To know a thing you have to trust what you know, and all…
““To know a thing you have to trust what you know, and all that you know, and as far as you know in whatever direction your knowing drags you. I once had a pet pine squirrel named Omar who lived in the cotton secret and springy dark of our old green davenport; Omar knew that davenport; he knew from the Inside what I only sat on from the Out, and trusted his knowledge to keep from being squashed by my ignorance. He survived until a red plaid blanket--spread to camouflage the worn-out Outside--confused him so he lost his faith in his familiarity with the In. Instead of trying to incorporate a plaid exterior into the scheme of his world he moved to the rainspout at the back of the house and was drowned in the first fall shower, probably still blaming that blanket: damn this world that just won't hold still for us! Damn it anyway!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Trust in familiar knowledge can be destabilized by unfamiliar changes, leading to vulnerability.
In simple terms: Familiarity can be deceptive.
Key Takeaway
Balance trust with adaptability.
Themes
trust
knowledge
vulnerability
Mood
anxious
curious
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- learning
- adaptation
- risk management
Key Concepts
Existentialism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you stay grounded when environments shift?
- When should you question trusted assumptions?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on the known can blind one to new dangers.