English philosopher Francis Bacon (1561-1626) once said: Knowledge is power. Yes, indeed, she or he who knows something has power. We need to learn as much as possible both from the regular school system but also outside of it. In fact, we need to learn unceasingly, because the sea of knowledge around us and outside our regular scope is monumental.
Another source of knowledge that we do not often think about is learning from our experience and from the experiences of others. Our entire life is a vast field of experience that we must go back to time again, to learn from it mainly through regular actions of reflection, meditation, introspection and contemplation. Greek philosopher Socrates (470-399 B.C.) says that life without reflection is not worth living.
The more one learns, the more one realises there is much more to be learned.
This realisation, that what we know is a tiny fraction of the vast oceans of knowledge, is itself a waking up to wisdom. The wise realise that they do not know it all, that what they know is only a minute piece compared to all that one can possibly know.
If knowledge is power and we certainly need that power, its power becomes destructive if it is not inspired by wisdom. What is wisdom? The Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate English Dictionary defines wisdom as: Accumulated philosophic or scientific learning; ability to discern inner qualities and relationships; insight; good sense; good judgment, etc. That is indeed a mouthful.
A little more simply and to the point, I would say that wisdom is a personal disposition that empowers a person to think or act in a way that prioritises the best interests of self and others now and in the future. I may not know the precise definition of a wise person, but you and I can identify a wise person by the way they talk and act. I have several examples of wise people that have contributed to whom I am today. My maternal grandfather is one of them. He never rushed into speaking. He took time to answer questions. He listened a lot. He reflected frequently. When he finally spoke, everyone listened.
When he made a mistake in word or action, he apologised profusely. This was a wise man. He was always ethical in ways that have always amazed me. My maternal grandmother was the same. Kind, gentle, generous, respectful. I continue to learn from these two and from others as well. I now firmly believe that knowledge without wisdom is empty. In fact, it is dangerous. It needs wisdom to season it.
