I first became aware of Andrew Zuckerman’s book Wisdom: 50 Unique and Original Portraits when a friend sent me the Wisdom Trailer—a nearly 6 minute video montage of people sharing short clips of wisdom. At least, sharing wisdom from their perspective.
Most are eloquent in their simplicity. Whether it is Bill Withers saying “You can’t go from not being able to function to running the whole show”; or Rosamunde Pilcher reminding us “You don’t stop doing things because you get old. You get old because you stop doing things”; or Andrew Wyeth and Ravi Shankar saying, “We have to love something deeply”, the insights are poignant.
Wisdom does NOT necessarily come with knowledge. I know a lot of “educated” people who do foolish things on a regular basis.
Wisdom does NOT necessarily come with age. I have met some very wise young students.
Wisdom is NOT conferred with power. Election to political office does not wisdom make.
Wisdom is definitely not bought with money nor does it come from hanging around the “pretty people” (whoever they may be).
Wisdom DOES come from experience—and learning from that experience.
Wisdom DOES show when one responds to a situation rather than reacts to a situation.
Wisdom IS recognizing that my solution is A solution—but it is NOT necessarily THE solution.
Wisdom knows that power is NOT the same thing as authority.
What wisdom do you have to share with the world? If you are a parent, what do you want your children to understand? If you are a leader, what do you want your colleagues to grasp? As a citizen of your community, what have you learned/experienced that (at least in your estimation) will make this a better world?
In this season of giving, please share your wisdom.
© Steve Piscitelli and Steve Piscitelli’s Blog, 2010.
The Growth and Resilience Network® 
Always great, thought-provoking blog posts. It is my desire to leave a legacy of wisdom to my children — I do that by living my life to the fullest expression of my gifts each day and by doing that I learn. And, if momma’s learning – everyone’s learnin’! 🙂
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As a parent it is important to understand that the frontal lobe does not fully form in the human brain until around age 21. It is responsible for emotional balance and decision making. Therefore one must realize that ALL children are brain damaged and you must always take that into account when dealing with them
As a leader I would say, any question has some validity. I have seen many stupid mistakes made because someone did not take the time to accept what they thought was a stupid question and honor it with even a stupid answer.
As a citizen I suggest you vote YOUR conscience, be compassionate, adjust to change….and vote again….
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As a new parent, I have learned babies enter this world knowing how to frown to get what they need. It is only later that we learn how to smile! Keep smiling everyone!
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As a student in my community I learned that a attitude will not get you no where and it will effect your future. Also, treat others’ how you want to be treated.
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C,
The Golden Rule is so simple–yet so often overlooked! Thank you.
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I am a father of two children and I tell them that life is just a journey, and only they can navagate. We choose which direction we travel by our choiches.
If the riht decisions are made we stay grounded and on course. The wrong choices causes us to stray off
the path and get lost. Our wisdom helps us make good choices and keep on track.
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I am a father of two children and I tell them that life is just a journey, and only they can navagate. We choose which direction we travel by our choiches.
If the right decisions are made we stay grounded and on course. The wrong choices causes us to stray off
the path and get lost. Our wisdom helps us make good choices and keep on track.
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And we might also say our choices create our wisdom. 🙂
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I’ve learned as a parent and a student, that life is full of surprises whether they’re good or bad. Knowing how to respond or react to those surprises is where wisdom takes its course. I have had wisdom in many situations as I progressed as a parent and student.I share my wisdom with ohters thats in the same or similar situation as myself. Making wise decisions and having wisdom is part of life’s cycle of growing up.
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Important to “respond” rather than “react.”
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Yeah wisdom is an important thing to have. most people gain it by learning the hard way by bumping there head or getting burned. Thats the reason why older folks like to give us young folks advice because they went through the same things. Also some people think there isn’t a difference between being wise and having fear.
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Yeah wisdom is an important thing to have. Most people gain it by learning the hard way by bumping there head or getting burned. Thats the reason why older folks like to give us young folks advice because they went through the same things. Also some people think there isn’t a difference between being wise and having fear. What is common sense.
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Wisdom is something that most people use as a broad word for certain situations.It could be used in a certain experiance or if you have a head full of grey hair,as most old folks say wisdom comes with age. However i think wisdom comes from how you react when you have a situation set in front of you; and most of the time it takes a strong person to be bigger an use wisdom.
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I think that wisdom comes with age. Age in this context means conscious maturity. As we grow we become aware of ourselves and the world around us. We understand that we are not alone in the world, that whatever we do or don’t do, effects not only ourselves but others as well. In knowing this, our decisions and actions reflect the knowledge we have attained. When a child looks in the mirror and identifies itself, it’s unique self in the world, his/her actions reflect that knowledge. Words like me, I, and mine are very common. However as we develope relationships with others, our conversations are geared toward words like us, we, and our. We obtain wisdom when we consider the next persons feelings, ideas, and identity. I think wisdom is knowing that I am a citizen of humanity.
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Quite insightful. “Awareness of others” is important.
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Whwn one embarks on wisdom, happy is he, but without undertanding, wherefore is his wisdom?
Knowledge is knowing that there is a key to a door, wisdom is using the key to unlock the door, but understanding will keep the door from closing in your face.
Proverbs 2:6
For the Lord give widom, and from hi mouth come knowledge and understanding.
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With all thy getting,get understanding prov 4:7. Widsom is knowing how to apply the knowledge that we attained in life, also how to respond to the situations of life..
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True. Knowledge without application is empty.
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