"He Who Can, Does. He Who Cannot, Teaches"
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
8 April
2024
I've always
loved Leonardo da Vinci's famous quote and pasted it on the wall of my pad:
"He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches."
The famous
quote by Leonardo Da Vinci, "He who can, does. He who cannot,
teaches," encapsulates a common perception that skill and knowledge are
often mutually exclusive. Da Vinci, renowned for his genius in multiple
disciplines, implies that those who possess true capability and talent often
prefer to dedicate their energy towards active pursuits rather than simply
imparting knowledge to others.
While this
quote may be seen as somewhat disdainful towards teaching, it underscores the
idea that true mastery often lies in practical application rather than
theoretical instruction. However, it is important to recognize the invaluable
role of teachers who guide and inspire students, cultivating a new generation
of capable doers and thinkers.
This
sarcastic quote also applies to most of the critics who failed to become poets
and writers of repute. Though there've been famous poets, writers and critics
like Shamsur Rahman Faruqi, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Khaleel-ur-Rahman Azmi in Urdu
and Dr Matthew Arnold and William Hazlitt in English, most of the Naqqaad
(critics) tried to 'teach' poets and writers how to write! In Delhi and
elsewhere, often the failed UPSC aspirants open a coaching centre and 'teach'
those who want to join IAS, IPS and IFS.
Da Vinci's
quote has a much deeper meaning. It doesn't criticise teachers. Rather, it
makes fun of those who talk too much and do precious little. Radeef Barabankwi,
a humorous Urdu poet from Barabanki in UP, aptly illustrated Vinci's quote
through his couplet,
“Hua Jinhein
Irfaan, Woh Khamosh Ho Gaye/ Baaqi Bache Log Baba Ban Gaye" (
Those who
had self-realization, became silent/ The remaining ones became 'spiritual'
gurus).
Our
garrulous national 'spiritual' gurus Jaggi and Ravi Shankar are the perfect
examples. Qurban Bhagalpuri added to it,
"Bolne
Wale Mudarris Ban Gaye/ Bahut Bolne Wale Siyasat Mein Chale Gaye"
(Those who
talked, became teachers/ Those who talked a tad too much, eventually joined
politics!).
Our
political leaders, with dubious academic credentials, teach students how to
study and clear exams. You may have got the insinuation. Richard Bach famously
put it, " You teach best what you most need to learn." Empty vessels
make the most noise and coins are always noisier than the currencies. Naatiq
Lakhnawi aptly said, "Kah Raha Hai Shor-e-Dariya Se Samandar Ka Sukoot/
Jis Ka Jitna Zarf Hai Utna Hi Woh Khamosh Hai" (The tranquillity of
the sea tells the noisy river/ One with a higher and nobler character is always
equally silent). All the political leaders busy in election campaigns and
ranting non-stop, must mull over Naatiq Lakhnawi's couplet. But do they
understand these subtleties? Had they understood, they would not have become
politicians!
----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/leonardo-da-vinci-jaggi/d/132098
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