Weekend Story-Knowledge And Wisdom

A young man once approached Socrates and asked the philosopher how he could acquire wisdom and knowledge.

“Follow me,” Socrates said in response as he led the young man down to the lake.

When they arrived at the shore, Socrates stopped and turned to the young man. “Do you see that lake?” he asked.

“Yes,” the young man replied.

“Do you think you could drink all the water in that lake?” Socrates asked.

“Of course not,” the young man said. “It is too vast.”

“That is correct,” Socrates said. “And yet, you think you could drink all of the knowledge in the world as if it is something finite? It is just as vast.”

The young man was silent for a moment. Then he said, “I understand.”

“Good,” Socrates said. “Now, let us go back and talk about wisdom.”

As they walked back to the city, Socrates explained to the young man that wisdom is not something that someone can acquire all at once. It is something that must be cultivated over time through study, reflection, and experience.

“The more you know, the more you realize how much you do not know,” Socrates said. “And that is the beginning of wisdom.”