The thinkers in their youth are almost always very lonely creatures. . . . The university most worthy of rational admiration is that one in which your lonely thinker can feel himself least lonely, most positively furthered and most richly fed. -WILLIAM JAMES1
William James highlights the isolation often felt by intellectuals in their youth, suggesting that true academic institutions should mitigate this loneliness. He argues that a university's value lies in its ability to nurture and support solitary thinkers, fostering an environment where they can thrive and expand their ideas.
Niall Ferguson’s "Kissinger: Volume I" reflects on these themes by examining the formative experiences that shape influential minds. By emphasizing the necessity for intellectual companionship, the book illustrates how a supportive academic setting is crucial for the development of critical thinkers and their contributions to society.
