To Be Wise

Wisdom is not exclusive to any individual, culture, or time-period. I have heard wisdom spoken by various people in my life, with some instances hitting me deeply enough to remain in my mind. I may never forget them, and I hope I never do, as they all tell of what it means to be wise.

Socrates journeyed to discover the wisest person in Athens, for he was told that it was he by the Oracle at Delphi. The success of his expedition was realized when he found that while others betray their knowledge by speaking on that which they know little, he did not venture to explain that which he did not know. Socrates said: “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” One might interpret this as being self-deprecating, but it is far beyond that; it is truth. Acknowledging our limitations is freeing, for it inspires us to overcome them.

Found within the pages of Jack Kerouac’s Dharma Bums is a message on both hiking and life, directed toward the character that Kerouac based on himself: "When you get to the top of a mountain keep climbing, Smith." This is sage advice for all who feel that they can rest on previous successes in their lives. We are human, and as mortal beings, we should never rob ourselves the opportunity to contribute to the world while we are fully capable of doing so. To never willfully end our pursuit of knowledge or our journey for contentment is to be wise.

A famous man boarded a train, and during the ride, was asked for his ticket by an attendant. Though aging, the man knew he had it, and searched his coat pockets, his wallet, and even under his seat, but he still did not see it. The ticket-taker then recognized the man, and decided to give him a break. “You don’t need to show me your ticket, I know who you are!” he said. “So do I,” answered the man, “but I don’t know where I’m going!” Perhaps it is most wise of us to know our place in the world. We must know that we have to prepare for our destination. We must have an idea of what we hope to accomplish in our lives, and we must understand that the application of our mental and physical effort must be goal-oriented.

Even in sculpture, one of the smallest carvings embodies one of the greatest messages of wisdom. Known to most as figures representing “See no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil,” they are the “Three Wise Monkeys.” In some iterations, there is even a fourth, the lesser known “Do no evil,” which crosses its arms, or in some recreations, holds its crotch. They are wise, for there is wisdom in living one’s life without vice and in gaining pleasure though appreciation of the world around us, instead of relying on our sinful desires for what we perceive as positive results. These figures come both large and small, and are found in many forms, from jewelry to table stands. Traditionally, they were crafted to a palm-sized set, as was the one famously carried by Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi was himself a man of great wisdom. He is remembered around the world for accomplishing a great deal with what little he had. He was wise, for he created change by changing how to create it: through peace. To be wise is to do the extraordinary, but to realize the ordinary means by which it may be accomplished. The first step is to escape the chains of lust, extravagance and possession that our society values so much. If we release the bonds, we may escape the tunnel-vision that keeps us focused on such meaninglessness.

It is wise to make do with what you have, and to be happy with what simple pleasures we are capable of enjoying on earth. As humans, we are all capable of being wise. The only restraint to living a life of wisdom is our perception of our past and what we already know. A simple shift in thinking would allow us to realize that nothing in life is to be taken for granted, for we do not know when our abilities may weaken or our time may end. We expect so much from our world, including (but not limited to): our neighbors, our country, our God, and our own bodies. We have been telling ourselves that nothing is good enough for us, but when we understand that it is we who are not good enough for what is around us, we may be content. As Claude Bernard said, “It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning.” We must forget some of our education and replace it by gaining true knowledge. We are not all-powerful, but we may all be empowered by our lack of power.

Wisdom appears when we are not awaiting it, and often exposes itself after its performance has ended, when it has had time to grow in our minds. Throughout time, people have remembered those that are wise, for we are eager to learn by the examples they set, and wish to follow in the paths they have made. While we may never achieve what Socrates and others have, it is important to think of them, so that we can improve our own qualities and become wiser. To question life is to seek wisdom, and to be wise is to understand that we may never know the answers.