Strong Minds Discuss Ideas, Average Minds Discuss Events, and Weak Minds Discuss People
Rachel Rodman
After the Symposium, we recline on the balcony in our togas. Below us, in the shopping district, Athens’ lesser inhabitants bustle. They exchange gossip and sports statistics. They take satisfaction in things.
What limited brains!
What limited lives!
“Weak,” we spit.
“Average,” we sneer.
Our analysis is, however, only preliminary; with our strong minds, we rigorously extend it. Our ideas are immense and intricate, provocative and paradigm-defying, and we are confident that they comprise the rudiments of a new theory.
But our standards our high (we are great philosophers, after all) and we recognize that our work remains at an early stage. Additional—and exquisitely specific—proofs of these contemptible individuals’ behavioral inferiority will be essential in refining it.
See her, doing that?
(Remember her?)
See him, wearing that?
Is he actually wearing that?
We discuss.
Rachel Rodman is the author of three collections of short fiction.