Entertaining a notion, like entertaining a baby cousin or…
““Entertaining a notion, like entertaining a baby cousin or entertaining a pack of hyenas, is a dangerous thing to refuse to do. If you refuse to entertain a baby cousin, the baby cousin may get bored and entertain itself by wandering off and falling down a well. If you refuse to entertain a pack of hyenas, they may become restless and entertain themselves by devouring you. But if you refuse to entertain a notion - which is just a fancy way of saying that you refuse to think about a certain idea - you have to be much braver than someone who is merely facing some blood-thirsty animals, or some parents who are upset to find their little darling at the bottom of a well, because nobody knows what an idea will do when it goes off to entertain itself.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Refusing to consider ideas is riskier than confronting tangible dangers, because ignored ideas can grow unchecked and cause harm.
In simple terms: Ignoring ideas can be dangerous.
Key Takeaway
Engage with challenging thoughts.
Themes
cognition
risk
intellectual honesty
danger
ideas
Mood
cautious
inquisitive
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- debate
- creative brainstorming
- problem solving
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
critical thinking
psychology
philosophy
danger perception
Questions to Reflect On
- What ideas are you avoiding?
- How can you safely explore uncomfortable concepts?
A Different Perspective
Ideas left unchecked may cause unforeseen damage.