I loved this quote from Ronnie O'Sullivan, noted after he won the Masters Snooker title for the eighth time last night, becoming both the youngest and oldest man to do so as a result:
I'm trying to master the game and have never been able to do so, so I will keep trying to.
Everyone but Ronnie O'Sullivan thinks he is the best snooker player there has ever been. At 47, he is still at the top of the game. And yet, he acknowledges that there is more to learn.
In a world where expertise is too often claimed, and curiosity appears to be massively undervalued, I love the fact that Ronnie O'Sullivan can acknowledge three things.
One is that he does not play to win, although very clearly he can do that. He plays to play because he wants to get better. Winning is the consequence of that, but not the goal.
Another is that this requires that there be good people for him to play against.
And third, however good they think he is, it matters what he thinks about his ability and that he would like to be better.
The aim to be better is vital in life, in my opinion.
If only some of our politicians had the slightest desire to be better at what they claim to be good at, we might be in a better place. If they wanted power to serve rather than to see it as an end in itself, we would be better off still.
I can only hope that might happen one day.
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Teachers are expected to continually “reflect” on their work, and do what is necessary to improve, usually through “continual professional development” (CPD). I don’t see politicians having to do so. Do new MPs have access to basic courses on politics, economics, public service, etc?
Unfortunately, being non-reflective is almost a requirement.
Media and the voters will absolutely destroy a politician who expresses doubt about finely balanced decisions.
It’s human nature to crave “certainty” – it is a key appeal of fascism – but the media have a duty to portray the more nuanced truth…. which (bar the odd exception) they fail to do.
I really don’t know the answer… but the FPTP post system tends to take every issue and polarise it. So, whilst profoundly altering human nature might be beyond us, getting PR is not… and would be a start.
On theme of sporting greats it was Jack Nicklaus who said “there is always room for improvement “ and Gary Player who said something along the lines of “the harder I practice the luckier I get”
O’Sullivan’s statement is evidence that he takes sincere pleasure in playing regardless of whether he wins or not. It immediately put me in mind of Robert M. Pirsig’s book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
I’m glad you mentioned all three components, pleasure, appreciation that you can do better, and being prepared to test your ability in all situations.
Yet I see all jobs/trades/professions being converted into mechanistic production line tasks, including teaching (at school & beyond). Curiosity is drummed out of both adults and children. No wonder life expectancy is falling, productivity is declining, and mental health is falling.
Curiosity as I important
The neoliberal university does its best to destroy it
You make an important point I have noted over the years in my own family circle.
Ergo, that the more financially successful people are, the less willing they are to question a system rather than critique it.
They sort of lose their curiosity (because their needs have been satiated in some way by a system) – although they will complain loudly about the problem, they simply are not interested in going beyond that.
And when you do go beyond that, the degree of scepticism becomes impossible to deal with because it is their scepticism that is boosted by their success and NOT any new ideas, so the whole thing becomes a merry-go-round, one way system of futility.
Ronnie is definitely on the ball here. I shall take my cue from him.
I feel I may be banned from this blog.
🙂
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s attitude reminds me of the two lines that are traditionally appended to editions of the Confucian classics aimed at students:
“You have reached the end of the book but not the end of learning.
“This is not the end of learning: isn’t that a joy!”
🙂