Conflictis the gadfly of thought. It stirs us to observation and memory. Itinstigates to invention. It shocks us out of sheeplikepassivity, and sets us at noting and contriving.
To startblindly with a statement is a sign of arrogance and narrow-mindedness, andwill lead to conflict. To start blindly with a question is a sign ofuncertainty and honesty, and will lead to wisdom.
Thetorment of human frustration, whatever its immediate cause,is the knowledge that the self is in prison, its vital force and ‘mangledmind’ leaking away in lonely, wasteful self-conflict.