book of quotations.
The book was titled "Words to live by".. The quotes were amazing. I felt as if I can spend my whole life seeking guidance from and following these quotes.
This was about 40 years ago. Today I remember only title of this book and nothing else. None of those quotes accompanied in my life.
In years that rolled by I read hundreds and thousands of quotations.
In fact, this habit of keep reading quotations confused me a lot.
A Greek lawyer, recently tweeted me and explained words "Cognitive Dissonance".
He explained that if we put contradictory quotations in our head, it creates cognitive dissonance. Mind becomes confused. It becomes unable to go in any direction.
Then recently I read autobiography of a man who invented Microsoft Word. (not Bill Gate). This man was fully in charge of department which was responsible for developing software called "Microsoft Word".
He became so rich at age of 35 that he retired. He had not much work to do except to enjoy life and to go to various clubs at night. No worry to earn money. Just like living in heaven without worry to work or to earn.
Then he wrote his autobiography.
He dealt with issue of contradictory quotations or contradictory thumb rules.
He listed various contradictiory thumb rules and discussed how one should go about it.
For example, one quote can advise "Say Less Than Necessary".
Another quote can say ,"Speak More, to Sell More."
So, which quote to follow? He reached to conclusion that each quote is good for the context in which it is to be applied.
If situation is such that it is better to apply "Say less than necessary", then apply that. If situation is such that it is better to apply "Speak more to sell more", then apply that.
In brief, he said, use quotations or thumb rules which works for you in each situation.
In Supreme Court of India, I have a very senior and wise advocate friend M N Tandon. I often turn to him to resolve my philosophical confusions.
He said, "A man should sit down to strengthen his basic beliefs." He meant to say that whatever thumb rules or quotations we wish to apply in our life, we should sit down and make them strong. In life, we cannot progress much if our basic beliefs are not strengthened.
In book 'Feeling is the Secret', the author Neville Goddard opens the book by quoting some old saying that 'there is no end to books in this world, there is no end to reading materials in this world. Reading more leads to confusion. Zero down on few worthy reading, and read them many many times'.
This much, I have to say today to those who keep reading every day new quotes.
Contradictory view
Nani Palkhiwala, the eminent jurist wrote in his books "We, the People", that it helps a lot if daily morning before starting our day, if read few inspirational books.
It does help if in morning we read some good books, quotes etc. It prepares mind to beat dust of routine life.
Thus, reading some good quotes in early morning helps us to come alive.
Conclusion
It is okay to read good quotes /books in morning. But we should strengthen our basic beliefs first. Otherwise, reading diverse quotations can lead to cognitive dissonance.
Haresh Raichura
29/6/14
