When Nelson asks Earl a question he answers “I don’t know” After this happens a few times. Nelson says “Am I bothering you grandpa?” Earl replies “No, if you don’t ask questions, you’ll never learn anything.”
I once read that a single week-day edition of the New York Times contained more information than a person of Shakespeare’s time (mid sixteenth to early seventeenth centuries) would learn in his entire life. (Of course, I read that back in the day when “print media” was a real thing and literacy was considered important.)
My granddad taught me when I was just a little yonker, that if you learn one new thing every day, even if what you learn will not serve you in any other way, then the day has not been wasted. The act of learning is an art unto itself, one has to continue to learn throughout their life to keep from getting stagnant, and muddle headed.
A long, long, time ago, when I was young, we used paper straws. They worked fine because the paper straws were covered with wax. The wax protected the paper long enough to finish the beverage. Now that plastic straws have gone away paper straws are back. But the manufacturers have forgotten about the wax. Now straws start falling apart after a few sips.
Ultimately, an individual is the sum total of his knowledge and experiences. This does tend to explain much of the stupidity in today’s modern world as well. Try to improve yourself by learning something new and useful every day.
allen@home over 1 year ago
Great advice Earl.
Ratkin Premium Member over 1 year ago
You just learned never to listen to your grandpa.
Templo S.U.D. over 1 year ago
you’ve hit nail on the head, Nelson
Erse IS better over 1 year ago
You cannot learn it all, but it’s a lot of fun trying to get closer!
fjblume2000 over 1 year ago
Learning expands your awareness of your ignorance and either spurs you on or discourages you to the point of stopping your learning.
James Deveney Premium Member over 1 year ago
General knowledge can bring big bucks if one is chosen for Jeopardy.
ᴮᴼᴿᴱᴰ2ᴰᴱᴬᵀᴴ over 1 year ago
that’s Earl – hopeless, hapless and hairless
Say What Now‽ Premium Member over 1 year ago
The more you learn, the more you know there is more to learn.
SNVBD over 1 year ago
Today is a good day. Today I learned something.
distortion over 1 year ago
They should not sit on the chair that way.
PraiseofFolly over 1 year ago
It is said, “‘Wisdom’ is Learning, aged in wood.” Earl certainly seems a blockhead.
markkahler52 over 1 year ago
So keep learning, anyway. Doesn’t always help; but it sure as hell can’t HURT!!
tremaine53 over 1 year ago
Oh, it’s a lost cause, alright, and SO much more, Nelson!
Geophyzz over 1 year ago
With each mineral target that I outlined in our exploration, I took pleasure in the realization that this is something never known by anyone, ever.
sirbadger over 1 year ago
200 years ago, there was a set of books that every educated English speaking person was expected to have read. That is no longer the case.
monya_43 over 1 year ago
Earl should not discourage Nelson from learning all that he can. After all, Earl is kind of a dummy.
david_42 over 1 year ago
Heck, I can’t even keep up with Physics these days and my wife is a CPA, which means 80 hours of professional studies every year.
ilikai over 1 year ago
and don’t get started on learning about women!
ANIMAL over 1 year ago
Way da GO Grampa.!!!!!
royq27 over 1 year ago
I knew that…
billycnj over 1 year ago
When Nelson asks Earl a question he answers “I don’t know” After this happens a few times. Nelson says “Am I bothering you grandpa?” Earl replies “No, if you don’t ask questions, you’ll never learn anything.”
WaitingMan over 1 year ago
As a math major in college, I learned the lesson of Panel 2 early on.
Bookworm over 1 year ago
I once read that a single week-day edition of the New York Times contained more information than a person of Shakespeare’s time (mid sixteenth to early seventeenth centuries) would learn in his entire life. (Of course, I read that back in the day when “print media” was a real thing and literacy was considered important.)
Watchdog over 1 year ago
At some point that chair will tip over to the right (not politically)
MuddyUSA Premium Member over 1 year ago
Earl time the close your pie hole!
Daltongang Premium Member over 1 year ago
My granddad taught me when I was just a little yonker, that if you learn one new thing every day, even if what you learn will not serve you in any other way, then the day has not been wasted. The act of learning is an art unto itself, one has to continue to learn throughout their life to keep from getting stagnant, and muddle headed.
Zebrastripes over 1 year ago
Everyday we learn something new….just watch the monotonous, “breaking news” interruptions. When I’ve read it hours before and two days ago…
ladykat over 1 year ago
Learn all you can, Nelson. You never know when some little bit of obscure knowledge you picked up will come in handy,
KEA over 1 year ago
The lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for.
Moonkey Premium Member over 1 year ago
I believe the more we do learn, the more we can learn.
jim_martin29 over 1 year ago
A long, long, time ago, when I was young, we used paper straws. They worked fine because the paper straws were covered with wax. The wax protected the paper long enough to finish the beverage. Now that plastic straws have gone away paper straws are back. But the manufacturers have forgotten about the wax. Now straws start falling apart after a few sips.
LJZ Premium Member over 1 year ago
“It is not permitted that we should know everything”
- Horacerickarama4 over 1 year ago
Ultimately, an individual is the sum total of his knowledge and experiences. This does tend to explain much of the stupidity in today’s modern world as well. Try to improve yourself by learning something new and useful every day.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace over 1 year ago
Learning ALL is a lost cause.
Learning is a pleasant and often useful activity.
powaymojo over 1 year ago
Earl!!!! Terrible advice. Don’t let Opal hear you tell him that.
tcviii Premium Member over 1 year ago
To know what you know, and to know what you don’t know, IS TO KNOW.