Zen-like Quote Koan

“ … I yearn for a world in which competing ideologies are kept in balance, systems of accountability keep us all from getting away with too much, and fewer people believe that righteous ends justify violent means.” - Jonathan Haidt, The Righteous Mind

As I have stated previously I tend to think of quotes as Zen-like koans. The quote alone holds no weight but the contemplation of that quote is of possible considerable weight. It should lead you somewhere, the where being individualize and a destination unique to that individual. Its ongoing contemplation should bring about different meanings that change as the individual changes. It is not a matter of deliberate and unchanged meaning but a way to inspire and achieve greater thoughts leading to a better understanding. 

I came across this particular quote koan while reading the book by Jonathan Haidt, “The Righteous Mind.” My initial impression is that it provides us a different way of thinking about mankind and the differences that are mankind, human diversity. It may not be better or best but it does, for me, leave the windows and doors open to any breeze blowing. 

OR

Maybe it is just bullshit to keep humanity mired in ignorance and stupidity so we can remain dependent on our need for conflict and violence. It allows the nature of humanity to be stuck rather than free with wings to take to the sky in freedom, learning and enlightenment. Then again, maybe not. 

OR

Maybe it does not have meaning outside of the obvious and therefore exists only to enable the stupid and ignorant to keep on doing the stupid and ignorant crap humanity seems to do over and over and over again, never learning and never growing and never changing except in the most rudimentary and simplistic ways that disguise us from truth and reality. Then again, maybe not. 

Regardless, think of this quote as a Zen-like koan and see where it leads. The destination may be a good place, then again, maybe not.