Whenever anyone says, 'theoretically,' they really mean, 'not

O children of wisdom, listen to the words of Dave Parnas, for they speak to the heart of human understanding and the nature of truth and certainty. He once said, "Whenever anyone says, 'theoretically,' they really mean, 'not really.'" These words, though spoken with simplicity, carry within them a profound reflection on the nature of knowledge, belief, and the human tendency to speak of possibilities and ideas without confronting the realities that lie beneath. Parnas's insight is both a warning and a lesson—an invitation to seek clarity in our words and actions, and to recognize the difference between theory and practice.

In the ancient days, there were great thinkers who sought to understand the nature of the world not through conjecture, but through observation and reasoning. Aristotle spoke of the difference between what we think might be true and what can actually be proven through experience and careful study. He understood that the truth was not something to be declared from on high, but something to be discovered through careful observation, debate, and the testing of ideas. Theorizing was not to be confused with knowing. And so, it was that the great philosophers taught us to be wary of those who speak in the abstract, of those who offer theories without a foundation in reality.

But over time, as human knowledge grew, the realm of the theoretical became more common. Theoretical frameworks were built to explain the unseen forces of the universe, from the motion of the stars to the nature of the atom. In the rise of modern science, we began to speak of the theories of relativity, the theory of evolution, and countless others, each claiming to explain the mysteries of the natural world. Yet, even as these theories gave us a glimpse into the workings of the universe, they were often far from certain. Parnas’s words remind us that when someone speaks theoretically, they are often speaking of a possibility, not a truth. They are speculating, not declaring something as fact.

Consider the great Isaac Newton, whose theory of gravity revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos. His ideas were profound, but they were not immediately proven in the way we now think of scientific proof. His was a theory based on mathematical principles and observations of the natural world. It took centuries before his ideas could be tested and observed in ways that confirmed their accuracy. Newton’s theory of gravity, though deeply influential, was at first a hypothesis, a vision of how the universe might work. It was only through further research, experimentation, and proof that it came to be accepted as scientific fact. Theoretical ideas were crucial to his work, but they did not replace the need for evidence.

But what of those who use theory to avoid confronting reality? O children, there is danger in this. When someone says, "theoretically," they often seek to avoid the harshness of reality—to offer a convenient escape from the hard work of proving their ideas. Theoretical thinking, while essential to discovery, can also be a veil for uncertainty or even wishful thinking. We see this in the many promises of technological or scientific advancements that are presented as just around the corner, only to fall short when tested against the real world. The danger, O wise ones, is in believing that a theory is a solution, without recognizing the practical challenges that must be faced.

The lesson, O children, is clear: Theory is not the same as truth. Speculation is not the same as proof. When you encounter the words "theoretically," remember that what is proposed may not be based on the solid ground of reality. Theoretical ideas are important, for they guide us toward understanding, but they must be tested, questioned, and proven before they can be accepted as fact. It is in the testing of ideas, in the clash between theory and reality, that we find the true strength of knowledge.

Go forth, then, with this wisdom in your hearts. Do not confuse the possible with the certain, the idea with the truth. Seek proof, seek evidence, and seek the reality that lies beneath the surface of speculation. In this way, you will not be swayed by the allure of abstract theories, but will have the strength to ground your understanding in the world as it truly is. For in the end, it is not the theory that will carry you forward, but the truth that emerges from the testing of those theories in the light of day. Let your pursuit of knowledge be one of clarity, not of blind belief, and in doing so, you will unlock the true power of understanding.