Neil deGrasse Tyson, an “expert on The Universe” — which has to be the sweetest job description ever — holds a Q&A session at Google:
I’m not worried about kids. I’m worried about grown ups. These are the ones who vote. These are the ones who tell you, “The world is coming to an end in 2012!”
Kids don’t say that — grown ups do.
I’m worried about grown ups who say, “Read my horoscope! Tell me where they’ll find money tomorrow!” Grown ups say this — not children. Children do not read horoscopes. Children are perfectly happy counting through the number 13. Children are not afraid to walk under ladders. They see a black cat cross their path, they say, “Oh the kitty!” and they want to pet it — not run in the other direction. Children are not the problem here.
Kids are born curious. They’re always exploring. We spend the first year of their lives teaching them how to walk and talk. And the rest of their lives telling them to shut up and sit down.
-Neil deGrasse Tyson
If only adults were as fearless as children. Imagine a world where people aren’t afraid of being wrong. Of being different. Of not knowing something. Of failing. Kids are naturally curious. Vastly creative. Think they can do anything. Then we change them.
posted on December 4th, 2009 in quotes