We Seem to Have a Tough Time Learning from Genius

Through the years, I’ve often taken a moment on March 1st to commemorate the birthday, in this case the 213th, of Frédéric Chopin.  He’s loved universally for his musical works, mostly for solo piano, for their unique rhythms and nuanced, lyrical melodies.

There’s one principal reason that his life and works are relevant to the blog here at 2GreenEnergy:  As a child prodigy, he had frustrated every one of the piano teachers in greater Warsaw, with one saying, “His technique goes against all known principles. He’s talented, but we must band together in correcting him.”  Fortunately, for him and for all of us, one of those other teachers replied, “I hope you understand that, at age nine, young Chopin plays far better than any of us.  Maybe it’s a good idea to stop correcting him and simply starting to listen and learn.”

Indeed.  Maybe it’s a good idea to stop correcting human history’s great souls, and start respecting their genius.  Speaking strictly for myself, I’m more interested in the teachings of the Buddha, Socrates, Jesus, and Gandhi than I am in those of Trump, DeSantis, and Elon Musk.