(no subject)

[netmouse]

If you can think as another man thinks, you cannot dislike him.
--The Languages of Pao, by Jack Vance


True? False?

Comments

[howardtayler.livejournal.com]

False. We sometimes think and do bad things ourselves, and hate ourselves for it. Why should thinking like other people who think/do the same things change that?

I'll argue, however, that thinking like somebody else is the most crucial part of understanding him/her, and that will defuse any dislike founded in misunderstanding. Ultimately, however, if you want to love other people, you have to do more than empathize and understand. You have to spend time in their service.

Thinking like others is not the key to liking everybody (and the ultimate desire: Whirled Peas), but it is certainly a good start.