Wisdom of Heraclitus

I've been reading an interesting book called "Expect the Unexpected (or You Won't Find It)" by Roger Von Oech. It's subtitled "A Creativity Tool Based on the Ancient Wisdom of Heraclitus. I figured I'd get a jump start on ancient philosophy before we get started in the fall. Heraclitus wrote in epigrams--terse, witty and often paradoxical sayings. He wanted his students to think, to puzzle out meaning from his phrases, to find new perspectives in dealing with problems.

Some of the more interesting and oddly familiar insights of Heraclitus (as translated by the author)

The cosmos speaks in patterns.

Expect the unexpected, or you won't find it.

You can't step in the same river twice.

The most beautiful order is a heap of sweepings piled up at random.

Those who approach life like a child playing a game, moving and pushing pieces, possess the power of kings.

The way up and the way down are one and the same.

The sun is new each day.

I also found this interesting passage about Thomas Edison in the section on "Expect the Unexpected..."

Inventor Thomas Edison had a simple test he used to measure the "unexpectedness quotient" of prospective employees. He would invite a candidate to lunch and serve a bowl of soup. He would then watch to see whether the person salted his soup before tasting it. If he did, he wouldn't be offered the job. Edison felt that people are more open to different possibilities if they don't salt their experience of life before tasting it.

I must remember this when I start homeschooling Sierra this September. I know Chase was a bit "salted" from my experience homeschooling Marina. Different kids need different seasonings.