What makes someone wise?
- Thread starter AUM
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Uncommon sense. Things that are not the first plan of what to do, but often work better. A pathway that is only discovered by searching through the forest.
(tl,tw;dr version: Experience and knowledge, but a knowledge of what doesn't work as opposed to what does.)
(tl,tw;dr version: Experience and knowledge, but a knowledge of what doesn't work as opposed to what does.)
A developed, habitual ability to understand what is good, or true...
...together with prudence (the ability to easily apply knowledge practically).
...together with prudence (the ability to easily apply knowledge practically).
It's a mixture of experience, common sense, and the ability to always look the truth straight in the eye and not blink. Don't under estimate the last. Many have the first two, but ego doesn't allow them to execute the last one. Sometimes the truth is ugly, but it can't be denied.
In addition to what has been said, I think experience and the ability to see clearly might allow a more complete, multi-dimensional grasp of life's many complex facets. Almost everything contains paradoxes, and opposites, and subtleties, and cross-influences that easily escape first (or even second or third) glance. Here, deep understanding is called for. Grasping this, and navigating this, also leads to wisdom....in fact, I'd say that only in the actual navigating do the nuances begin to emerge.
Classic literature. Cigarettes and loads of life experience! 
If two from the above list are covered the wisdom is granted. However there must be some high level of cognitive intelligence to put a few things together. AND there's personality and character traits.
If two from the above list are covered the wisdom is granted. However there must be some high level of cognitive intelligence to put a few things together. AND there's personality and character traits.
Discerning judgement, and the practice of it.
The former is based on a combination of knowledge and experience,
the latter is its actual application.
Many people can learn or intuit truth,
but to be considered truly wise,
one must consistently act on those observations.
The former is based on a combination of knowledge and experience,
the latter is its actual application.
Many people can learn or intuit truth,
but to be considered truly wise,
one must consistently act on those observations.
You can be wise without the experience. Experience is valuable, but it's not always necessary for the learning process. You can learn quite a bit about the world and how to live in it just by observing or paying attention to things others may not notice. People assume that the only way you can truly know something is through personal experience but that's not necessarily true. It's sometimes very difficult for people to acknowledge or accept that what it took them five or even 20 years to learn or figure out through many experiences, others may learn, grasp and understood in one day or moment.
"Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise". I think it's by Benjamin Franklin.
I think what all the wise people I've known had in common was that they have experienced a vast variety of the nuances of the human condition. They've loved deeply, they have experienced wars, lost their loved ones, brought up children... all of that, it sums up.
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