"You see," he explained, "I consider that a man's brain originally is a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it. Now the skilful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones."
Sherlock Holmes speaking to Doctor Watson
A Study in Scarlet
1887
I seem to have filled my attic pretty full, but I'm not sure how you can prevent it.
ReplyDeleteAnn
My way is to stop listening to so many news shows. There's just so much I can take in.
DeleteOh, this is perfectly true. Too many useless facts elbowing out the useful ones, that is my brain, for sure! Now, here's the thing, those useless facts that could help me win at trivial games and pub quizzes? They don't come to mind because I get too nervous! Great frustration!
ReplyDeleteI've never participated in one of those but I bet they're fun.
DeleteI've never read this quote before and it is a good one. I remember an old movie where the robot kept asking for more input. I sometimes feel like throwing up my hands and saying "No more input!"
ReplyDeleteIt is important to have a well-furnished mind.
I love that - 'well-furnished' mind. Reminds me of the Gandhi quote: 'I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.'
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