Quotes About Understanding

Possessing a theory of mind means that an individual ascribes mental states, such as purpose, intention, knowledge, beliefs, doubts, pretending, liking, and so forth, to himself and to others.

24 It is worthwhile to take a moment to understand the difference between a structural and a functional network. "Structure" refers simply to the physical anatomy of a network: how many neurons, how they are arranged, their shape, and so forth. A functional network performs a certain function; it may have to do with speaking language, or it may have to do with understanding language. Importantly, the structure of a network does not reveal its function, or vice versa.

How on earth does lifeless matter become the building blocks for living things? How do neurons turn into minds? What should be the vocabulary used to describe the interactions between the brain and its mind? When humankind finds some answers, will we be disheartened by what they are? Will our future understanding of "consciousness" simply not be fulfilling? Will it be simple yet cold and harsh?

perhaps the founders understood us better than we understand ourselves.

The question is not whether he read James, but which James he read.

Education, from Addams' perspective, must not merely make us more adept at defending ourselves against those with different agendas. Education should increase our powers of empathy and our ability to act in concert with others.

Our role as geometers is to discover the inherent proportion, balance, and harmony that exist in any situation.

I shall not commit the fashionable stupidity of regarding everything I cannot explain as a fraud." – Dr. Carl Jung

But do I need to say anything?" Sophie asked. "Do I need to learn any words?" "Like what?" Saint-Germain said. "Well, when you lit up the Eiffel tower, you said something that sounded like eggness." "Ignis," the count said. "Latin for fire. No, you don't need to say anything." "Then why did you do it, then?" Sophie asked. Saint-Germain grinned. "I just thought it sounded cool.

When you've lived as long as I have, nothing much surprises you.

Impatience and stupidity claim more victims than any weapon.

She knew then that whatever he was -- whoever he was -- he had not lost his humanity.

I spoke about wings You just flew I wondered, I guessed and I tried You just knew

hate is the most useless of all emotions.

If you tell people everything you take away their opportunity to learn.

What is the greatest mistake a parent can make?' she asked. 'To believe that your children will be just like you.

But what science cannot understand, it dismisses.

Perhaps it was only that when you try to put it into words you cannot express it truly, it never sounds as you dream it.

When you see a struggle that you may be having personally put on a big screen and in a roomful of people, then it makes you feel less crazy or alone, because you're seeing that other people are dealing with it too. You get to see in this imaginary scenario how people might try and answer some questions or deal with some problems.

Intelligent Design is a remarkably uncreative theory that abandons the search for understanding at the very point where it is most needed. If Intelligent Design is really a science, then the burden is on its scientists to discover the mechanisms used by the Intelligent Designer. (80)

Perspective-taking is the psychological foundation underlying the capacity for empathy. To judge the rightness or wrongness of an action against another, one must first take the perspective of that other sentient being.

I'm a skeptic not because I do not want to believe, but because I want to know.

Reality exists independent of human minds, but our understanding of it depends upon the beliefs we hold at any given time.

Oh, I beg your pardon; I do not know—" he stammered. "What to make of me," interrupted the other. "You would therefore do well to believe just what I tell you, or at least to avoid making conjectures of your own, which will lead to nothing.