The mind is a powerful thing.
I say that as someone who has learned a lot from taking almost 300 online courses in the last nine years. And while some might be worried about how the decline in reading books is making us dumber or that we live in a post-truth world, I’m excited about how the education system can change for a better future, much like Rumi writes in Mathnawi (also available on Audible).
Wisdom and knowledge serve to guide the wanderers; were there but one road, wisdom would be needless.
To keep growing, here are some of my favourite Seth Godin quotes from his 2025 blog posts, together with a recommended title from Blinkist.
“Education is distinct from learning. Organised education is a form of indoctrination and certification. Sometimes it leads to learning, but not always.” ~ Bringing goodwill to the conversation
Learn more: The Education of Millionaires
“Focus on the hard part.” ~ Notes to myself
Learn more: The Busy Brain Cure
“If you fail to show us the facts, it’s difficult to accept your analysis.” ~ Analysis = Facts + Interpretation
Learn more: Pragmatism
“If you want to clarify our understanding, it helps to be specific.” ~ Specific
Learn more: The Reading Mind
“Learning is hard. It creates tension. It takes time. Most of all, it requires a commitment to becoming someone else, a bet we’re making that might not turn out the way we hope.” ~ Education is free, learning is expensive
Learn more: Productive Failure
“Logic is symbolic. Learning requires handholds to help us understand the symbols, but it’s the logic that remains.” ~ Seeking metaphor
Learn more: Liminal Thinking
“Once you find software that’s worth the time to learn, learn it.” ~ The use (and design) of tools
Learn more: Hyperefficient
“Sooner or later, we are all self taught.” ~ Aha!
Learn more: Limitless
“The job of the teacher is to create the conditions for the student to explore their incompetence long enough to learn something useful.” ~ Don’t steal the revelation
Learn more: Uncommon Sense Teaching
“The more experience, assets and privilege we have, the less excusable it is to do stupid things. And at the same time, the more useful it is to announce that we’re not smart (yet).” ~ Not smart vs. stupid
Learn more: Wisdom Takes Work
“The most difficult part of adult learning is choosing to learn.” ~ Honesty about better
Learn more: The Little Book of Talent
“The number of people reading a post or following an account is not a useful indicator of whether or not the ideas within are made up or not. Act accordingly.” ~ The Weekly World News version of the future
Learn more: Principles of Human Knowledge
“The place you went to school or the number of followers you have online are credentials. If they help you create value, that’s great. But they’re not the same as expertise.” ~ Expertise and credentials
Learn more: Mastery
“Upskilling is the path forward.” ~ “Use your best judgment”
Learn more: Microskills
“When we choose to learn, our active participation makes a difference.” ~ What the world teaches us
Learn more: Primal Intelligence
“Wonder is a choice, and we can find it if we look for it.” ~ An eroding sense of wonder
Learn more: How to Fall in Love With Questions
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