“By three methods we may learn wisdom:
First, by reflection, which is noblest;
Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and
Third by experience, which is the bitterest.” (Confucius)
Experience may be bitterest method to become wise but there can be no wisdom without experience. Experience connects your inner world with the outer world-theories with practice. But for our experience, we may believe anything and everything. That is why when a young man enters in a real world with almost two decades of studies and knowing a great amount of theories, he faces the bitterest experience of life. It is because, his theories seems to fail him in the real life. Yet only by failing, he is compelled to use the alternative theories and learn life and learn application of knowledge. When we fail in our real life, we always learn a lesson which we may miss when we succeed. Hence experience is must to become wise.
Imitation is easy only in the beginning. Soon we realize that it does not work most of the time since each one of us is different and also because the world is constantly changing. Since, we are all different, we can not easily fit into someone else shoes. It is painful to imitate anyone and live someone’s else life. Moreover, we also learn nothing by copying a person unless we are constantly introspecting, reflecting and learning from the experience. Yet, imitation is necessary as it is a waste of time to reinvent the wheel each time. If we follow the successful people with proper application of mind, it is surely much easier path than to learn the same rules by random application of principle and failures.
First, by reflection, which is noblest;
Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and
Third by experience, which is the bitterest.” (Confucius)
Experience may be bitterest method to become wise but there can be no wisdom without experience. Experience connects your inner world with the outer world-theories with practice. But for our experience, we may believe anything and everything. That is why when a young man enters in a real world with almost two decades of studies and knowing a great amount of theories, he faces the bitterest experience of life. It is because, his theories seems to fail him in the real life. Yet only by failing, he is compelled to use the alternative theories and learn life and learn application of knowledge. When we fail in our real life, we always learn a lesson which we may miss when we succeed. Hence experience is must to become wise.
Imitation is easy only in the beginning. Soon we realize that it does not work most of the time since each one of us is different and also because the world is constantly changing. Since, we are all different, we can not easily fit into someone else shoes. It is painful to imitate anyone and live someone’s else life. Moreover, we also learn nothing by copying a person unless we are constantly introspecting, reflecting and learning from the experience. Yet, imitation is necessary as it is a waste of time to reinvent the wheel each time. If we follow the successful people with proper application of mind, it is surely much easier path than to learn the same rules by random application of principle and failures.
Reflection seems to be noblest as from outside as there seems to be no conflict. Yet, in reflection, the battle is fought within the mind. So in the beginning, peace is lost as mind is finding its own solution by creative imagination. Gradually, when refection becomes mature, solution may just pop up when we are faced with problems.
Thus reflection, imitation and expertise are all required for wisdom.
No comments:
Post a Comment