“Most people end their life being rich in experience but poor in wisdom.”
What does this really mean? In this article, I want to point out that wisdom does not come from age.
Many people believe that wisdom is a byproduct of growing older, but I disagree. Wisdom has nothing to do with age.
We live in a world where people emphasize experience so much that they dismiss anyone who suggests that experience alone does not lead to wisdom.
They are blinded by the idea that the more you age, the more you experience life, and with more experience comes more wisdom.
However, this belief is flawed for two reasons. First, most people’s experiences tend to be repetitive—they spend their entire lives doing the same things.
This is a quantitative kind of experience, which rarely leads to wisdom. It is the quality of experience that matters.
The Three Components of Wisdom
As I mentioned earlier, experience alone does not lead to wisdom. So, what does? There are three key components that form the foundation of wisdom:
- Education
- Experience (deep and quality experience)
- Reflection (deep contemplation that requires thinking)
Together, these elements create the foundation of wisdom and make a person truly worthy of being called wise.
How Are They Connected?
Most people go through life experiencing emotions, but once those emotions fade, they tend to forget their behavior due to poor memory. In reality, we only remember experiences that are deeply meaningful and impactful.
Think for a moment—if you reflect on your entire life, only a handful of vivid memories will come to mind. This proves that experience without reflection loses its lesson.
The Role of Reflection and Education
But how do we reflect?
To reflect effectively, we need education. Without knowledge, it becomes difficult to recognize our mistakes or extract meaningful lessons from experience.
Consider this quote:
“Knowledge without thinking is useless, and thinking without knowledge is frustrating.”
Without education, we lack the tools to analyze our experiences.
For example, people experience sleep every day of their lives, yet most know very little about its essence. Simply experiencing something does not automatically lead to wisdom.
The same applies to many aspects of life—we repeat the same actions for years but remain just as ignorant as we were at the beginning.
The Illusion of Age and Wisdom
I was raised in a culture that emphasizes respecting elders. As an obedient child, I had deep love and respect for my elders. However, as I grew older, I realized that many of them were selfish, greedy, and ignorant.
I expected them to teach me valuable lessons, but instead, they only demonstrated the consequences of ignorance.
Respect is earned, not given. Many elders lose respect because they have learned nothing from life. They have not tasted wisdom yet.
In the end, I want you to take away an important lesson: if your education only happens in schools, you are unlikely to become wise. You may grow old, but without reflection and learning, you will have nothing to show except the effects of ignorance on your life.