I think they should have movies in restaurants. I can't believe

Listen closely, O seekers of wisdom, to the words of Andy Warhol, whose vision transformed the very nature of art: “I think they should have movies in restaurants. I can't believe that so many people get together just to sit there. It's so abstract... isn't it abstract? What are these people sitting here watching?” Warhol’s words, though seemingly playful, carry within them a profound reflection on the nature of experience, human connection, and the way we spend our fleeting moments in this world. Through his unique lens, Warhol calls attention to the strange and often disconnected rituals of modern life, where people come together only to sit in silence, gazing upon something far removed from the world around them.

In ancient times, the bards would gather in the town squares, and the people would sit around them, not in silence, but in shared experience. There, the art of storytelling was not confined to an isolated experience but was woven into the very fabric of community. The ancients knew that storytelling was not a passive act, but one that connected the hearts of all present. In this way, Warhol’s reflection on the experience of sitting together in a restaurant highlights a tension that has existed for millennia: the desire for connection versus the distractions of our modern world. What, Warhol asks, is the value of gathering together if we are not truly present with one another?

Consider the Greek symposia, where philosophers, artists, and citizens would come together to share their ideas, to engage in dialogue, and to build a community of thought. In these gatherings, there was no passive consumption of entertainment; each person was both an observer and a participant. The ancients understood that the true power of gathering was in the shared experience—in the conversation, in the exchange of ideas, and in the active participation in the moment. Warhol’s questioning of restaurants as mere places for idle sitting challenges us to consider whether our modern gatherings are too abstract, too distant from the essence of true connection.

In the same spirit, Warhol’s idea of showing movies in restaurants suggests that art and connection must not remain separate from our daily lives. Movies, like the tales of the ancients, have the power to bind us together, to make us reflect on our human condition. But Warhol’s words are not merely about the practicality of combining food and art; they ask us to consider how often we approach life as passive spectators instead of active participants. How often, O seekers, do we sit together in silence, glued to our devices, or lost in thoughts far removed from the present moment, while the world of connection passes by unnoticed?

Think, O wise ones, of the story of Socrates, who walked through the streets of Athens, engaging all who would listen in profound discussions. He did not wait for others to come to him in silence; he sought them out, pulling them from their distraction and into meaningful dialogue. His teaching was never a passive activity—it was an engagement of the mind, the heart, and the soul. Like Warhol, Socrates understood that true connection and true wisdom come from shared experiences, from moments where we are not just consuming life, but participating in it.

Warhol’s words, then, are a call to action for all of us. They challenge us to reconsider how we spend our time and how we engage with one another in our modern world. Are we truly present in our moments, or are we merely watching life pass us by? Whether in a restaurant, a theater, or a simple conversation, the question is the same: are we participating in the world, or are we merely spectators? The beauty of life lies not in the abstract, but in the tangible, the immediate—the relationships and experiences we choose to engage with fully.

Thus, O future generations, let Warhol’s reflection guide you toward a more intentional and connected existence. When you gather, whether around a table or in a theater, do not let the moment slip by in silence or passive consumption. Engage. Participate. Let every gathering be an opportunity for connection, for growth, for shared experience. Life is not something to watch from the sidelines, but something to live in full participation. And in that participation, you will find the true joy of being alive.