Whether wisdom comes with age is a complex question, as wisdom is not solely determined by the years one has lived. While experience can provide valuable lessons and insights, it does not guarantee wisdom.
Some individuals may possess wisdom beyond their years, while others may not develop it even in old age. Ultimately, wisdom is a lifelong pursuit that requires continuous growth, open-mindedness, and a genuine desire to seek truth and understanding.
It is a multifaceted trait that encompasses a deep understanding of oneself, others, and the world and the ability to apply that understanding to make sound judgments and decisions. Age offers opportunities for accumulating experiences and encountering situations that can contribute to wisdom. Through these experiences, individuals can learn from successes, failures, and the consequences of their actions.
Russell Marlett on human wisdom
The book “Commentaries on the Book of Wisdom” by Russell Marlett taps into the idea of wisdom representing the religious philosophy that revolves around one fundamental truth. It may rely on spiritual disciplines, but there is one clear thing: this book definitely implies any religious dogma presented to its readers.
Marlett’s goal is to share the power of wisdom and its impact on our lives. This especially applies to those who live by religious beliefs, as they might find some inclination to it. Regardless, the book aims to entertain and enlighten those who seek wisdom, even in the later years of their lives.
So if you find yourself in a bind on redirecting your life moving forward, a nudge from the Commentaries on the Book of Wisdom may help.
Age as a prerequisite for wisdom
Cultures around the world each have their own definition of what wisdom means, or whether it is acquired. However, if wisdom comes with age, does it mean we know any better as we age? When we get older, do we actually get wiser or remain the same mentally as the years transpire?
Time provides an opportunity for reflection and introspection, allowing individuals to develop a broader perspective and understanding of life’s complexities. However, wisdom is not solely dependent on age or experience.
Wisdom can be found in people of various ages, as wisdom can emerge from a combination of innate curiosity, a thirst for knowledge, a willingness to learn from others, and a capacity for self-reflection. It is also a blend of knowledge, empathy, discernment, and the ability to apply insights meaningfully. So, while age and experience can contribute to wisdom, they are not the sole determinants.
Factors that correlate and separate wisdom with age
If being a grown person is not the only qualifier for wisdom, what other factors connect wisdom that comes with age? And what are the things that separate them?
The Role of Experience
The relationship between wisdom and experience emphasizes that they’re born from perfecting practice and applying knowledge over time. We gain a reinforced understanding of the world and its mysteries when we are faced with experiences that will shape our character.
As wisdom comes with age is a debatable concept, we cannot deny that experience can make a person wiser. Other times, it instigates foolishness as well. Through daily experiences, there is a chance for us to grow as individuals, which accumulates wisdom.
Reflection and self-understanding
If wisdom comes with age, that includes having a sense of self-awareness in terms of our feelings, emotions, and actions. Wisdom is more than understanding external factors that make up our experiences. Wisdom also includes the internalization of how we are inside.
At first, glance, reflecting upon ourselves may look like a path to obtaining wisdom. Yes, that is true, but that’s not all. Realizing how we internalize our experiences and turn them into lessons we should learn from makes it a matter of wisdom.
Reflecting on our experiences and questioning their meaning gets the mental gears going. Self-understanding also takes us to many places we can never expect. Right then, we begin to comprehend again what life does to us, which will be the driving force toward true wisdom that comes with age.
Wisdom beyond age
Society has enforced over a long time that wisdom comes with age. However, that may be different over time. Some young people have displayed wisdom beyond their years, in which experience still plays a big part.
A well-rounded and responsible individual is no longer exclusive to a specific age group; we can even see older people who are blatantly immature. Now that begs the idea that wisdom does not necessarily stem from age.
The beauty of balance in wisdom
There is beauty in finding the balance of wisdom, and it begins with acknowledging the factors that build genuine wisdom. Not only does it come with age, nor the textbook knowledge we gain from the education system. It gets built on everything we’ve seen, heard, and felt that no education degree could provide.
Wisdom comes with age, but it also humbles us to realize that wisdom is only sometimes a matter of how old we are. It allows experiences to shape us into who we are always meant to be. Wisdom also gives way to introspection and understanding that the world is more significant than we might think.
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