Wisdom

by Paulo Coelho on December 20, 2010

According to the dictionary: deep knowledge of things, natural or acquired; erudition; rectitude.

According to the New Testament: But it was what the world calls foolish that God chose to put the wise to shame with, and it was what the world calls weak that God chose to shame its strength with (Corinthians 1: 25-27).

According to Islam:
A wise man became a object of irony for the inhabitants of the city. One day he was walking down the main street with some of his disciples when a group of men and women began to insult him. The wise man went up to them and blessed them.

When they left, one of the disciples remarked: “They say terrible things, and you answer them with nice words.”
And the wise man replied: “Each one of us can only offer what he has.”

According to the Hassidic (Jewish) tradition: When Moses ascended to Heaven to write a certain part of the Bible, the Almighty asked him to place small crowns on some letters of the Torah. Moses said: “Master of the Universe, why draw these crowns?” God answered: “Because one hundred generations from now a man called Akiva will interpret them.”
“Show me this man’s interpretation,” asked Moses.

The Lord took him to the future and put him in one of Rabbi Akiva’s classes. One pupil asked: “Rabbi, why are these crowns drawn on top of some letters?”
“I don’t know.” Replied Akiva. “And I am sure that not even Moses knew. He did this only to teach us that even without understanding everything the Lord does, we can trust in his wisdom.”

A scene that I witnessed in 1997: Hoping to impress his master, a student of the occult whom I know read some manuals on magic and decided to buy the materials mentioned in the texts. With considerable difficulty he managed to find a certain type of incense, some talismans, a wooden structure with sacred characters written in an established order.
When we were having breakfast together with his master, the latter commented:
“Do you believe that by rolling computer wires around your neck you will acquire the efficiency of the machine? Do you believe that by buying hats and sophisticate clothes you will also acquire the good taste and sophistication of those who made them?

“Objects can be your allies, but they do not contain any type of wisdom. First practice devotion and discipline, and everything else will come to you later.”

Previous post:

Next post:

{ 155 comments… read them below or add one }

Lyda del monte December 24, 2010 at 2:56 pm

About other Wisdom i would like to share to everyone;but i’m so sorry i wrote in Dutch.”Alle menselijke wijsheid ligt besloten in twee woorden:Wacht en Hoop.Bij Alexandre Dumas(1824-1895)

Reply

sahadev January 13, 2011 at 6:09 pm

could you please write the same in english too

Elizabeth April 13, 2011 at 6:04 am

” Wisdom of God is all the answer ”, all we do, all we have in this world are nothing at all, we just have to be patient, waiting, believing, and hoping for another bitter earth….and that makes diffirent in our life….

Elizabeth April 16, 2011 at 4:33 am

Wow…did I wrote that? I will say it english…”all human wisdom are based on two words ” waiting and hoping 4 a better world…

Marie-Christine December 24, 2010 at 2:54 pm

“Tant que les hommes sauraient que toute la sagesse de l’homme est folie devant Dieu, le monde poursuivrait son chemin de lumiere.” auteur incoelho :)

Reply

Mathilde December 24, 2010 at 12:16 am

again, i love this symbool and the way i have it explained in my angel book.. what is wisdom. i just breath and stumble and fall.
and stand again..hm yes hopefully wiser.. back at my path smiling away, learning understand, see the lines, tokens like a puzzle falls in it place all connects fits.. sharpens your vision, brightens view make me love
Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to you and you loved ones, to all here, hm To Everybody Every where, Anywhere..xxx

Reply

Jojo December 23, 2010 at 3:21 pm

Wanted to share another thought about wisdom. It is acquired, when the desire to acquire it beyond anything else, through experiences, individual experiences, because by others, it is just a rational way of explaining it. Wisdom begins with the act of accepting to learn to see what happens from a different angle, it comes with the awareness that death is always present and that I am here for a short time and so must live as I really want to live. “You will be in gratitude for your life because you will have accomplish what you had to accomplish by coming on Earth. Otherwise, you will have lived as a prostitute, you will have acted only to obey for that or that reason or to please another. And the death of someone who has never knew life must not be pleasant. But if you listen to your inner voice, your interior intelligence, you will find your path and you will learn how to apprehend life. And then time will no more count.” Elizabeth Kubler-Ross What brings one to wake up to that knowledge … through situations, relations, sufferings. Wisdom is more present when one now sees and goes through those with the conviction and profound joy of receving those as what they are: a new opportunity to capture more wisdom, more learning about oneself, a guidance on the path. For all that happens is a product of my creation. Wisdom is for me to understand the power that lies and the “real” purpose of my presence, and not as most of the world sees it or define it.

