“His superiority, he realized, was that he knew that he knew nothing. This left his mind open to experiencing things as they are, the source of all knowledge.”
Socrates was once declared the wisest man in the world by an Oracle. Instead of accepting this as fact, Socrates questioned the oracle and decided to find someone wiser.
In his search, he talked with people from all backgrounds and determined the Oracle may be right. In every conversation he had, the other person was so certain about everything and they held unquestioning opinions and beliefs.
When I came across this story in The 50th Law by Robert Greene, I knew I had to write about it. The story of Socrates gives a definition of wisdom that is likely counterintuitive to many people.
Many of us believe being wise means knowing a lot, having answers, and understanding the world around us. This story shows the opposite.
There’s strength in admitting you don’t know something. There are benefits to questioning the ideas of your peers and those you hold. Keeping an open mind allows for greater room to learn and grow.
You don’t need to have all the answers and you don’t need to pretend to. No one has everything figured out and no one can expect you to. Life is a journey filled with experiences, learning, and mistakes.
By seeing the world through clear eyes, without bias and previously placed filters, you allow the world to show you all it has to offer. There is so much to learn, so many questions to ask, beliefs to question, and wisdom to gain. But, you can’t do any of that if you believe you already have all the answers.
May 25, 2022
