In an article about trying to live like the Founding Fathers for a year, the author discusses his experience of writing with a quill pen. Though there were downsides, such as ink stains and annoying sounds, he found that writing in longhand with a quill pen allowed his mind to enter a state of flow and helped him to think more deeply and explore the nuances of a topic. The Founders preferred a slower, less impulsive style of writing that emphasized cool reason over immediate emotional responses. They wrote letters and sealed them with wax, allowing for a cooling-off period before sending their thoughts.
While the author does not advocate for everyone to go back to using quill pens and wax seals, he does encourage more offline writing and thinking in the age of constant digital distractions. There is scientific evidence to support the idea that writing by hand benefits thinking, as the precisely controlled hand movements contribute extensively to the brain’s connectivity patterns that promote learning. Even if one does not write by hand, there are ways to moderate thinking, such as using software that cuts off internet access to allow for time to digest and contextualize thoughts.
In an election year like the one being discussed, when passions run high, measured and moderated thinking is important. The author recommends writing responses to emails or social media posts offline and revising them when back online in order to tone down anger or frustration and foster productive solutions. The Constitution was written offline by the Founding Fathers, and the author believes that important compromises and thoughtfulness would not have occurred if it had been written on a digital platform or through instant messaging. Slowness in the writing and thinking process is seen as beneficial in fostering better outcomes.
While it may not be desirable to return to all aspects of life before modern conveniences, there are certain areas, like writing and thinking, that could benefit from a more enforced speed limit. By engaging in more offline writing and thinking, individuals can avoid distractions and impulses and foster deeper and more nuanced thoughts on important topics. The author’s experience of writing with a quill pen for a year provided valuable insight into the benefits of this slower, more deliberate approach to communication and decision-making.
