“The problem isn’t that Johnny can’t read. The problem isn’t even that Johnny can’t think. The problem is that Johnny doesn’t know what thinking is; he confuses it with feeling”

Simplified Meaning:

When someone says Johnny confuses thinking with feeling, they mean Johnny mixes up using his brain to analyze facts and make decisions with relying on his emotions to guide him. Imagine a student who doesn’t like math because it feels hard, so he decides he’s just not good at it. Instead of sitting down, practicing, and logically working through problems, he lets his discomfort control his actions. If he learned to think properly, he would understand that persistence and practice can help him improve, and his initial feeling of difficulty doesn’t mean he can’t get better. In real life, people need to separate their emotions from their rational thoughts to solve problems effectively. For instance, feeling nervous before a job interview is normal, but if someone uses their thinking skills, they can prepare well and calm their nerves by remembering their qualifications and practicing common questions. Instead of letting fear dictate their behavior, they can use clear thinking to navigate through the situation. Learning to differentiate between thinking and feeling helps people make better decisions and tackle challenges more effectively.