Sam enjoyed knowledge. The accumulation and distribution of facts gave him a feeling of control, of utility, of the opposite of the powerlessness that comes with having a smallish, underdeveloped body that doesn't dependably respond to the mental commands of a largish, overstimulated brain.

Jonathan Safran Foer
About This Quote

Sam enjoyed knowledge. It gave him a feeling of control, of utility, of the opposite of the powerlessness that comes with having a smallish, underdeveloped body that doesn't dependably respond to the mental commands of a largish, overstimulated brain. Sam didn't want to be controlled by his feelings and so he turned to facts and facts about facts. Facts about facts can help us take control of our lives and feel useful and needed.

There is an old saying that we need to be "what we do" to be happy. While this is true for some people, it isn't true for everyone. Some people need to know what they're doing and how it will help them feel useful and valued.

Sam's heavy use of facts gave him a sense of purpose and helped him feel better about himself.

Source: Here I Am

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