There was, and still is, one reason that I had discovered by chance and by observation, that enables me to read original, classical works.<p>That is- "dilution by lesser minds."<p>Once in 10th grade, I read up a poem on my curriculum in advance before the teacher taught it. I explained it to myself, it made sense and I found it interesting.<p>Then the teacher explained it, and ai realized that, the teacher doesn't really <i>get</i> the poem. He cannot fully grasp all dimensions of it. And he explained it in a much lesser way.<p>(I have had much better teachers who taught me how to understand poetry in the first place.)<p>That day was just the beginning.<p>From then on, I always read the originals- it translates to reading the claasical works by Plato, Ariatotle, reading old poetry, and reading religious scriptures, and reading the original scientific papers rather than the coverage by popular media.<p><i>Lesser men dilute things</i>. <i>All</i> things.<p>They cannot fully grasp the entirety of a work, and explain only the part and up to the extent that they understood.<p>This limitation also applies to me, but I get much more out than other people can.<p>This is very limiting for me, and leaves me to desire much more.<p>I learn so much better- both qualitatively and quantitively when I read original sources rather than rely on other people's explanation, or the common understanding available.<p>Yes, I am upping it to say that entire societies have gotten many things wrong when it comes to understanding and "getting" stuff created by great people.<p>(There are people who actually gets stuff, but many keep it to themselves and don't correct others.)<p>Sounds like it comes from a place with unhealthy amount of hubris? May be that is true, but what I say is extremely true.