Have you ever wondered if wisdom is reflected by the knowledge we gain? It is generally accepted today that intelligence and intellectual abilities are God-gifted, they can’t be gained.

I don’t fully disagree with this, because I believe that the most crucial path that leads to attaining wisdom by an individual is through gaining knowledge. Intelligence doesn’t imply wisdom, as it’s a God-gifted talent. On the other hand, knowledge, secured through experiences at home, school and society, designates a person’s wisdom. As your wisdom is judged by your erudition and scholarship, so it’s necessary to learn and to be educated.

The following points play a significant role in an individual’s path towards wisdom.

Stockpiling of knowledge

The first most significant way of gaining wisdom is the accumulation of knowledge. Through evolution, knowledge has become a necessity of life. In fact, an illiterate man isn’t admired by others if he is unable to acquire the knowledge that education imparts.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, knowledge means, “facts, information and skills acquired through experiences and education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.”

Learning, along with the perception of daily life activities, signifies knowledge. To pursue wisdom, education should be promoted. Education not only boosts our knowledge, but, in addition, it shapes our attitude and behaviour. It regulates one’s mind to transform into a reputable and desired character.

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” — Martin Luther King

Knowledge is essential to develop the attribute that leads to the development of wisdom in an individual. Knowledge develops a person’s mind to handle day-to-day affairs intelligently and smartly. By being knowledgeable and educated, a person undergoes intellectual growth and development.

For better insight, let us take the example of a child who, at the initial phase of his life, cannot speak and express his thoughts. He cannot even distinguish between right and wrong. But with time, as he grows, he learns and gains knowledge from his environment that leads to him gaining wisdom. This truly explains what commendable role knowledge plays in our lives.

Knowledge is free

A smart man makes a mistake, learns from it and never makes that mistake again. But a wise man finds a smart man and learns from him how to avoid the mistake altogether. — Roy H. Williams

Knowledge not only comes from experience and your environment, but you can build it up by reading articles, books, encyclopaedias and watching documentaries and listening to the podcasts on almost all topics that come to your mind.

And the best thing is that you can get it all for free. You don’t have to struggle or pay money, you can easily gain knowledge through websites and TV programmes, or through the books, newspaper and magazine lying in your house.

Those of you who are lucky enough to have grandparents living with you, can get knowledge from their experiences, stories and life.

This remarkable opportunity of someone teaching you something they learnt though experiencing life, ends up with you learning about life without having to undergo the experiences they had. And you can in turn teach someone else.

The time and attention you give to something you learn is the real price you pay for it.

Knowledge doesn’t expire

Knowledge doesn’t have an expiry date, the more you have it, the wiser you are and the more logical your thinking becomes. Knowledge is something for you gain for life, which only increases with time. It is a treasure that only grows.

Even if everything else is taken from you, like your possessions, your social status, or your health — you would still have all the information (knowledge) you’ve learnt throughout your life. In short, you end up with more knowledge than what you started with.

“No thief, however skilful, can rob one of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire.” — L. Frank Baum

Develop logical thinking

Logical thinking is how you envisage a situation, identify things whether right or wrong. Logical thinking develops in a person on the basis of his professional and educational experiences. The more experienced a person is, the more self-understanding and enhanced skills they will have.

A skilful and trained person has multiple abilities, like unconventional ideas and a variety of diverse skills. For example, an individual is hired for a particular job on the basis of his better skills that derive from experience.

These experiences contribute in promoting logical thinking, that’s a strategy to attain wisdom.

Make the right judgment

Judgment means the ability to make considerable decisions or come to a sensible understanding of things. Judgment is made according to the point of view or attitude towards a particular situation.

Judgment can be classified into two types: positive judgment and negative judgment. Negative judgment stops one from gaining wisdom, whereas positive judgments help promote acumen. Acumen means making correct decisions. Correct decisions are helpful for developing tactful and accurate skills in a person.

Overcome problems wisely

If you are a wise person, then you should have the ability to get over problems in your daily life. As mentioned earlier, good decision-making and logical reasoning contribute in building wisdom in an individual.

In addition, you are able to determine and solve your problems in the right frame of mind, which means that you are a mature and wise person.

Knowing yourself

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” — Aristotle

A wise person always identifies his faults first and then reminds others about theirs. No one can claim to be perfect in this world. Everyone has some imperfections.

As humans, we are prone to make mistakes. Those who understand and rectify them are the intelligent ones, whereas those who stop soul searching and contemplation can never succeed. In fact, they couldn’t be regarded as a wise person.

Knowledge liberates you

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.” — Charles Spurgeon

Self-discovery and introspection is important to gain wisdom.

We tend to fear things which we don’t have any knowledge of. It simply means that once you have knowledge of things that you fear the most, this will set you free for life.

So living without any worry or threat of anyone or anything is achieved by knowing yourself and your surroundings, which is the first step towards freedom.

In short, self-knowledge leads to wisdom and liberation.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 26th, 2022