“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” — Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
In the knowledge age, what you don’t know can hurt you … and wisdom is a good thing.
Sources of Insight is about getting the world’s wisdom on your side.
How?
Stand on the Shoulders of Giants
By drawing from great books, great people, and great quotes to find the wisdom of the ages and modern sages. By looking for those timeless truths, and nuggets of wisdom you can use. And by testing paths, and finding the patterns and practices that work for real-world problems, in real-world scenarios. And by sharing and spreading the insights from best-selling authors to help people “stand on the shoulders of giants.”
But what is wisdom?
Wisdom is Being Wise
I had to look it up to make sure it means what I think it means. I grew up with the idea that knowledge is knowing what to do, and wisdom is doing what you know.
Here is a straightforward definition of wisdom from an online dictionary:
“The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.”
Wisdom is Insight
Here’s how Merriam-Webster characterized wisdom:
Knowledge, insight, judgment.
Wisdom is the Ability to Produce Desired Results
Here is what Wikipedia had to say on Wisdom:
“Wisdom is a deep understanding and realizing of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to choose or act or inspire to consistently produce the optimum results with a minimum of time, energy or thought. It is the ability to optimally (effectively and efficiently) apply perceptions and knowledge and so produce the desired results.”
I find the Wikipedia description the most inspiring. It’s like when I found out that an early form of inspire was “to breathe life into”.
At the end of the day, it’s wisdom in action that helps us make the most of what we’ve got, and to lead a better life.
Photo by oedipusphinx.