I will add those words from Mrs Kubler Ross

“Children of 9 years old in terminal phase are like old souls given a high level of wisdom. All children attain that level of wisdom when they have suffered, when they physical quadrant has deteriorated during adolescence. God created the human in such a miraculous way that the spiritual quadrant, which usually is not high during that period of age, opens in those cases to compensate the loss of physical capacities. It is why I say: To not protect your children! Share your anguish and your sadness with them. Otherwise, they will become affectively handicaped. Because, sooner or later, plants will finish to get out of the garden and then they will not be able to resist to cold and bad weather.” We must help our kids to open their spiritual quadrant, the home of wisdom.

Love, Jojo.

Reply

Mitzi December 23, 2010 at 3:18 pm

El sabio piensa todo lo que dice, pero no dice todo lo que piensa…. vale tener presente que somos dueños de nuestros pensamientos pero esclavos de cada una de nuestras palabras.

Reply

Marie December 23, 2010 at 2:57 pm

There are so many possible interpretations of wisdom!. I don’t ask question the wisdom, I’d rather be in life. It doesn’t matter if I have no answer because we are also the mystery of life.

Light & Love,

Reply

dominique wiche December 23, 2010 at 1:05 pm

I am amazed how many tried to give a definition of wisdom… I could add a few hundreds of inspiring ones,they all help to stand still and focus, but I still cannot and will not try to make any statement at all, I leave that to wiser people who could grasp in a few words what fills the Universe anyway…I only know that IT IS THERE, pars pro toto, in EVERYONES’ heart…and being myself a pars pro toto I know that we sense it, each time our soul urges us… to act, and speak and think according the divine gift of Love unveiling itself with every heartbeat or offers to us an opportunity to unveiling itself.

And of course when doing so it happens a lot to appear weak, brainless, and that we put ourselves at shame…getting a lot of blame…but my little pars-pro-toto-soul continues to whisper to me: be aware of the obstacles, don’t pay attention to praise, just go on, simple and plain and humble, and be strong… cos the way of simplicity and humility is the way of fire.

Reply

dkm December 23, 2010 at 12:59 pm

It hurts so much when someone you loved forgets you for a moment.

Reply

Nisa December 23, 2010 at 12:19 pm

~ Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. ~ Lao-Tzu

We need wisdom to understand wisdom.

Reply

Ana Medeiros December 23, 2010 at 1:59 pm

Dificil conhecermos e dominarmos no Todo,anos mesmos, penso por isso não sermos tão sábios, mas sim sempre aprendizes

Iman Mohammadi December 23, 2010 at 11:47 am

we are blind when the truth come,but we have eagle eyes when someone admit our religions and needs.
we don`t need any religion,because it make us to just see
world as our creeds says.
if you wanna find the truth of everything,you even should
think about that the God could no exist.

Remember,Truth Isn`t Something We Want It To Be.

[Nothing Is True,Everything Is Premitted]

Reply

Tarek December 23, 2010 at 10:25 am

In the eastern Mediterranean Arabic countries, the word that people call a Dr., or any medical profession worker, is “Hakim” that means “wise man” A nice reminder of the times when knowledge “any knowledge” was not separated from wisdom…
I read once that any gained knowledge that is not accompanied with increased ethics and ultimately increased wisdom is a false knowledge. I believe this is the problem that we are facing today..
Happy holidays to you dear Paulo and to all the friends..

Reply

Thulasiramankrishnan December 23, 2010 at 9:23 am

The definitions of wisdom is simply great sir. .the matter is explained with a story in simple terms. .very nice to read and feel it. .Thank you sir

Reply

Maria Da Graca December 23, 2010 at 9:17 am

LE PAROLA SAGIA E SEMPRE IMPORTANTE LEGGERE O SENTIRE. E SABEDORIA

Reply

Thulasiramankrishnan December 23, 2010 at 9:16 am

Goodmorning Sir,
The message you have been giving for us is simply great. .you make us think for few mins about the matter and realise the true essence of the matter. .it gives us good and positive feeling. .Thank you so much Sir

Reply

MUhammad Irshad December 23, 2010 at 8:16 am

great man i like your blogs .

Reply

Densi December 23, 2010 at 7:54 am

look for the wisdom in the heart of a survivor

Reply

Sanjeev Sharma December 23, 2010 at 7:53 am

Someone once told me – devotion to promise made to self is disciple. I am still trying to cultivate that.

Reply

Sanjay December 23, 2010 at 7:13 am

yes,i too having chaos in my life,but i always denied to give,cos what i have is pain,and feelings of lost…

Reply

isabela camelo-gomez December 23, 2010 at 6:14 am

the pen, the inkpot and the paper are only a ally to the poets wisdom……………

Reply

Nadia December 23, 2010 at 4:56 am

SubhanAllah :))

Reply

Khenaya December 23, 2010 at 4:56 am

“Wisdom comes with winters”, Oscar Wilde.
I guess… Is it true?

