The success principle of asking questions reminds me of the great
late Socrates. He was a master at asking questions and getting others
around him to also ask questions. The Athenian democratic government
however, didn't like Socrates' questions. His questions were too
disturbing to some of the people in power. So, some of those people in
power in the government decided that Socrates would no longer be allowed
to ask disruptive, rebellious, and even what they called "treasonous"
questions in their town square. "He was corrupting the youth." is what
they said.
The Athenian government arrested Socrates and ordered
him to stop asking questions or to face death by poison. Most of us
normal human beings would have succumbed and stopped asking questions,
but not Socrates. He drank the hemlock... and here we are today saying
that he is probably the wisest man who ever lived!
You see,
Socrates believed that the unexamined life is a life that isn't worth
living. Many of his elite followers, such as his star pupil Plato, and
Plato's star pupil, Aristotle, and Aristotle's star pupil, Alexander the
Great felt the same! Hmm... Do you see a pattern of greatness forming
here among teacher, student, and questions?
You see, what Socrates
was really talking about with all of his questions wasn't that complex
or radical after all. His philosophy was really quite simple and
something that we could all easily understand. All Socrates was really
talking about was creating a road map to a successful life by first
pinpointing where you really are right now, a navigation system if you
would? Every one of us understands the wisdom and common sense of
knowing where you stand and in which direction you need to go in next.
Now
teens, and even tweens go learn, lead, and lay the way to a better
world for all of us. Don't ever let yourself,or anybody else stop you
from being a leader and asking the tough questions of yourself and
society. After all, you are the youth of today, aren't you? And don't
the young just naturally wonder and ask questions? Come on, it's already
in your nature. Kids are natural philosophers. And Plato preached that
all future kings should be philosophers. Maybe some day you'll be that
philosopher King! But, it you're going to lead us, you can't let society
push you into silence and learned helplessness. And once again, thanks
for all that you do, and all that you will do.