QuoteProject
Don't be an examiner, be the interested inquirer.
Studs Terkel
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes the importance of curiosity over judgment when engaging with others.

Studs Terkel's quote encourages individuals to adopt a mindset of inquiry rather than evaluation. By being an interested inquirer, one can foster deeper understanding and meaningful conversations, ultimately enriching both personal growth and relationships with others.

Themes

CuriosityInquiryLearningUnderstandingEngagement

In practice

Example use cases

In a classroom setting, teachers can use this quote to inspire students to ask questions and explore topics deeply.

More from Studs Terkel

More and more we are into communications; and less and less into communication.
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When it comes to the news, the corporate view is `objective,' all else is propaganda.
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Think of what's stored in an 80- or a 90-year-old mind. Just marvel at it. You've got to get out this information, this knowledge, because you've got something to pass on. There'll be nobody like you ever again. Make the most of every molecule you've got as long as you've got a second to go.
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Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say: This is my community, and it is my responsibility to make it better. Interweave all these communities and you really have an America that is back on its feet again. I really think we are gonna have to reassess what constitutes a 'hero'.
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We are the most powerful nation in the world, but we're not the only nation in the world. We are not the only people in the world. We are an important people, the wealthiest, the most powerful and, to a great extent, generous. But we are part of the world.
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I read somewhere that when a person takes part in community action, his health improves. Something happens to him or to her biologically. It's like a tonic.
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As an educator, I try to get people to be fundamentally curious and to question ideas that they might have or that are shared by others. In that state of mind, they have earned a kind of inoculation against the fuzzy thinking of these weird ideas floating around out there.
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And read… read all the time… read as a matter of principle, as a matter of self-respect. Read as a nourishing staple of life.
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