A Fable of four rooms in the House of Creativity

I HAVE A QUESTION said the Seeker, 'and would find an answer in the House - if indeed there is an answer for me anywhere!' 'If that is the case', replied the Guide, 'I will show you around the House myself, for few have seen as many come and go as I. The world has been grateful for a few works that have been made here - while many have filled the dustbins and created the deserts of the world.'

AND SO SAYING he took the Seeker by the hand across the threshold and into a huge room where men and women each followed their own way. Some worked alone in silence while others gathered in bright and chattering groups, some were earnest, some were gay - but withal an air of intent spread about the room. 'This' said the Guide, with a smile that might or might not have been kind, 'is the Room of Great Works. All work done here seeks to win the greatest acclaim and to be given the greatest awards.' It is often based on the magnificent work of others and so looks brilliant. Those are my ideals' replied the Seeker, 'for my Question deserves the greatest talents and the keenest minds.' 'That is not quite what I said' returned the Guide, 'but even so I must warn you that the Room of Great Works is not without its disadvantages.' 'Disadvantages? What possible disadvantages could attach to the seeking for the highest goals?' exclaimed the Seeker, querulously. 'If you seek for the highest goals you are right' said the Guide, 'but those that look for honour and awards are often inclined to take but those as their goals. Having once made a beautiful thing and been honoured for it, a certain hunger haunts their mind. Evermore they are condemned to repeat their best work, imitating themselves and others over and over, painting in ever paler shadows ideas that once lived in shining colour. Your Question is not interesting to them - it is only their own answer that fills their time. 'No, no', said the Guide I would not advise you to linger here too long' and he hurried the Seeker through into the Second Room.

'AND THIS' said the Guide, with a flourish of his arm that might or might not have been ironic, 'is the Room of Great Reason.' Within the room the noise was low and earnest as small groups worked in conference to explore and analyse the questions of the world. Some made models from numbers that whirred like clocks while others fitted concepts together with the fine mastery of cabinet makers. 'This surely is my ideal' said the Seeker, 'for how can one produce great works if one has no understanding of the task?' 'That is very true, perhaps,' replied the Guide, 'but even here there may be pitfalls?' 'There can be no pitfall in Reason', said the Seeker confidently, 'for in knowledge, surely, lies the key to life?' 'I wonder how you came to life in the beginning, after all' said the Guide behind his hand, 'for you surely knew nothing of it - but' - as he turned once more to his companion, 'the pitfall of Reason is that it is so very reasonable.' 'To a reasonable mind one idea is much like another, all can be analysed, prescribed and if some, perhaps, lack a little life, well, be reasonable, is that so bad a thing? Your Question is of great interest to these but the answer is merely an answer. We shall not linger here!' - and he propelled the Seeker before him into the Third Room.

THE ROOM that lay before them was rich and elegant and spacious and the men and women there had the steady stare of confidence. 'So see' said the Guide, in a quiet voice that might or might not have been reverent, 'this is the Room of Great Experience' and advancing towards a corpulent man whose ruddy cheeks and pursed smile told of great wealth he asked 'dear Sir, would you be so kind as to explain the advantages of Experience to my friend?' 'I would have thought' said the man, 'that there was little necessity to explain the advantages of Experience for they are so very self-evident but, since you ask me - and it is a question I have been asked before - I will answer you thus. There is no-one more expert than the expert. There is no way to become an expert except through practice. And what is practice except another name for Experience?' 'How True!' exclaimed the Seeker. 'Why should one risk all on mere originality? What can Reason really produce? Expertise is all' and looking around the room once more he added to himself 'and it seems to pay well, too.' 'I do not want to deter you from the work of Practice' said the Guide, 'but I must in all fairness warn you, that Experience may not be the whole picture. For Experience is also based on repetition and rigidity and often the box it comes in is but a box and empty within. Here, they will answer your Question as if it were one they have answered before and they will only, in the end, give you the same answer that they gave to others.' And before the Seeker could resist him, he ushered them both in the Fourth Room.

ALTHOUGH SIMPLE and sparce, the Fourth Room was not without its sense of style and purpose but it was quiet and those there, though friendly enough, looked enquiringly at the pair who had just that minute walked in. 'Good afternoon', said the Guide, 'I have come to introduce this Seeker who is looking for his way in the wide world.' 'Then let us discuss it' said one of those who was there, 'for few questions could be more interesting and it is a subject on which we know nothing.' The Guide turned to the Seeker and, with a voice that was only straightforward said 'And welcome to the Room of Great Unknowing.' 'Unknowing!' cried the Seeker leaping as if bitten by an asp, 'How now! Am I so dim and dumb that finally I am put among the ignorant? 'Give me prizes! Give me Logic! Give me Expertise! - or tell me, if you can, what Fools are these that refuse Glory, Reason and Riches and huddle here in their Room of Great Unknowing.' The Guide looked steadily at the Seeker. 'These Fools, as you call them, are those that have lived long in this House and seen, as I have, many come and go. They too enjoyed the applause in Room One and tired of it. In Room Two they understood Reason's power but saw its failure to light fires in the mind. They have seen in Room Three, that Experience, though of great value, all too often fails to change the world. 'If I were you' continued the Guide as he settled among his friends, 'I should ask your Question here. For here alone, I feel, they will listen, and fashion an answer that is yours alone. Here they are not fooled by fashion, tamed by reason or trapped by experience, but choose to work in the Fourth Room which is the only place where true answers can be found.'

Based on a fable by Michael Wolff. Terence Griffin 1999