Wisdom Essay, Research Paper

Wisdom-A Great Virtue

Many great minds have walked this earth since the beginning of time. Most of them have come from different backgrounds, different families, and different economical situations. The one thing, however, that all these great minds have in common is wisdom. Wise people have experienced many different situations during their lives. They may have made a wrong decision and now know what to do if the problem arises again. They may have done the right thing and realize that they should not change anything. Either way, they learned something from the experience. A wise person is able to take that knowledge and apply it to their life. It is used in making decisions of all kinds and helping others with their problems. Wise people have high moral standards. They were raised in a way that their conscience tells them the right thing to do in the majority of situations that occur during the course of their life.

Wisdom does not come from just knowing the information that is taught in schools. It is about being able to take that knowledge and use it in the real world. Most of the things taught are not directly going to be used in the careers that people choose. Dentists, for example, might use a little math while performing their duties, but not a great deal of it. Most of the things that a dentist does are learned by practice on real human beings. A dentistry student could know all the information in every book that he was ever given, but without ever practicing those skills, he does not really know what dentistry is about.

With every problem there are different circumstances and different outcomes. Knowing how to handle those different circumstances is something wise people know how to do. Since problem solving cannot really be taught, sometimes one must make mistakes and learn what to do the next time the problem arises in order to gain this kind of wisdom. A wise person is able to keep a clear head. They know that when a problem comes along the best thing to do is to think clearly about the situation and the solutions for it. They also realize that their decision does not always affect only them. This is another big part of wisdom. A wise person knows that sometimes a solved problem for one person creates a problem for another person.

My grandfather is a great example of a wise person. If I have a problem, all I have to do is ask him what to do, and if I take his advice the problem usually is solved. He is 70 years old, and has had a lot longer time to figure out how to live life than I have. Most of the time, the older a person is, the wiser they are. Senior citizens have gone through more than a teenager, young adult, or even a middle-aged person. They have gotten into trouble, experienced historic events, and most importantly, learned from their mistakes. So, chances are, if a teenager has a problem an older person has either gone through the same thing or something similar. Listening is a major part of obtaining wisdom. Most of the time, wise people are willing to give advice or just tell stories. Simply listening to these stories or taking the advice they give can help a person become a little wiser. Any time I get a chance to talk to a senior citizen, I take at it. I always find that I learn something from them, or, at least, am amused at a story they tell me.

Wisdom in its many forms is something that people have sought after for a very long time. It would be a waste of time, however, to go around looking for wisdom. Unlike knowledge, wisdom is not found in a book. Life?s experiences are the way to acquire it. People considered wise are sometimes even placed above those who are not. It is considered the greatest virtue and something everyone should desire. Wisdom does not only help the wise, but it helps others also.

By three methods we may learn wisdom:

First, by reflection which is noblest;

second, by imitation, which is the easiest;

and third, by experience, which is the bitterest.

Confucius (551-479 B.C.E.)