The MTA has taken to posting inspiring quotes amongst the adspace of their buses and trains. "Train of Thought" they call it. Ok, cool.
One of their latest is by the French mathematician and theoretical physicist, Jules Henri Poincaré. The name was familiar to me because I'd lived just off the rue Raymond Poincaré in Paris' 16eme...so I made a mental note to dig a little deeper.
This just in: thanks Wiki, I am now learning M. Raymond Poincaré was a statesman, not to be confused with JH.
Sidenote: every street name, metro station, bus stop, restaurant location/name means something, has a deep and distinct history there (and in other cities too, obviously) - usually tied to a historical event or notable person. I like that. Cuz as cool as "Evergreen Ave." is, there's just something a liiiiitle cooler about a 'secret' history behind your present-day stomping grounds.
So anyways... The "Train of Thought" quote was published as:
"To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of thought."
After a quick search I came to discover that the last word was changed from "reflection" - as it was originally formulated - to "thought" as it appeared on that 5th avenue bus on that fateful Sunday eve.
Is this an honest mistake? Or perhaps a meta-commentary on behalf of the MTA staffer? Because to me, "thought" and "reflection" provide two pretty distinct readings, endings to that train of words.
Someone should inform the MTA: your caboose is too loose. And I'm not talkin about the quote! (Badummchhh)
So basically, what difference does a thought make when reflection is not engaged?
I'd say not much of a difference. Either that or too much of a difference...
;)
