The Rubin Museum has asked variations of the question “What does wisdom mean to you?” to guest speakers from all walks of life: a liquor magnate who worked with Mother Teresa, a rabbi, a Zen teacher, a climate scientist, a historian, an actress, and others. Each discussion explored the role of the head, heart, and gut in guiding life choices and illuminating different aspects of wisdom. Here are a few highlights.
—I think your destiny is written inside of you. By engaging you are inspired to find that thing. It’s daring to hear your instinct for what you should be doing, seeing where you belong. Everyone can access that personal destiny if they let themselves.
Ilana Glazer
—A judgmental mind is not a good habit, it will make you miserable and nothing will make you happy.
Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche in conversation liquor heir and activist Tony Cointreau
—We are all walking on a journey that’s a circle, and every step is both away from and toward the origin—we’re already home, there’s nowhere to get to and yet we are alienated and feel the need to return.
Norman Fischer, Zen Buddhist teacher
—By contemplating [our decisions] we get back to our humanity; coming back to the essence of our humanity is the best chance we have to repair the world because we cannot repair it if we are broken souls.
Rabbi Marcelo Bronstein
—There are many fewer historical records for significant females than males, [such records can] turn real women of intellect and bravery into goddesses who should be worshiped. I hope to fill into the story sophisticated intelligent women who today’s young women might emulate.
Sunil Khilnani, author of Incarnations: India in 50 Lives
—A talented person does something you can do and does it better. Genius is different. It’s when people do things and you have no idea how you got there. They do things we can’t imagine.
David Bodanis in conversation with playwright David Auburn in a discussion about Albert Einstein
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