Monday, September 7, 2009

Ignorance is Always Swift to Speak

One of the favorite stories of Arturo Toscanini, the great symphony conductor was this: An orchestra was playing
Beethoven's Lenore overture, which has two great musical climaxes. Each of these musical high points is followed
by a trumpet passage, which the composer intended to be played offstage. The first climax arrived, but no
sound came from a trumpet off stage. The conductor, annoyed, went on to the second musical high point. But,
again, --no trumpet could be heard. This time the conductor rushed into the wings, fuming and with every intent
of demanding a full explanation. There he found the trumpet player struggling with the house security man who
was insisting as he held for dear life onto the man's trumpet. "I tell you, you can't play that trumpet back here
You'll disturb the rehearsal!"
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Until you know WHY someone is acting the way they do, it's better not to criticize him. Until you know who has
told him to, it's better not to attempt to stop him!
Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath James I:19

2 comments:

  1. This is so true, Audrey. So often, years later...a criticism I remember uttering against someone or something comes to mind as I find myself perpetrating the same thing I once criticized, only to know NOW I knew not the whole truth of the matter.I think that is why we all know time changes perspective, and more often makes us kinder. (time does NOT change TRUTH, but sometimes reveals the whole truth )

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