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Issue 600 - "There are educated fools and uneducated people who are wise." (Thomas Fuller)


Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 12	Issue 600
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"THERE ARE EDUCATED FOOLS AND UNEDUCATED PEOPLE WHO ARE WISE." (THOMAS FULLER) John Wooden Video Clip (61 sec.): Coach Wooden is asked: "If you could say one thing to Americas leaders today what would it be?" This is an important clip. Thomas Fuller was born in Africa in 1700. At the age of 14 he was enslaved and shipped to Virginia. Before being enslaved, Fuller was a mathematical prodigy who had been trained in the memorization and calculation of sums. Although he was never taught to read or write, the stories of his mathematical achievements spread through the Eastern Seaboard and reached as far as France and Germany, becoming fuel for the abolitionist movement. When Fuller was about 70 years old, William Hartshorne and Samuel Coates, members of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, visited Fuller to test his abilities. They documented his test results in the Columbian Magazine: "First: Upon being asked how many seconds there are in a year and a half, he answered in about two minutes, 47,304,000. Second: On being asked how many seconds a man has lived, who is seventy years, seven- teen days and twelve hours old, he answered, in a minute and a half, 2,210,500,800. The gentleman in charge of checking the answers told Fuller he was wrong because his answer was too large. Fuller quickly replied that the other man had forgotten the leap years. On adding the seconds of the leap years to the others, the amount in both their sums agreed exactly. Third: The following question was then proposed to him: suppose a farmer has six sows, and each sow has six female pigs, the first year, and they all increase in the same proportion, to the end of eight years, how many sows will the farmer then have? In ten minutes, he answered, 34,588,806. The extra time needed was only due to an initial misunderstanding of the question. His answers were all perfect." Samuel Coates, one of the interviewers, remarked that it was a pity Fuller had not had an education equal to his genius. Fuller replied: "No it is best I had no learning, for many learned men are great fools." Making a judgment about another person’s intelligence based on their race, gender, job title, economic level, or age is not wise. As Coach Wooden liked to remind us: "Others have brains too." How open-minded are you? Click here for personal development exercise: Issue 600. Click here for Printable Poetry: Issue 600. Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman www.woodenswisdom.com Follow @woodenswisdom	COACH'S FAVORITE POETRY AND PROSE Another Mouth To Feed We've got another mouth to feed, From out our little store; To satisfy another's need Is now my daily chore. A growing family is ours, Beyond the slightest doubt; It takes all my financial powers To keep them looking stout. With us another makes his bow To breakfast, dine and sup; Our little circle's larger now, For Buddy's got a pup. If I am frayed about the heels And both my elbows shine And if my overcoat reveals The poverty that's mine, 'Tis not because I squander gold In folly's reckless way; The cost of foodstuffs, be it told, Takes all my weekly pay. 'Tis putting food on empty plates That eats my wages up; And now another mouth awaits, For Buddy's got a pup. And yet I gladly stand the strain, And count the task worthwhile, Nor will I dismally complain While Buddy wears a smile. What's one mouth more at any board Though costly be the fare? The poorest of us can afford His frugal meal to share. And so bring on the extra plate, He will not need a cup, And gladly will I pay the freight Now Buddy's got a pup. Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959)
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