Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them. – Seneca
Yeah, it's cute... until it's chewing on your spleen.
What does that mean?
I’m not exactly sure how the Latin was translated to English, but contempt presently means to treat with dislike and scorn. I would imagine that this quote is similar to the phrase “familiarity breeds contempt” and implies that the perceived threat of a dangerous situation fades with time.
To me, it is talking about the human tendency to become comfortable with that which is not an immediate danger. Wild animal pets was the first thing that came to my mind. You have seen stories of a person who had a pet Tiger or Monkey. They’ve had it for years. It’s never attacked, so they became contemptuous of the danger. Then, when the animal reverted to form and attacked, the owner is surprised. Doesn’t that about sum up today’s quote?
Why is caution important?
For those who have never been in a serious car crash (or seen one), there is a tendency to downplay the danger of a car crash. The likelihood seems so remote, and the pictures shown on the news don’t seem all that nasty. Sure, from time to time you hear of a fatality, but what are the odds? Is that caution, or the opposite of it, called contempt for danger by this quote?
Caution is where we consider the possible consequences of an action or a danger that is present. Instead of “What are the odds of a car crash?” being our focus, we could ask “If I were involved in a crash, how messed up would I (and any passengers) be, and how long until we are back to normal?”
Do you see the difference? When you ask the first question, the answer is that the chance of a wreck is really small, and we take few or no precautions. If we consider the consequences of a wreck, then even though the chances are small to begin with, we’re far more likely to take some steps to reduce the danger even more.
Where can I apply this in my life?
I don’t imagine many readers of this blog own dangerous exotic animals. However, about a year ago, I was bit (literally) by this quote. I’ve had dogs for pets for my entire life. I have never had a problem with them, as they always knew their place in the pack. I had become contemptuous of the danger of their bite.
However, while trying to help some random people walking through the neighborhood catch their dog, I was bit. It hadn’t occurred to me that that might be a problem, as I had always had well behaved dogs who knew their place in the pack. This one obviously thought it was the leader and didn’t take kindly to my holding it by it’s collar. That was a painful reminder.
So, we’ve talked about wild animals, car crashes and semi-domesticated animal attacks. What is there in your life that might be dangerous of which you just might be a little contemptuous? Grab some paper and start writing things down. Please consider all parts of your life and environment.
If you spend any time outside, do you take precautions against the elements (heat, cold, sun, rain, hyper- or hypo-thermia)? If you work with tools or in a shop, how often do you disable safety features that are built into tools (that one hits close to home for me)? Do all your stairs have sturdy hand rails?
Let’s take something as simple as a hand rail on a set of stairs. How many years, even decades has it been since you tripped or fell down some stairs? So the danger is so remote that we shouldn’t worry, right? Consider what could happen if you did fall down the stairs. A twisted ankle would probably be the least of your worries, right? What about the liability if someone else falls down the stairs and sues you?
Take a look at your list and consider each item on it. Thinking of the consequences rather than the probability, what can you do to make each item even less likely to occur? Moving to a ranch style home might help with the stairs, but isn’t an option for a lot of us. What about that teenage boy who takes the stairs two and three at a time?
Life is full of danger. Risk is everywhere. As the old saying goes, “you could get hit by a bus crossing the street.” But does that mean we should do nothing, and hide in our houses all day (while avoiding the stairs)? I certainly don’t and would recommend against you hiding as well.
We need to assess the risks that are present in our lives, balance the risks with caution as much as possible, and live our lives to the fullest. And live it with passion!
From: Twitter, @philoquotes
confirmed at : http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/luciusanna154999.html
Photo by fPat
