Summary

The article presents five fictitious quotes attributed to Socrates, shared through generations, emphasizing life lessons and wisdom through the metaphor of cornfields and popcorn.

Abstract

In a heartfelt narrative, the author recounts a birthday tradition passed down from their grandmother, who imparted wisdom through five apocryphal Socrates quotes. These quotes, though fake, offer insights into life, love, and personal growth, using the analogy of cornfields and the act of making popcorn. The author reflects on the importance of examining one's actions, the power of small deeds, and the significance of kindness, suggesting that these lessons are akin to the care taken in cultivating and harvesting corn. Despite discovering the quotes' inauthenticity, the author values their sentimental worth and the connection to their grandmother, advocating for readers to embrace similar wisdom in their lives.

Opinions

The author believes in the significance of sharing knowledge and traditions across generations, as exemplified by the grandmother's practice.
There is a strong emphasis on the value of examining one's life and actions, akin to inspecting corn for potential issues.
The article suggests that true wisdom lies not in grand gestures but in the small, consistent acts of kindness and cultivation of personal relationships.
The author posits that teaching is not about imparting knowledge but about sharing love and experiences, as illustrated by the quote about Socrates' inability to teach but to love.
The narrative conveys the idea that personal growth and global impact begin with individual responsibility and local action, as symbolized by harvesting one's own cornfield.
Kindness is presented as a fundamental virtue, with the understanding that everyone faces their own challenges, much like tending to a cornfield.

5 Fake Quotes From Socrates to Kick Start Your 2022

I know they’re fake because my grandma told me so

Photo by Xavier Mouton Photographie on Unsplash

I was 14 when my grandma told me she had a special gift for my birthday that year.

We went on a walk in the cornfields behind her house. She had been living there her whole life. She had even been conceived in these cornfields. She knew them by heart and never lost a game of hide-and-seek (but she let me win sometimes).

We had popcorn and lemonade with us, so I knew we would be out for a long time. I didn’t care. I loved spending time with my grandma.

“You don’t know this, but when I was 14, my grandma took me to the cornfields with popcorn and lemonade made in the same way we made ours this morning. What I’m about to tell you, my grandma told it to me, and her grandpa told it to her, and her grandpa’s grandma told it to him, all the way back to Socrates.”

She then told me the five powerful quotes from Socrates my family had shared for dozens of generations. Yesterday, as I was writing this article, I discovered they were apocryphal. But that’s all right, I don’t mind, and I think Socrates would agree.

#1 The only true wisdom is in knowing how to make popcorn for your grandchildren

If you don’t have grandchildren, make popcorn for your children. If you don’t have children, make children. Or not, your choice. Make popcorn for your neighbors.

Or for me.

I’ll take any popcorn made with love, so will the world.

#2 The unexamined corn is not worth eating

You’ll never know if a seedcorn maggot is hiding in your corn if you don’t check your crop. Sometimes it can hurt because it’ll be too late. You’ll have to burn the whole field, and it will take time to grow a new crop. But most of the time, it will be soon enough to act, and your cornfield will be stronger for it.

#3 I cannot teach anybody anything, particularly not your grandpa. I can only love him

You could think I didn’t get this one as I’m trying to teach you something with this article. You would be wrong. I’m not trying to teach you anything. I give you the gift of my (grandma’s) knowledge, and you give me the gift of your time.

What we do with these gifts is our choice.

Much love, Folks.

#4 Let her who would move the world first harvest the cornfield

That was my grandma in a nutshell, and she took this thought to the next level. She understood that one needs to start small to achieve bigger results.

But then she became convinced that the small things are the only ones that can change the world.

Grassroots movements are the ones she invested her energy in. She never went for something bigger because she didn’t believe in the impersonal strategizing bullshit (her words) that thought leaders try to sell us. She believed in staying close to the people, to her tribe. She believed in the power of example.

#5 Be kind, for everyone you meet has a cornfield to harvest

To quote grandma, “even Cousin George, that lazy ass, has a cornfield to harvest. We should be kind to him.”

In the years after, anytime I got into an argument with my parents, Grandma would be quick to remind me of this wisdom. “Be kind to them,” she would say, “they’ve been sharing their corn with you for many years; you should be grateful.”

She would explain how people rarely intend to be mean for the sake of it. More often than not, they’ve too much corn to harvest, and they fall prey to their emotions. Grandma told me I should try to be kind and understanding instead of adding oil to the fire and risk burning the popcorn.

Recap for memory

My grandma was the best. I hope your grandma was/is the best too. But if she’s not, there’s — sadly — not much we can do about it.

What we can do, however, is try to be the best grandmas/grandpas out there. And if we don’t have kids, it doesn’t matter. We can try to make 2022 the best for us and those around us.

Remember:

To find yourself, make popcorn for yourself.

Smillew is a Medium writer who writes mainly about his rules for love, his Medium newsletter, and his Medium referral link. No need to follow him; he’ll show up in your feed.