Twisted but true

“We find that at present the human race is divided into one wise man, nine knaves, and ninety fools out of every hundred. That is, by an optimistic observer. The nine knaves assemble themselves under the banner of the most knavish among them, and become ‘politicians'. The wise man stands out, because he knows himself to be hopelessly outnumbered, and devotes himself to poetry, mathematics, or philosophy; while the ninety fools plod off under the banners of the nine villains, according to fancy, into the labyrinths of chicanery, malice and warfare.”
- T. H. White, an English author best known for his Arthurian novel, The Once and Future King.

Every one in this world has a sense of humour. Some use it to laugh at jokes, though generally, he who laughs last does so because he just did not get the joke. Some others laugh at opinions.

Fools laugh at everything but themselves. Not a wonder since many fools occupy positions where fools ought not to be, and hold on to them: thus, the joke is on us. They can also afford to laugh their guts out because, they know not that it is easier to fool fools than to convince them that they have been, fooled. Sounds twisted; nevertheless a fact of, life. When you are the only sane person in a crowd, more often than not, you look like the only insane person.

This too may look twisted, but it is true. Sometimes, we lie in bed asking ourselves questions for which we know we have no answers; keeping awake half the night. It is nothing but twisted reasoning, yet the fact that we do so is true. Sometimes two people with gulf too wide to, ever be bridged, and knowing fully well that it never will be for her eyes tell she had had too much in them, and his heart way too little for things to keep going; still lead a life together, in union, that amazes most of us. It seems twisted, but is true; and shows only that every choice has a consequence, every consequence another choice.

Nevertheless, and in spite of these twisted but true facts, I have often tended to believe that the world is a nice, logical, rational, safe place.

Yet, invariably, consistently, I have been, proved wrong. Nevertheless, I also noticed that, that has never stopped anyone else from thinking the same way.

Comprehend this: The ones that you love the most are usually the ones that hurt you the most. Sounds familiar, even if a bit twisted, does it not? For that matter, slapstick comedy may seem funny, as long as you are not the one slapped with the stick.

Besides, do you know that it was not curiosity that killed the goose who laid the golden egg, but an insatiable greed that devoured common sense.

On the other hand, there are people who want one class of persons to have a liberal education.

Nevertheless, they want another class of persons, a very much larger class of necessity in every society, to forgo the privilege of a liberal education and fit themselves to perform specific difficult manual tasks so that the persons of the former class can lead a comfortable life.

These are all examples of twisted thinking. Sad it may all be, but they are all as true as the sun will rise only in the east. “Ay me! sad hours seem long,” said William Shakespeare.

Puzzled

Two circumstances lead to individual arrogance. One is when you are wrong and you do not want to face it; the other is when you are right and nobody else can face it.

In an exhibition of the latter kind of conceit, I wish to say that I have dug deep into my memories for the useful things I learned in my life.

I am puzzled... Many things I recall are quite normal and supportive of the way I supposed the world would be, good being good and bad - well nothing special to learn there; but what does one make of these true but twisted experiences?

Many supposedly bad people have helped me. Purported good people, did me harm. Friends sold each other in times of need, while enemies joined for the sake of better causes. Gentle people did evil things and evil ones good things.

Upright ones proved mad, and crazy ones spoke with good logic. Respectful people were, reeking with prejudice; outcasts were open to truth. Some who owed me forsook me, while total strangers saved me from trouble, at their risk.

Honest people proved heartless, whereas scoundrels with big hearts gave me with both hands. Bright people acted like destructive fools while stupid ones were prudent and sensible. Learned ones were obtuse know-alls, whereas the ignorant, curious and willing to learn. Liars spoke the truth and honest men lied.

Kind people were stupid; silly people proved skilled masters of their trade.

Scrupulous believers proved hypocrites to their vows; cynical atheists died for moral justice. Loving fathers were callous torturers, and whores, kind-hearted mothers.

Experienced people kept being dead wrong, and beginners inexplicably right.

Contradiction

All the above may be twisted; but it is life. What is there to learn from this chaos? What did I learn from this?

I learned that I will be myself only if I owned my mind; and judged to my best.

I had to grow accustomed to unresolved contradiction. Contradiction makes you dizzy only if you cannot challenge endless change.

I understood the saying of an Indian sage: The enemies of today may be the friends of tomorrow and the friends of today the enemies of tomorrow.

I grew prone to agree to disagree peacefully, as long as, I am left in peace. I learned that there is a time for doubting everything and another to judge and decide, while there are also some moments to simply trust.

I learned to trust myself “but make allowance for their doubting too.” I learned that in human matters, precision is far from truth. I learned to make peace with the fact that what I do not know and will never know is infinite.

I learned to ground my knowledge on the little I know, untroubled by the million reserves I always keep in mind. I grew reluctant to judge people. I learned not to weigh people by, what they were, or what they are; what they do, and what they possess.

I learned to stick to my own values, aware of changing winds and tides. I learned that it is possible, necessary, and advisable to see the good seed inside the bad fruit, and the bad seed inside the good fruit.

This made me much stronger, even when I seemed lost of hope.

For views, reviews, encomiums, and brick-bats: [email protected]