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Roky0071 Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Help me understand the meanings

1."The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." ~Plutarch

Here I don't understand the meaning of "a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled". I mean do these infinitive phrases express the future events or present habitual events?

2. I was to observe my thoughts, then sort them into “useful” and “not useful.”

Here I don't understand the meaning of " I was to observe". Can you clarify the meaning or could you put any alternative for it?

Please see here http://tinybuddha.com/blog/7-ways-to-learn-from-your-negative-thoughts/

  

Top answer

The infinitive phrases express what should/shouldn't happen, notionally in the future (relative to when the mind is formed), though the future sense is not very strong or important here. "I was to observe my thoughts" refers to what the speaker was instructed to do.

— GPY

  • The infinitive phrases express what should/shouldn't happen, notionally in the future (relative to when the mind is formed), though the future sense is not very strong or important here.
  • "I was to observe my thoughts" refers to what the speaker was instructed to do.
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5 Answers
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  1. The infinitive phrases express what should/shouldn't happen, notionally in the future (relative to when the mind is formed), though the future sense is not very strong or important here.
  2. "I was to observe my thoughts" refers to what the speaker was instructed to do.
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Could you get your first point easier please?

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Do you understand "The infinitive phrases express what should/shouldn't happen" OK?

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No. Please clarify your point.

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The mind shouldn't simply be filled up, like a vessel. It should be kindled, like a fire.

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