Reply

Cali Thompson December 23, 2010 at 3:59 am

I believe it’s important to have the book of wisdom.
Some of us our born with just knowing while others have to read and retain the wisdom. I feel alive and more stable when I retain wisdom. It inspires me and makes me more alert to learn more of what I think I already know.
You can never know to much and there is always someone out there to give you a good teaching. Much like you Paulo. There is so much wisdom out there and alot of people are intiminated by it. Cuz it might make them not look as intelligent, but me I rather have it then not.

Reply

C'est La Mode December 23, 2010 at 3:59 am

Wisdom is really seen in the inner self of a person, the manifestations of good deed done most especially. Whatever knowledge we have, we must put it into good use. Thank you for sharing your insights. =)

Reply

monica villa December 23, 2010 at 3:09 am

Monica Villa Hace algún tiempo, mi hijo que iba a hacer la 1ra. comunión llevo un libro que alguien me regalo al templo. Al día siguiente la maestra me mando llamar para entregarme el libro que le había recogido a mi niñoy diciendome totalmente escandal …izada, que si sabia que era lo que mi hijo estaba leyendo me lo entrego, yo aún sin entender la actitud de la catequiesta lo tome, entonces ella todavia escandalizada me dijo ;

ese libro es de una iglesia protestante ( nosotros somos catolicos )
La maestra se quedo todavia más asombrada cuando le dije que el hecho de leer un libro cualquiera no iba a cambiar mis ideas sobre la iglesia y sobre todo lo que me habian enseñado de la misma, le hice saber además que si e habia dado una ojeada al libro se habría dado cuenta que estaba redactado de la forma más hermoso que yo jamas habia leido …y que yo y mis hijos podiamos leer cuanto libro cayera en nuestras manos sin que eso cambiara en lo más minímo nustra actitud y forma de ser, es lo mismo que si uno se vistiera con lo más formal de ropa que tuviera o con la ropa del diario,,,,, la formación siempre se llevará por dentro de uno mismo…….el conducirse de manera honesta siempre tarde o temprano te dara tu recompensa lo demás como dice el escrito se dara por añaduría,
Saludos Paulo, de la última de sus amigas. Feliz año a todos los que siempre disfrutamos de sus escritos y por supuesto a usted y a su família !!!!!!!!!

Reply

cheryl field December 23, 2010 at 1:49 am

Of course we can trust Gods wisdom. That is where is comes from…GOD IS WISDOM! He is the source. Your blog is beautiful. I love the way you express your heart.

I say to those who insult me and call me names.. It matters not what you call me, but it is what I answer to that counts.♥

Wisdom is seeing inside anothers heart and making it your own.♥

Reply

sahadev January 13, 2011 at 6:18 pm

thanks for this line i m really realaxed reading the line:
it matters not what you call me but it is what i answer to the counts

the wisdom every one is searching is inside the person itself and how s/he takes it…………….

who demonstrates in swiss December 23, 2010 at 1:04 am

to suffer for what you love gets you wisdom

Reply

lydia reyes December 23, 2010 at 1:02 am

Wisdom is knowing and doing right.Fear in God is the beginning of all wisdom.I mean knowing the real God,the only God,the creator,our Lord Jesus christ.Living and having this golden rule;Do not do unto others if u do not want others do unto u,will gain u wisdom and peace.

Reply

Mary L. December 22, 2010 at 11:58 pm

Wisdom leads a continuous voyage…

Reply

pearl December 22, 2010 at 10:28 pm

“What happens to another in our presence is a function of who we are and not what we know.”Ram Dass

Reply

James Stygles December 22, 2010 at 10:02 pm

Wisdom: having the courage to change what can be changed and the understanding and acceptance of what is immutable

Knowing when to speak and what to say; knowing when to listen. Understanding that “there is a time and purpose for everything unto Heaven”

Reply

Ladan December 22, 2010 at 9:16 pm

Yea ! Yes!…..agrees, A wonderful collection of wisdom. Adore you Paulo!

Reply

Sidartha December 23, 2010 at 3:59 am

Wisdom:
The art of God…
Trascendental Knowledge in wich all the misteries of creation are hidden…
Trascendental knowledge in which infinite happiness is enclosed…
Trascendental knowledge in wich the Power of constructing eternity and infinite are the fundamental bases of it…
Wisdom most of the times, requires effort, spirit, faith, and love to discover…
Is an art of patience and fortress,,,

sadiya jawed December 22, 2010 at 8:54 pm

Thank you.

