Havelock Ellis on Value of Thinking

Posted by admin on Thursday, April 24, 2014

Havelock Ellis Money Quotation saying the value of thinking has a range from symbolic to inspirational. Havelock Ellis said:
 

 

“Thinking in its lower grades, is comparable to paper money, and in its higher forms it is a kind of poetry” — Havelock Ellis

 

 

This quote from Havelock Ellis suggests that thinking or the process of thought can occur at different levels or “grades”. The best interpretation is that at its most basic level, thinking is similar to paper money in that it has a practical use but not much intrinsic value on its own.

However, in its highest or most refined forms, thinking rises to an art form akin to poetry – it becomes creative, imaginative and able to generate insights in a way that elevates the human experience. According to Ellis, while rudimentary thinking is a functional tool, thinking developed to its fullest potential can be a thing of beauty.

The implication seems to be that we should strive to cultivate our thinking capacities to poetic heights rather than remaining satisfied with thinking that serves little purpose beyond superficial uses like paper currency.