“A man who has committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it, is committing another mistake.” Confucius
So what is wisdom? Something beyond education and knowledge, beyond just your experiences, and beyond the adage of “wisdom comes with age.” Is wisdom learned from our mistakes?
A dictionary defines it as the knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action.
None of that is simple and wisdom can’t be simply defined. Or the journey in seeking wisdom made simple. It is hard today to seek wisdom when what is true or right is no longer clear and a just judgment comes up for debate. Blurred lines are the norm and not helpful.
We’ve all made many mistakes but are we wiser from them?
Confucius said, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
The first line and a half of Rudyard Kipling’s poem If— sums up why we need wisdom today.
“If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs…”
I hope we all gain more wisdom today and every day forward.
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