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Literary Lights

Priscilla Fagan

Wisdom

The older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom. H.L. Mencken

This month I thought we’d dissect the word ‘wisdom’ since many people believe they are wise, and some believe with wisdom comes the right to say anything. Ernest Hemingway, Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut. Yes, good wisdom here and one of his milder quotes. It also might say something for his usual state of mind.

The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool. William Shakespeare from ‘As You Like It’. Perhaps, before computers, before video games, before television, before biased newscasters, before the twentieth century, people used their heads, there common sense, and perhaps knew when to keep their mouths shut.

Well, let’s see what Webster has to say about wisdom . . .It seems we have much to choose from.

1.     a: accumulated philosophic or scientific learning: Knowledge
        b: ability to discern inner qualities and relationships: Insight
        c: good sense: Judgment
        d: generally accepted belief (challenges what has become accepted ~ among many historians – Robert Darnton)
2. a wise attitude or course of action
3. the teachings of the ancient wise men syn. see sense

Choose the one which suits you best. I think the person who boasts his own wisdom still has much to learn. George Santayana, The wisest mind has something yet to learn.

With wisdom comes responsibility to our fellow peers. However, no matter how much we think we know about writing skills, it is irresponsible to think we know it all. This might lead into next month’s column which could be titled, “A Matter of Opinion.”

Bertrand Russell says it succinctly, The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.

With wisdom should follow kindness because the more we learn about ourselves and our small world, the more we need to leave gentle reminders to be kind to one another. Remember, ridicule, though some may think the contrary, does not teach; it hurts. To paraphrase an old cliché, when doling out wisdom/knowledge, ‘you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar'.

I’ll end with a wise piece of advice from Abigail Van Buren, Wisdom doesn't automatically come with old age. Nothing does - except wrinkles. It's true, some wines improve with age. But only if the grapes were good in the first place.

Still an optimist, Priscilla