Roy Foner:  

aduate school. Suddenly the classes were much more engaging. Instead of studying the great thinkers’ lives and their major works in a rather superficial manner, we now studied their works not only in excruciating details, but we were actually asked to criticize their logic and show how they were sometimes faulty. We were also putting forth our own thoughts in the class about the things in the world, so that others there could see our points of view and perhaps learn from us, or to correct our views. The students around us were asked to criticize what we wrote and thought about the world. I manage to survive all of this, and once again, the university gave me another piece of paper which they say proves that I was now a master of the material in my field of study. The school folks even said that I was worthy to go further and deeper into my field and that they would reward me with another piece of paper if I agreed to their terms. However, I was not to be deceived anymore, for I maintained the same old thoughts that I had entertained twice before, namely that I really did not know much about the world. So I told the university folks thanks, but no thanks, and took my leave from them. I joined the work force of this country. I have since met countless people of diversity, and have seen even many more things in the world than I ever thought possible. Guess what??? You got it, I know even less than ever about the things in this ancient world. Here I now stand, almost in the same place as I did when I first left good old Kirkpatrick High, and about the only things that I have to show all of my old classmates are the years of my life that I have acquired looking at the things in the world. I really know nothing more than this.