The quote, which in full goes like this
has been attributed to Bruce Lee but if he never did say it then I stand corrected in saying that he did. But that's not the main point. The main point is that people on this forum, and people in the world in general, should teach those who are simple.
Im not talking about teachers specifically, Im talking about people in general who won't teach other people, and there's examples of that on this forum.
I don't actually agree with this quote fully. Specifically "He who knows not, and knows not he knows not, is a fool; shun him." should be enlighten him, rather than shun him.
I'm afraid we might need more context, since we all have limited resources, and aren't able to teach everyone what we know. There are plenty of reasons to not teach certain people. So, again ... do you have an anecdote, or specific incident?
I think that part of the quote refers to the willfully ignorant: those who believe they do know, and will not be convinced otherwise, no matter how hard you try. They resist enlightenment.
Yes. They're the ones that you should enlighten, rather than just teaching. With martial arts, it's not always a pleasant enlightenment.
I could dig up some examples but for now I will just mention that sometimes when I ask somebody to explain something they will sometimes say to figure it out myself or that they're not my teacher, that has happened on this forum among other places.
The problem is that people who fall under the category of "he who knows not and nor not that he knows not" generally can't be taught because they already know it all, as far as they're concerned. That's what it means to know not that you know not, you think you know it all so you won't be receptive to any teaching or enlightenment. It's been discussed before on this thread, about arrogant know-it-alls, it's best to shun them instead of trying to teach them when they're going to reject your teachings anyway. No need to waste your time with them.
See post #28
That's what enlightening them is for. You are enlightening them to the fact that they don't know as much as they think. At that point, you can teach them. It happens quite often.
It happens to me too.
But they're going to have to want to be enlightened for that to work and generally speaking, know it alls don't want to be enlightened because they have already reached a maximum level of enlightenment, at least they think they have. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.
Well the fact that he showed up at the gym in the first place means he at least wanted to learn something. Somebody who thinks they know everything about boxing and that they're the best boxer in the world wouldn't even go to the gym in the first place because they think they know it all and have nothing to learn there.
Simple. As I suggested before, the enlightenment is letting them know that they don't know it all. Once they figure that out, you can teach them. They don't have to want to be enlightened, they have to be willing to learn-which is what you are enlightening them of.
No, they absolutely would. They'd go to prove how awesome they are, or because they expect, as stated in the post you quoted, that they expect to be able to immediately enter the ring and win.
Alright, but they still have to want to learn, even if you do manage to convince them that they don't know it all. After that they have to want to learn if you're going to teach them.
After they lose they might or might not come back.
Yes. Which is the idea here-you convince them they don't know it all, now they are in that second category.
It’s particularly hard for people when they are not good at something they think is an area of strength.
Aren't we fun at parties?
like me and jokes…
Nah... you know you're not funny.
