Small minds talk about people,
Nigel Brookson
Average minds talk about events,
Great minds talk about ideas.
Socrates often emphasised the importance of ideas and the pursuit of truth over trivial matters. While Socrates himself did not say these words, the spirit of the quote definitely reflects the values of Socratic philosophy that prioritise intellectual engagement and the pursuit of wisdom I have an interest in learning about.
Let’s take a look at each of the parts, in this three-part maxim.
Small minds talk about people
The first part suggests that those with a narrower or less developed intellectual scope often focus their conversations on other people, such as gossip, personal affairs, and social dynamics.
These discussions are seen as less productive because they centre on individuals rather than on broader ideas or events that could have wider significance.
Average minds talk about events
This second part implies that people with a more average level of intellectual engagement tend to focus their conversations on current events, news, and happenings around them.
You’ve probably known people Like this, they talk about what has happened or what is happening, focusing on the details of events and their implications. Talking about weekend sports on a Monday is an example.
Great minds talk about ideas
Finally, the third part suggests that intellectually advanced and insightful individuals tend to focus their conversations on abstract concepts, theories, innovations, and ideas that can shape the future or lead to deeper understanding and progress.
They are engaged in thinking about solutions, philosophies, and possibilities, they are looking at things from a zoomed-out vantage point, noticing patterns, making observations, and proposing ideas on a higher level.
Social experiment
The next time you are having a group conversation with people you regularly meet, take note as an objective observer what is discussed.
If you find the conversation is all about people not there to defend themselves, or what happened to one of the participants last week, try to bring up an idea for discussion.
You will find out very quickly if the group of people you’re with embrace the notion or change the conversation back to gossip or what happened to them in the past.
What sort of minds are you regularly associating with and is that a reflection on them, or on you?
What would you like to talk about?
Cultivate intellectual curiosity
Ideas come from learning and analysing. Learn how to paint, play a musical instrument, take up a hobby that interests you.
Stay informed of events with purpose
When talking about current events, what are the broader implications, and lessons to be learnt? Are there links or parallels to societal issues or larger concepts than just the details of what happened, like the footy score?
Minimise gossip and personal judgments
It might be easier said than done but avoid conversations that center around gossip or unnecessary critique of others, especially if they’re not present to defend themselves. If such discussion does arise, try gently redirecting the conversation.
Do your best to focus on understanding and empathy rather than judgment. Recognise that discussing people often involves speculation at best and blatent lies at worst, so can be harmful, particularly when, and typical of a person who is a serial gossiper, they have nefarious motivation.
For further thought
What if it turned out you were the sum of the 5 people you interact with most in life?
What Pond would you like to swim in?
Is it time to find a different pond of people?
Similar Quote Attribution to Henry Thomas Buckle
Attested by Charles Stewart (of Achara, Appin, Argyllshire), a Scottish nobleman, in his 1901 autobiography, Buckle notes, “Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence ; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest, by their preference for the discussion of ideas”.[1]
[1] Stewart, Charles (27 March 1901). “Haud immemor. Reminiscences of legal and social life in Edinburgh and London, 1850-1900”. Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & sons. p. 33.
