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.
God doesn't promise security from life's storms but security in life's storms. God doesn't always call the equipped, but he will always equip the called. In the long run, avoiding danger is no safer than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.
You can't study the darkness by flooding it with light.
There are many things which we can afford to forget which it is yet well to learn.
Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?
There is a certain kind of maturity that can be attained only through the discipline of suffering.
Where is all the knowledge we lost with information?
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