[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fWYat0dQiriJHrM3UnvVhhlOQFa_HyHQLjpiK8WWtrFI":3,"$fF61-px4ITJj8dReMwahSuGrPwXoKUbAQXLXLOKQ1ivo":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},198460,"Meles Zenawi","M",58,null,"meles-zenawi",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":115},[14,22,30,36,48,59,70,81,93,104],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":9},3830035,"Of course everybody's thinking evolves over time.",7,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":23,"quote_text":24,"author_id":5,"source_id":25,"has_image":18,"author":26,"source":27,"quote_tag":28,"commentary":29},3278098,"Spending one hour with Isaias is far more worthwhile, rewarding and enlightening than reading ten books.",6,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\n\nThis quote is attributed to Meles Zenawi, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 1995 until his death in 2012. Given its content, it's likely that he shared these words during a time when he was engaging with various international leaders and thinkers, possibly at the African Union or other regional forums where Isaias Afwerki, the President of Eritrea, was also present. Meles Zenawi's own experiences as a leader navigating complex relationships and seeking knowledge to inform his policies may have influenced this quote.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nThe counter-intuitive truth in this statement lies in its rejection of the conventional wisdom that knowledge is power. Instead, Meles Zenawi suggests that genuine understanding comes not from passive consumption of information (reading ten books) but from engaging with others who embody the principles or challenges you seek to grasp. This paradox highlights a tension between intellectual curiosity and interpersonal connection.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nTo apply this mindset today, modern professionals and creatives would benefit from prioritizing immersive experiences over mere knowledge acquisition. Rather than merely consuming books or articles on a topic, they should strive to engage with individuals who embody the qualities or challenges they seek to understand, whether through mentorship, networking, or direct collaboration.",{"id":31,"quote_text":32,"author_id":5,"source_id":25,"has_image":18,"author":33,"source":34,"quote_tag":35,"commentary":9},3278083,"The most stupid mistake a counter-insurgency operation can make is alienating the population. If you alienate the population, you’re finished.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":37,"quote_text":38,"author_id":5,"source_id":39,"has_image":18,"author":40,"source":41,"quote_tag":42,"commentary":9},2808955,"The CUD (Coalition for Unity and Democracy) leaders are engaged in insurrection -- that is an act of treason under Ethiopian law. They will be charged and they will appear in court,",4,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[43],{"id":44,"tag":45},5784069,{"id":46,"tag_name":47},2293,"act",{"id":49,"quote_text":50,"author_id":5,"source_id":39,"has_image":18,"author":51,"source":52,"quote_tag":53,"commentary":9},2808954,"The CUD is responsible for the damage and loss of life that has occurred in the capital in the last three days,",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[54],{"id":55,"tag":56},5784068,{"id":57,"tag_name":58},6571,"capital",{"id":60,"quote_text":61,"author_id":5,"source_id":39,"has_image":18,"author":62,"source":63,"quote_tag":64,"commentary":9},2808953,"The (CUD) officials who have been arrested will be taken to court, ... They are responsible for all these things.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[65],{"id":66,"tag":67},5784067,{"id":68,"tag_name":69},38161,"arrested",{"id":71,"quote_text":72,"author_id":5,"source_id":39,"has_image":18,"author":73,"source":74,"quote_tag":75,"commentary":9},2808952,"the Ethiopian government is looking all matters with utmost patience.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[76],{"id":77,"tag":78},5784066,{"id":79,"tag_name":80},4954,"government",{"id":82,"quote_text":83,"author_id":5,"source_id":39,"has_image":18,"author":84,"source":85,"quote_tag":86,"commentary":92},2808951,"Spending one hour with Isaias is far more worthwhile, rewarding and enlightening than reading ten books",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[87],{"id":88,"tag":89},5784065,{"id":90,"tag_name":91},11,"book","**The Backstory**\nMeles Zenawi, the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, uttered these words during a time when he was navigating the complex landscape of African politics and development. As a leader who valued experiential learning and hands-on engagement, Meles often prioritized direct interactions with influential figures like Isaias Afwerki over theoretical knowledge.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nAt first glance, this quote may seem to extol the virtues of interpersonal connections, but it actually reveals a more nuanced critique of the value of information. Meles is suggesting that relying solely on books and abstract knowledge can be limiting, and that direct experience with individuals who have lived through similar challenges or possess unique expertise is far more valuable.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset today, consider allocating your time towards building relationships with people in positions of authority or influence, rather than simply consuming information from afar. By doing so, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the complexities at play and develop a more practical approach to problem-solving.",{"id":94,"quote_text":95,"author_id":5,"source_id":39,"has_image":18,"author":96,"source":97,"quote_tag":98,"commentary":9},2808950,"As we respond to the assault of our enemy and defend our country, we must never break international laws. Crime can not be solved by more crime.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[99],{"id":100,"tag":101},5784064,{"id":102,"tag_name":103},3625,"country",{"id":105,"quote_text":106,"author_id":5,"source_id":39,"has_image":18,"author":107,"source":108,"quote_tag":109,"commentary":9},2808949,"Africa's downfall has always been the cult of the personality. And their names always seem to begin with M. We've had Mobutu and Mengistu and I'm not going to add Meles to the list.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[110],{"id":111,"tag":112},5784063,{"id":113,"tag_name":114},20549,"lists",{"currentPage":116,"totalPages":25,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":117},1,10]