Favorite Inspirational Quotes

Wisdom is the power that enables us to use knowledge for the benefit of ourselves and others.

Thomas J. Watson

I think of wisdom as applied knowledge. Knowledge of and for itself is interesting but it’s when you put it into action that you have wisdom. As an earlier inspirational quote said, “Knowledge without action is futile.”

Taking your knowledge into action is the only way to benefit yourself and others, even if the benefit to others is only incidental. For example, say I learn a technique for making money online. If I take that knowledge and apply it and actually make money, then my living situation will most likely be better. And because I have more money, I am able to be more generous with it to others.

Another example of this is that we bought new clothes for kids to be given to anyone who needed them who lost all in the Ordway fire. We have been able to be more generous with our giving as our lives have improved due to accumulated applied knowledge. This has been an incidental side benefit of our wisdom…to improve or benefit others as well as ourselves.

But for this benefit to accrue to ourselves and others, it does mean a continual learning. Then we must take action to turn that knowledge into wisdom.

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