“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”
– Albert Einstein
“Grow up!” “Act your age!” “You’re not young anymore!” These are phrases I’ve often heard, particularly since entering my late 30s. But are these admonitions truly worth heeding? Must we conform to the notion of “growing up” or rigidly “acting our age”?
I, for one, disagree. Regardless of where you are in life, an inner child remains within you—a spark that never fades. It’s never too late to embark on something new, no matter your age. This is where imagination comes into play. Imagine the possibilities; dream like a child. Consider the impact you could make on the world by embracing curiosity and creativity.
Knowledge, while valuable, has its limits. It’s akin to repeatedly battling low-level monsters, like slimes, in a role-playing game. Without advancing to more challenging levels, you’ll never truly progress. Imagination, on the other hand, transcends these boundaries, fueling hypotheses and paving the way for innovation. Relying solely on logic and existing frameworks can constrain the potential for groundbreaking discoveries. Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, for instance, emerged from his ability to think imaginatively—beyond the rigid confines of established scientific paradigms.
While knowledge is tethered to what we already comprehend, imagination dares us to explore what might be. It encourages us to ask, What if? If you’re dissatisfied with your job, for example, what if you quit and traveled the world? Such a leap might lead you to profound insights, helping you discover new meaning and purpose in your life.
Imagination is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity. It invites us to challenge conventions and pursue possibilities we might never have considered otherwise.
My reflections and Linux:
I have never stopped learning, especially since entering the workforce. As mentioned earlier, knowledge is inherently limited, but the key is to continue learning while dreaming of what could be.
Looking back on my journey during the late 2010s, I had my first encounter with Linux. To non-technical readers, I apologize for the tech-heavy details, but they are essential to fully convey my experience. Unlike Windows or macOS, Linux is a geek-centric operating system that requires command-line navigation. Strangely enough, that challenge was precisely what captivated me. Over time, I became a professional shell script developer—a path that was shaped by my relentless curiosity and dedication to learning.
What drew me to Linux was its unparalleled flexibility and customization. By diving deep into its ecosystem, I discovered that writing Python scripts and automating processes could make life remarkably efficient and productive. It felt like working with Lego blocks—each piece contributing to a larger creation. Through Linux, I explored a vast array of technical domains, including programming, networking, server administration, and much more.
This successful journey reaffirmed a profound truth: approaching life with the curiosity and wonder of a child fuels imagination and expands your horizons for a brighter future. As Albert Einstein wisely remarked, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” To lead a fulfilling life, one must continuously learn, remain curious, and stay motivated. That, after all, is what life is truly about.
Logic:
While Einstein valued logic as a vital tool for rigorous analysis and validating ideas, he viewed it as a secondary step. Imagination, on the other hand, is the birthplace of possibilities and new ideas, with logic serving to structure and verify them. I find this perspective to be an extraordinary approach to achieving seemingly impossible innovations—those that shape the future.
When we rely solely on logical thinking, constrained by the finite boundaries of accumulated knowledge, our progress in life is likely to be limited. To break free from these limitations, we need an innovative mindset—one that dares to create something so novel it doesn’t yet have a name. Imagination empowers us to envision what could be, while logic ensures that these dreams are refined into reality. Together, they form a powerful partnership for progress and discovery.
Stay curious, stay hungry:
Imagination gives our lives meaning and purpose. What if? This simple question is the starting point of a journey to explore your boundless possibilities. Imagine life as an open-world game, where you are free to wander and explore without constraints. While reality imposes certain limitations, requiring adjustments along the way, you wouldn’t want to confine yourself to a single corner of the map in this vast, open-world adventure—would you?
Learning a new skill is like obtaining a passport to the next phase of your journey. Much like riding a bike, life requires you to keep moving, continually learning, reshaping your reality, and building new connections with others. It’s an exhilarating, unpredictable ride—and that’s precisely what makes it life.