Men become wise just as they become rich, more by what they save than by what they receive. – Wilbur Wright
We all know that eating too much isn’t good for us. But are we wise enough to act on that knowledge? We all receive wisdom, but what do we save, and what to we do with it?
What does that mean?
This quote makes an interesting analogy between riches and wisdom. The quote says we become wise in the same manner as we become rich. How do we become rich? The tweet says by saving, rather than just receiving.
By that, the quote means that we all have money which comes to us, the money we receive. What we save of that money is how we grow rich. While there are many other ways to grow your money, this is a valid and basic method, and very useful for the second part of the quote.
The point of the quote is that the same method applies to becoming wise. Wisdom is all around us. It comes to us every day. But what is important is if we recognize it, and then save it. By keeping that bit of wisdom, we become more wise, and I believe that is the point of the quote.
Why is saving wisdom important?
This is not saving wisdom in the sense that wisdom is in danger, but saving it the way we might save spare change, and using that to build our savings. By saving and remembering wise sayings and wise actions, whether described or witnessed, is an important part of becoming wise.
Just experiencing or witnessing wisdom isn’t enough to become wise. Many fools have experienced or witnessed the same things as others, but are still fools because they didn’t save it. They didn’t learn from the experience. They didn’t make the experience part of their life.
To become wise, therefore, not only must we experience wisdom in word or deed, but we must save that information. After that, it helps to make that experience part of our lives. It’s what I’ve been doing for most of my life, and kind of what this blog is about.
Where can I apply this in my life?
Anywhere and everywhere, right? But on a more serious note, we all have areas in our lives where we are more wise than other areas. The big question is what are we going to do about it? Some areas might not be particularly applicable, but others are more so.
As an example, being married, I have no real use for wisdom about dating. Which is good, as I was never very accomplished or wise in that area. However, in the area of relationships, I have become fairly accomplished and wise. Crashing and burning will tend to help one make the wisdom part of your life.
In what areas of your life are you a little less than wise? Are you able to remember to do or not do things, as appropriate? I still have problems with snacking, even though I know what happens to all the extra calories. Yet somehow I find a way to work them off, so the wisdom seems to not sink in.
Diet and exercise are common areas for there to be much knowledge but not as much wisdom. I know I fall into that category, how about you? If I wanted it badly enough, I know that all I would have to do is set aside the time to exercise, and things would change. But as yet, I don’t want it badly enough.
How about you? What aspects of your life did you decide you need to work on the wisdom, more specifically saving it? Or is your difficulty the finding of wisdom in the first place? These days, the self-help sections of libraries and book stores are impressive. Then there’s the internet, which has tons of useful stuff as well.
To me, the easiest way to make some new piece of wisdom part of my life is to, as soon as possible, act on it. Find a way to use the wisdom. Make it as frequent a part of your life as you can. Like a muscle, exercise it as often as practical, and it will become part of you. You will have saved it.
This can be the hard part, because it requires you to actually take action. This, to me, is the difference between knowledge and wisdom. How many people know it’s not in their best interest to smoke or eat as much as they do? Yet they do it anyway.
They have knowledge, but they have yet to act on the wisdom which it provides. That action, repeated, would turn the knowledge into wisdom. That wisdom would help them live a more healthy lifestyle. Yet, for what ever reason, they don’t.
I know, I’m one of them. My eating and exercise habits are not very wise. But I am working my way to a better place, and, little by little, I am saving these bits of wisdom and making them part of me.
What are you going to do? Are you going to save some wisdom? Are you going to make it part of you? I hope so!
From: Twitter, @AskCareOne
confirmed at : http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/wilburwrig185348.html
Photo by roberthuffstutter (Painting by Annibale Carracci – The Beaneater)
Happy Birthday to Wilbur Wright, aviator of some note, born 16 April, 1867.
