THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT

The Blind Men and the Elephant, by John Godfrey Saxe, is a metaphor for how we treat our incomplete understanding of complex systems. Having limited information, we draw conclusions and argue extensively for our “opinions.”  The poet was a native Vermonter, born in Highgate, in 1816, who attended Middlebury College. Early on, he practiced law in St. Albans, northwestern VT, near Canada. Then, by 1850, he focused more on literature, publishing, and the lecture circuit

THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT.
A HINDOO FABLE.

I. It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind.

II. The First approached the Elephant, And happened to fall Against his broard and sturdy side, And began to brawl; “God bless me! But the Elephant Is very like a wall!”

III. The Second feeling of the Tusk, Cried, “Ho! What have we here So very round and smooth and sharp? To me it might be clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!”

IV. The Third approached the animal, And happened to take The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake: “I see quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a snake!”

V. The Fourth reached out his eager hand, And felt upon the knee. “What this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain,” quoth he; “’T is clearly enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!”

VI. The Fifth who chanced to touch the ear, Said: “E’en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can, This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!”

VII. The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Than sizing up the swinging tail That fell within his scope, I see quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a rope!”

VIII. And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong! MORAL.  So oft in theologic wars, The disputants, I ween, Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean, And prate about and Elephant Not one of them has seen!
By John Godfrey Saxe (circa 1850)