I know nothing, ” I say, cheerfully.“ You never seem to. Have you ever wondered why that is?”“ It’s very deliberate. I’ve found that knowledge is usually a burden. I prefer to be surprised and then eventually horrified.

Matthew Norman
About This Quote

Lawrence Block wondered why so many people rely on knowledge in their lives, even when it comes to trivial matters. So he decided to analyze the question by creating a character called Richard Mayhew, an antiques expert who was always surprised and then horrified when he discovered that someone had tried to pass off a fake as the real thing. When Richard realized that his knowledge actually stopped him from being surprised or horrified, he sought out other ways to be surprised. He read books and listened to music.

He took walks around his neighborhood, peering into windows and asking questions of shopkeepers. He learned about things like the history of his apartment building, the origins of buildings in his neighborhood, and the history of his favorite restaurant. He developed friendships with other people who shared his interests, and he began spending time with an old lady named Mrs.

Plessy, who had lived in her apartment building for decades without knowing anything about it.

Source: Domestic Violets

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