"A society made up of individuals who were all capable of original thought would probably be unendurable"

Imagine a world where every single person is constantly coming up with unique, groundbreaking ideas. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? But here's the thing—if everyone were always thinking outside the box, society might actually fall apart. Why? Because original thought, while incredibly valuable, can also be disruptive.

When you think about it, societies rely on a certain level of predictability and shared understanding. Rules, traditions, and norms help keep everything running smoothly. If everyone was always challenging these, it’d be chaos. There’d be no common ground, no stability. This idea was probably expressed around a time when people were grappling with the balance between innovation and tradition. It’s that age-old struggle: How do we progress without losing what makes us, well, us?

Take the tech industry, for example. Innovation is key, sure. But even there, not everyone is pushing boundaries all the time. You’ve got your Steve Jobs and your Elon Musks—the visionaries. But for every one of them, there are thousands of engineers and developers who take those big ideas and work on the nitty-gritty details. They keep the wheels turning. If everyone was trying to be a Steve Jobs, we might end up with a thousand half-finished prototypes and no iPhone.

So how do you apply this wisdom in your own life? Well, think about your team at work. It’s great to have those big thinkers, but you also need people who can implement ideas, keep projects on track, and make sure everything runs smoothly. Encourage creativity, but also value those who bring consistency. It’s all about balance.

Picture a family trying to plan a vacation. One person wants to go backpacking in the mountains, another dreams of a beach resort, and someone else thinks a road trip to a historical site would be perfect. If everyone insists on their own unique idea, they’ll never agree. But if they’re willing to compromise and find common ground—maybe a coastal town with both hiking and history—they can have a great time together.

Now, let's make it personal. Imagine you’re at a brainstorming meeting at work. There’s this one colleague who always has these wild, out-of-the-box ideas. They’re exciting, but not always practical. You also have another team member who’s great at seeing potential problems and coming up with solid, reliable plans. It might be frustrating to balance these opposing styles, but it’s necessary. The visionary keeps pushing the team forward, while the practical thinker ensures that progress is sustainable. Together, they make a powerful combo.

Embrace original thinkers—those sparks of creativity—but don’t forget the value of the steady hands that keep everything grounded. Encourage those big ideas, but also make sure there’s a plan in place to bring them to life. Because in the end, a society—or a team, or a family—that can find this balance is not just endurable, but truly remarkable.