Interpretation’s business is provoking desire to know, not instructing

Evidence

The good interpreter will have developed a philosophy about life, and about human needs, of his or her own. It will be frail, gauzy, since there is so much that nobody knows, and perhaps can ever know. The interpreter will not detail his or her philosophy. It will be implicit in what is said and by one’s attitude. The job is very little to instruct, but rather to provoke the desire to know. One plants this seed of provocation, and will not know the harvest, nor need worry about that, if it be that one has demonstrated that the beauty that lies behind what the eye sees is far greater than that which is so seen. — Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage, 675

Categorization

• XREF: Full articulation of the provocation principle ch16 ‘Accurate facts without provocation are ineffectual’ — connects to: Interpretation is a voluntary offering, not compulsion, instruction, or news — Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage, 670; Interpreters should tell stories, not recite inventories, because visitors seek enjoyment — Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage, 246; Interpreters should begin from the visitor’s question, not their own message — Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage, 381 (+2 more)
• recurring: this claim recurs 2 times within its source

Broader Connections

• Interpretation provokes self-action in the listener rather than instructing him #corroborates (0.95) — Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage, 633
• Interpretation reveals meanings rather than simply communicating facts #expands (0.72) — Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage, 69