The Force of Character

Reading James Hillman's The Force of Character. The book talks about what is more important in the later years of our lives.

In trying to last, we seek to extend life. It is equally important to extend our understanding of life: life as it is, not as it was; life structured with intelligence; life as instruction.

In old age, interest shifts from information to intelligence. Information brings news, while intelligence searches it for insight. Information merely accumulates; insights last.

Connecticut Elementary School Shooting

Dr. Ding, the Hong Kong sociologist, said mainland China schools he has visited in the past two years have beefed up security in the wake of the knife attacks.

"I think these kind of attacks become more frequent in many countries, not just China and U.S., because of a number of different factors," Ding said. "Number one is the increased pressure for individuals. Today's world is very different from the world we saw 50 years ago ... individuals in their daily life face much more uncertainty, risk, financial pressure and competition."

"The second thing is we live in a global village now, where the spread of information -- especially bad news -- is so instantaneous," said Ding, leading to more copycat crimes across the globe.

"I don't think we should limit the free press ... but people are watching this, they are learning from these kind of attacks. They are becoming more and more organized, better planned -- and that is horrible."