The Precious Few

"Among the innumerable mortifications which waylay human arrogance on every side may well be reckoned our ignorance of the most common objects and effects, a defect of which we become more sensible by every attempt to supply it. Vulgar and inactive minds confound familiarity with knowledge and conceive themselves informed of the whole nature of things when they are shown their form or told their use; but the speculatist, who is not content with superficial views, harasses himself with fruitless curiosity, and still, as he inquires more, perceives only that he knows less." (Dr. Samuel Johnson, 1758)

It is obvious that throughout history a majority of the earth's population has been illiterate or, which is much worse, willfully ignorant; and despite the initiation of public education and the availabilty of so called higher education, mostly in the West, it remains so.  Sadly it seems to remain so as a percentage of population.  Think of the ubiquitous bell curve for a minute;

As philosophers, managers, sociologists, etc., repeatedly tell us only a small fraction of the population actually accomplishes, discovers, dreams, innovates or improves things. Horace Walpole commented that "Ninety percent of the population, makes you want to be with the other ten percent." and with ongoing experience and observation I beleive his witticism is probably an accurate reflection of the reality of humanity.

It's those few restless individuals all the way on the right, crammed into the front of the angle that keep life vibrant. It may be, too that the world owes its continued existence to them.  Think of the story of Lot bargaining with God, pushing the envelope really, (Genesis 19) if he could only have found a handful of decent people, Sodom & Gommorrah would still be popular seaside resort towns.

Think on that. It may well be that at some point if there are too few kind, intelligent, individualistic, responsibly insane people on the planet, it will all go up the spout . . . literally the world keeps turning because these unique people exist

If you are reading this you may very well be one of these statistical wonders, for which you have my sincere appreciation, and affection.