We spend our lives guessing at what's going on inside everybody else, and when we happen to get lucky and guess right, we think we "understand." Such nonsense. Even a monkey at a computer will type a word now and then.
In his book "Xenocide," Orson Scott Card addresses the human tendency to make assumptions about others' thoughts and feelings. He suggests that people often rely on chance to interpret the emotions and motivations of those around them. This leads to a superficial sense of understanding that is misleading and inadequate. Just like random typing can occasionally produce recognizable words, correctly guessing someone’s state of mind is more about luck than insight.
Card critiques this misguided belief in understanding, emphasizing that true comprehension of another person's inner world is a complex and elusive endeavor. He urges readers to recognize the limitations of their perceptions and the folly of presuming to know someone based on occasional correct guesses. The message highlights the need for deeper empathy and communication rather than superficial assumptions.
