When you were in school, on your mathematics classes,

you would learn a formula

And then you had to apply this formula to solve a problem

 

Knowing the formula was sufficient to solve the problem

But it DIDN’T YET solve the problem

You still had to apply this formula

And that you had to practice

You had to practice applying formula — until you were capable of solving the various problem with it

 

We left school , and we had learned nothing

In part because the formulas and problems we tackled had nothing to do with the formulas and problems we tackle in real life

In part because we were too young and stupid to appreciate their value and potential application

And in part because we’re too stupid period — too stupid to learn this lesson about FORMULAS AND PROBLEM SOLVING

 

You should have learned that merely knowing the formula does NOT YET equal PROBLEM SOLVED

You should have learned that you must still do the work and SOLVE THE PROBLEM YOURSELF.

(And you should have ALSO learned that WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE THE FORMULA — the PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. It must STILL be solved. )

(AND you should have learned WHEN to spend more time LOOKING FOR FORMULA — and when to JUST SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH OR WITHOUT IT)

Those would be as valuable lessons as any

You were too stupid to realise it then, and you’re too stupid to realise it today

 

Today you learn a lot of clever little formulas

Today you learn a lot of cute little “facts”

Today you take on many fancy little beliefs

And you act as though this SOLVED anything

You fail to realise that NOTHING has yet been solved

You merely have gotten some TOOLS to solve those problems

But the problems must still be solved

There must be someone to actually APPLY those FORMULAS, actually USE those TOOLS — and actually solve those problems

 

I can’t stress enough the SIMPLICITY of this truth — and how it NEVERTHELESS ELUDES YOU

It’s not unlike the problem of “excuses” — the truth about excuses is as simple as that about the sun rising — and yet people still spend lifetimes grappling with their own excuses

It’s the same here

You know you must APPLY the formula

But you STILL prefer to just keep learning new formulas, and do nothing

You know that LIFE IS ACTION, LIFE IS LIVING

But you still just sit and TALK, and DREAM, and BS

 

Some truths are the most difficult precisely because they are so simple

 

Apply the fucking formula or get rid of it

Don’t speak of any “knowledge” and “knowing” and “wisdom” EVER in separation with REAL LIFE USE CASE

Preferably an extremely recent and relevant use case, not yet distorted by your rationalisation and idealisation

Preferably something you did today

INDEED you are only what you did today

And “FORMULAS” and KNOWLEDGE ONLY have value today, when you APPLIED it