Everyone recognizes a distinction between knowledge and wisdom. . . Wisdom is a kind of knowledge. It is knowledge of the nature, career, and consequences of human values. Since these cannot be separated from the human organism and the social scene, the moral ways of man cannot be understood without knowledge of the ways of things and institutions.
Interpretation
Wisdom is a deeper understanding of knowledge, particularly in relation to human values and societal contexts.
This quote by Sidney Hook emphasizes the essential difference between knowledge and wisdom, suggesting that while knowledge is important, wisdom encompasses a deeper understanding that includes the nature of human values and the impact of social institutions. Wisdom is therefore portrayed as not just an accumulation of facts, but a comprehensive understanding of how these facts interact with human life and societal structures.
In practice
During a workshop on personal development, one could reference this quote to illustrate the importance of understanding human values.
A liberal education will impart an awareness of the amazing and precious complexity of human relationships. Since those relationships are violated more often out of insensitiveness than out of deliberate intent, whatever increases sensitiveness of perception and understanding humanizes life.
In contrast to totalitarianism, democracy can face and live with the truth about itself.
Tolerance always has limits - it cannot tolerate what is itself actively intolerant.
Idealism, alas, does not protect one from ignorance, dogmatism, and foolishness.
The easiest rationalization for the refusal to seek the truth is the denial that truth exists.
The mob that hails the man on horseback, the Caesars and conquering heroes, does not retain its freedoms for long.
By appreciation, we make excellence in others our own property.
Here lies the secret. Says Patanjali, the father of Yoga, "When a man rejects all the superhuman powers, then he attains to the cloud of virtue." He sees God. He becomes God and helps others to become the same. This is all I have to preach. Doctrines have been expounded enough. There are books by the million. Oh, for an ounce of practice!
I've had the good fortune of teaching and preaching across much of the globe, while also struggling to make sense of my experience in my own tiny world.
What, start at this! when sixty years have spread. Their grey experience o'er thy hoary head? Is this the all observing age could gain? Or hast thou known the world so long in vain?
Faith is a never-ending pool of clarity, reaching far beyond the margins of consciousness. We all know more than we know we know.
It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.
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