Bring ideas in and entertain them royally, for one of them may be

"Bring ideas in and entertain them royally, for one of them may be the king." Thus spoke Mark Van Doren, the poet, teacher, and philosopher whose words carry the noble cadence of ancient wisdom. In this brief saying lies a great truth: that ideas are not mere visitors to the mind, but potential rulers of destiny. To entertain them royally means to welcome them with respect, patience, and open-hearted curiosity—to treat every thought as if it might bear the crown of transformation. For within the vast court of the human imagination, it is often the humblest idea, the quietest whisper, that one day ascends the throne and reshapes the world.

Van Doren, who spent his life among words and minds, understood that the difference between wisdom and folly lies not in the number of ideas one possesses, but in how one treats them. Too often, people dismiss their own thoughts before they can mature, banishing them as foolish or impractical. Yet history has shown that the greatest revolutions of spirit and science began as fragile sparks—ideas entertained kindly, given space to grow. Van Doren’s teaching, then, is an invitation to cultivate reverence for thought, to become the gracious host of one’s own imagination.

Consider the story of Thomas Edison, a man who entertained thousands of ideas, most of which failed. Yet he treated each one as a royal guest, granting it attention and effort. When he sought to create the electric light, his experiments failed again and again—but he did not dismiss the idea. He entertained it with patience, adjusting, refining, serving it as one would a demanding monarch. At last, the idea revealed its crown, illuminating the world and banishing the darkness of night. Had he scorned it after the first failure, humanity might have waited generations for its light. Thus we learn: an idea becomes king only when it is treated as one before it wears the crown.

Van Doren’s wisdom also speaks to the discipline of the creative mind. To “bring ideas in” is an act of courage, for ideas are not always gentle guests. Some come like storms, unsettling the heart; others come like strangers, unfamiliar and strange. Yet the wise thinker opens the door to all of them, knowing that truth often wears disguises. The closed mind, proud and fearful, bars the gate to greatness; but the open mind, generous and curious, allows inspiration to take its rightful seat. The philosopher, the artist, the scientist—all are but servants in the court of ideas, waiting to recognize their king.

This truth has been seen in every age. When Galileo turned his telescope toward the heavens, he entertained an idea most feared by his world: that the Earth was not the center of creation. He was condemned for it, imprisoned, yet his idea endured—and became the reigning truth of the cosmos. The crown was not his, but the idea’s. For no matter how fiercely men resist it, a true idea rules by its own merit. Ideas are immortal monarchs, and those who serve them faithfully become immortal in their shadow.

Yet Van Doren’s counsel carries another kind of wisdom—the wisdom of humility. Not every idea will rule, and not every thought is destined for greatness. But to treat each with respect is to cultivate a noble character, a mind that does not rush to judgment or arrogance. The fool laughs at his own thoughts or fears them; the wise man listens, questions, and tests them gently. For the act of welcoming ideas is itself an act of becoming—each new notion expands the boundaries of the self, turning the mind into a kingdom rich with possibility.

So, my children of reflection, take this teaching to heart: when an idea knocks, open the door. Invite it in as you would a guest of honor. Speak with it, challenge it, and let it rest awhile. Do not cast it out too quickly, for even the smallest idea may carry within it the seed of greatness. Record your thoughts, nurture them, and share them; for in their company you may discover the one destined to change your life—or the world.

In the end, Van Doren reminds us that the mind is a throne room, and ideas are its noble guests. Some will depart quietly, others will linger, and one—if you are patient and faithful—will rise above all others and wear the crown of truth. Treat each idea royally, and your life will never lack for meaning, for in serving your ideas with dignity, you serve the very spirit of creation itself.