James Patterson is an American bestselling author who writes primarily mysteries and thrillers for adults. I came across this quote in one of my magazines today and I just enjoy it. Plain a simple.
"Knowledge is valuable, but imagination is invaluable."
I often wish I were smarter. Some of my best friends (you know who you are) are positively in the genius category. They have a mathematically, factual understanding of things that I can only dream of. I'm hardly stupid, and I somehow was always near the top of my class, but nowadays, I'm shocked at how little I remember of the silliest things. I was babysitting recently and helping a 10 year old with her math homework. . . and, well, let's just it wasn't pretty.
What I do have though, is a pretty active imagination. Whether it's planning a show, making gifts for friends, singing a song and creating a character in my head, cooking, or just fantasizing about what I want my life to me, my imagination has never been absent. Sometimes more silent and less hopeful, ie lately, but not absent.
You know those people who are book smart, but not street smart? People who can tell you how to solve a math equation, but are socially challenged . . . I think that's the kind of person this quote is about. Happily, none of my genius friends fall into this category. No matter how often I may tease them otherwise! To be truly happy, you need both knowledge and imagination. But having one without the other is so sad. With only the former, you're boring. With only the latter, you're likely a hot mess and probably unemployed.
Clearly, it's key to have both. And I guess I do have both, but with the former, I can always pay somebody for the knowledge I don't have.
Or use a calculator, in my case!
