Wisdom Is More About Perception Than Accumulation
And almost impossible without humility.
Learning to see where every mote of knowledge lives is an onerous quest. We can never have all the knowledge, but it would be a mistake to focus only on what we specialise in. Making sense of the world is more about discovering where the pieces meet and click together as part of the big puzzle than accumulating knowledge. Awareness of where our expertise ends should prompt us to seek the adjacent field’s expert.
Most of us will agree that unless we can explain something in simple terms, we cannot claim to have full command of it. Such a feat is impossible without investing the necessary hours each skill requires. However, as we acquire more skills, their common ground becomes visible, making it shorter to grasp the newcomers.
Indisputably, the wisest people in any branch are those who can see the tree, the grand scheme of things. Indeed, they are in constant control of the parts, conscious of whether anything is missing. Their proficiency is founded on this awareness as much as on their relevant skills. Thus, they might ignore a particular antidote but be sure it is the solution to the problem at hand. Being a professional is more about knowing where to look for answers than already having them.