Conversation: In the dormitory living room
Pathara : This assignment the teacher gave us is really difficult. We are supposed to explain with examples, the ideas behind some of Einstein’s famous quotes.
Siriruk : Yeah, this is hard. ___5___ to understand the most brilliant mind that ever lived? I am not in the mood to do this. Let’s just go to the mall.
Pathara : Let’s do this first, then go to the mall. Which quote did you get for your assignment?
Siriruk : Two things are infinite : the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.
Pathara : Ha ha. ___6___. That quote isn’t hard at all.
Siriruk : Funny?
Pathara : Yeah, Einstein was making a joke with a serious message. The universe is supposed to be infinite – so big it can’t be measured. So he is saying that human stupidity is actually bigger than the universe.
Siriruk : ___7___? Was Einstein a snob then, because he was so much smarter than everyone?
Pathara : Ha ha. No,___8___. The quote means that while humans think they are smart, they are actually really dumb.
Siriruk : But I have good grades. I am not stupid.
Pathara : Hmm. Yes, an individual person can be intelligent, but there is a big difference in being intelligent and in being wise.
Siriruk : ___9___.
Pathara : Someone who is intelligent will have a high IQ and get high scores on tests. Someone who is wise shows good judgment with their behavior and decisions in their life.
Siriruk : ___10___. How can an intelligent person not be wise?
Pathara : That is easy. All you need to do is to read the newspaper every day to see how so many people in this world lack wisdom. The newspaper is filled with stories of intelligent people who are corrupt, commit crimes and so on. I believe Einstein is stating that our greed and our ignorance are infinite and it results in people doing stupid things, every day.
Siriruk : I see. ___11___. I guess.