It's About Learning

The reasonable [person] adapts [themself] to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to [themself]. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable [person].

This updated quote is based on Geoge Bernard Shaw’s (1903) Maxims for Revolutionists which was an appendix to his play Man and Superman: A Comedy and a Philosophy. The following is the original quote.

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man (Shaw, 1903).

I am currently working with a new group of graduate students who are building their literature reviews to support their innovation plans and as result, like my students, I have to walk the talk and go back to the primary source whenever possible. It has been many years since I last read through Shaw’s Maxims for Revolutionists so when I reviewed the above quote on Reason also I reviewed the entire work. I have always been was struck by the satirical or contrarian bent of most of Shaw’s writing and his maxims are some of the best examples of his desire for progress or change.

Shaw is the unreasonable man that he writes about and he was striving to adapt the world to himself. While some may not agree with the man or his philosophy there is no denying some of his ideas are impactful and as challenging today as they were over 100 years ago.

This is not the first time I have considered Shaw’s maxim – The Power of Being An Unreasonable Learner

Reference
Shaw, G. B. (2002). Maxims for revolutionists: Reason (1903). Man and Superman: A Comedy and a Philosophy. Indy publishing Co., New York

Simon Sinek’s quote:

“The primary ingredient for progress is optimism. The unwavering belief that something can be better drives the human race forward.”

has made me change the way I view being optimistic. My wonderful wife reminds that not everyone appreciates my constant pursuit of the “better way” and that I often come across as a bit of a delusional optimist. As a result I don’t mind joking around and calling myself a delusional optimist because to many people my optimism may appear unrealistic.

But when I accept Sinek’s assertion that optimism is fundamental to progress then perhaps I am not delusional I am simply progressive. Progress does require that we push the boundaries of reality so being unrealistic is actually a necessity.

Fortunately, I am not alone in this type of thinking. George Bernard Shaw wrote:

“a reasonable man adapts himself to the conditions that surround him. The unreasonable man adapts conditions to himself…therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”