All posts tagged: Thinkers

11 Things Deep Thinkers Do That Leave Average Minds Slightly Perplexed

11 Things Deep Thinkers Do That Leave Average Minds Slightly Perplexed

Published by Jenni Sidey

Deep thinkers often process the world in ways that don’t always make immediate sense to others. While many people move quickly from one task or idea to the next, individuals who think deeply tend to slow down, analyze patterns, and explore questions that others might overlook. Their minds naturally wander into layers of meaning, possibilities, and connections that aren’t always visible on the surface. Because deep thinkers spend more time examining situations and questioning assumptions, their behavior can sometimes seem unusual to people who prefer quicker, more straightforward conclusions. Yet many of these habits play an important role in creativity, problem-solving, and insight. Over time, these patterns of thinking become part of how they approach everyday life. Here are 11 things deep thinkers do that leave average minds slightly perplexed 1. They pause before answering even simple questions Miljan Zivkovic / Shutterstock Deep thinkers rarely rush to respond immediately, even when the question seems straightforward. Instead of delivering the first thought that comes to mind, they often take a moment to consider the implications behind …

11 Phrases People Often Think Are Polite That Actually Annoy High-Level Thinkers

11 Phrases People Often Think Are Polite That Actually Annoy High-Level Thinkers

Published by Jenni Sidey

People often hope to convey respect with their manner by saying the right things. But what they may not always realize is that the words they use can be irritating to some people who think on a higher level. While some social interactions call for being more formal than others, it’s typically a good idea to maintain proper etiquette in your conversations. Still, there are very specific phrases people often think are polite that actually annoy high-level thinkers. Sometimes, people may try to seem as though they’re being generous or proper in their manner of speaking, while really, they come off as self-righteous or condescending. In cases like that, their politeness becomes becomes downright bothersome. And it’s not because it’s polite, it’s because it’s extremely fake, snobby, and comes from a person who thinks they’re superior to others. Here are 11 phrases people often think are polite that actually annoy high-level thinkers 1. ‘With all due respect’ Aloha Hawaii | Shutterstock It’s common to hear this phrase uttered during tense conversations or heated debates, when …

How thinkers answer this heartbreaking question

How thinkers answer this heartbreaking question

Published by Sam Flores

France should be “prepared to lose children.” With those words, spoken on November 18, 2025, before France’s mayors gathered at the Porte de Versailles in Paris, General Fabien Mandon, chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, left many in the audience stunned. Suddenly, the thud of bombings in Ukraine felt much closer. A “clash” between Russian forces and the French army could possibly occur, he warned, “in three or four years.” His remarks sparked controversy but also a moment of realization. Yes, war could return to Western Europe, bringing with it suffering and lives cut short. The idea that we are not shielded from such violence seems absurd and senseless. But it is no longer unthinkable. And now, everyone is once again faced with a question that seems naive, but is, in fact, both wrenching and metaphysical: Why war? Two of the greatest minds in history set out to answer this question in the early 1930s: Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud. The acrid memory of the Great War still lingered over Europe. As …

Seeking honor is a double-edged sword – from ancient Greece to samurai Japan, thinkers have wrestled with whether it’s the way to virtue

Seeking honor is a double-edged sword – from ancient Greece to samurai Japan, thinkers have wrestled with whether it’s the way to virtue

Published by Sam Flores

(The Conversation) — Pete Hegseth, the current defense secretary, has stressed what he calls the “warrior ethos,” while other Americans seem to have embraced a renewed interest in “warrior culture.” Debate about these concepts actually traces back for thousands of years. Thinkers have long wrestled with what it means to be a true “warrior,” and the proper place of honor and virtue on the road to becoming one. I study the history of political thought, where these debates sometimes play out, but have engaged them in my own martial arts training, too. Beyond aimless brutality or victory, serious practitioners eventually look toward higher principles – even when the desire for glory is powerful. Many times, “honor” and “virtue” are almost synonyms. If you acted righteously, you behaved “honorably.” If you’re moral, you’re “honorable.” In practice, chasing after honor can prompt not only the best behavior, but the worst. We all long for validation. At its best, that longing can motivate us toward virtue – but it can also lead in the opposite direction. I am …

How 5 Great Thinkers Found Meaning Through Physical Exercise

How 5 Great Thinkers Found Meaning Through Physical Exercise

Published by Sam Flores

Published: Dec 4, 2025written by Igor Zanetti, BA Philosophy, BA Pedagogy   Nowadays, physical exercise seems more popular than ever. Yet this focus on health and fitness is nothing new. From the ancient Greek Olympic Games to modern gyms, people have long connected the body with discipline, competition, and self-improvement. Even philosophers have weighed in on the subject. From Plato’s wrestling background to Nietzsche’s idea of the Übermensch, their perspectives reveal how exercise has been linked not just to strength, but also to education, balance, and even the meaning of life.   1. Plato: Exercise and the Ideal State Head of Plato, mid-3rd century CE, Roman Empire. Source: J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles.   Ancient Greece is often linked with physical exercise, from the Olympic Games to the rigorous training of Spartan soldiers. The idealized physiques of Greek sculpture also reflect this cultural emphasis on the body.   Plato is perhaps the most notable example of the link between philosophy and physical exercise. Born Aristocles, he became known as Plato—a nickname thought to reflect …

This Is New: Top Thinkers Debate Terminal Lucidity

This Is New: Top Thinkers Debate Terminal Lucidity

Published by Jenni Sidey

Five years ago, who would have thought that political scientist Charles Murray, famous for social analysis books like Coming Apart (2012), would write Taking Religion Seriously (2025)? He now examines traditional religious approaches to the meaning of life on the assumption that they might actually be correct. A far cry from the usual effort to explain them away or patronize those who accept them. For example, Murray writes about terminal lucidity — the sudden clarity that many people gain just before dying: In the only systematic study with a large sample, described in Alexander Batthyány’s Threshold, about 20 percent of the cases involved nonverbal communication (e.g., gestures, gaze) or verbal communication that was semi-coherent. In the other 80 percent, people who had been unable to communicate anything were suddenly alert and “back” to their former personae. Terminal lucidity can last from minutes to a few hours. It is almost always followed by death within a day or so, with complete mental relapse in the interim. Seriously, p. 54 We’ve covered terminal lucidity here at Mind …