A haunting thought

“A mind that questions everything, unless strong enough to bear the weight of its ignorance, risks questioning itself and being engulfed in doubt. If it cannot discover the claims to existence of the objects of its questioning -- and it would be miraculous if it so soon succeeded in solving so many mysteries -- it will deny them all reality, the mere formulation of the problem already implying an inclination to negative solutions. But in so doing it will become void of all positive content and, finding nothing which offers it resistance, will launch itself perforce into the emptiness of inner revere.” - Emile Durkheim

I fear this may be the mindset of many smart people at many stalled organizations.

Posted August 11, 2009
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Strategic Growth Advisors

Tom, this is a fitting post to describe a handful of today's new-age tenderfoot entrepreneurs: doubtful, cynical and always resorting to negative solutions. Nicely emphasized, Emile Durkheim.

Posted by: Strategic Growth Advisors | August 11, 2009 at 10:30 PM

Frank DiCostanzo

Thanks for posting this, Tom. I think "questioning everything" takes on new meaning in the information age. Our entrepreneurial footing is steadied not so much by what we know, but by what we value, leading us back to our personal values and everything back of them. The "positive content" I find out there reinforces what I already believe in—integrity, truth, and kindness. Keep up the great posts...

Posted by: Frank DiCostanzo | August 12, 2009 at 08:32 PM

Tom Asacker

"Our entrepreneurial footing is steadied not so much by what we know, but by what we value . . ."

That's the best thing I've read in a long while Frank. Thank you.

Posted by: Tom Asacker | August 13, 2009 at 08:40 AM

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