Reply

Limarie December 22, 2010 at 8:44 pm

Love this passage about wisdom. It is amazing the way you put it together. I have always believed that wisdom is one of the most precious virtues. When I was little my mom used to take me to church and while people ask in prayer for many talents and virtues I was always praying for wisdom, understanding and knowledge. I believe that if humanity aimed for those virtues thing would be much different and a lot better.

Reply

Nancy Dodeja December 22, 2010 at 8:44 pm

Syn. sapience,sagacity,enlightenment,erudition ,according to Confucious heirarchically obtained -.see Victor above.
Insight or intuition,common sense,accumulated body of knowledge. All the above appear to represent wisdom. Now what one chooses to do with it is another thing.Choose wisely!

Reply

Nadia December 23, 2010 at 5:00 am

Nice n great words

paul mckay December 22, 2010 at 8:11 pm

Wisdom is a virtue and value that, it seems to me, doesn’t get preached much anymore, or discussed and held up, at least not in American culture and churches. The wisest among us–the elderly–are placed in “nursing” homes and segregated from the church “youth groups.” Advertising and consumerism is all about youth and being forever young. I just don’t hear or see the very word “wisdom” as much as I did growing up. Thank God for Paulo who reaches so many with his wisdom.

Reply

Mary L. December 22, 2010 at 10:57 pm

Thank you for your comment, unfortunately it is very true! I love to read his daily posts…they are so refreshing!

Isaac Louie December 22, 2010 at 8:09 pm

I am so amazed at your giving spirit. Every post on here is free, and many of value. I would tell you how this changed me but I can’t really find the words and so I’ll show the world instead.

Reply

aksh December 23, 2010 at 4:36 am

ya contrast this ‘giving’ spirit to traders here in mumbai, who don’t mind taking more than 100 % profit for selling essential commodities to poor people, may they too come to paulo’s blog and become humans !

love

rienz December 22, 2010 at 8:06 pm

all i know is, wisdom is higher than knowledge.

Reply

eleonora December 22, 2010 at 8:06 pm

penso che la saggezza stia nel permettere alle cose di rivelarsi,il saggio non sa di esserlo,e’ solo un tramite.

Reply

Annie December 22, 2010 at 7:44 pm

when i was little i had noticed that christmas songs refer to the 3 magi as 3 wisemen..
so when i was a kid i had the belief that being a wise man is being a magus..

now what i do believe is that wise are the people who can perceive the magic in their lives and the ones who do something to change their lives towards that direction.. this is a hard path but definitely worth it

Thank you for enhancing this perspective dearest Paulo

Love and Gratitude
Annie

Reply

rosa de los vientos December 22, 2010 at 11:17 pm

Beautiful Annie is like that the life. Kisses to you and Happy Chrissmas

aksh December 23, 2010 at 4:50 am

HI annie !

wisdon dawns after one can locate / identify with teh stillness within.

wisdome is knowing that we are all one, this ‘knwoledge’ removes the stone lying at the fountain of love with us, and then we love.

the moment one percives the magic in one’s life, one starts living joyfully. if we could drop this dis-ease of being rich and famous ( most of us, including me ) are infeted with this virus. joy is all there is, afterall, we exist, ain’t that miracle enough !
love

sadiya jawed December 22, 2010 at 7:37 pm

I wonder how my reading journey would be if you werent a writer.
Would I ever pick a book n complete it.?Never.

You are simply you.No words of appreciation satisfies what you are to me.Someday I want to kiss your hand and know how is it to have an intense ,an unbelievable man whose teachings and books will be my best friend till I am alive.
A man with straight words and so uncomplicated mind.

Thank you for everything.

Reply

Shamala December 23, 2010 at 7:37 am

True Sadiya…Paulo’s works are simply irresistible! He’s (his books) my ever best friend in pain and happiness. I cannot describe the feelings I have whenever I turn each page of his books….His words “interacts”!! Love you Paulo and am so happy to know that am not alone experiencing this magical feeling! :))

Slavica December 22, 2010 at 7:10 pm

This is a beautiful dedication to the wisdom.
“and the wise man replied: “Each one of us can only offer what he has.” according to Islam

Jewish Tradition
“He did this only to teach us that even without understanding everything the Lord does, we can trust in his wisdom.”

For a moment i remembered “Dictionary of the Khazars” written by one of the greatest /and in the world/Writers Milorad Pavic, a Serbian author who died few years ago.I am sure that Mr.Paulo Coelho knew him,and of his work.

I shall be free to interpret wisdom as coming before the intellect and learning.It is something originates from great distance,maybe from the very beginning the world,when its particles traveled and reached their destination,and finally,someone got more while other received less of these grains of “Wisdom”

The same happens while reading Paulo Coelho’s books…there are true “words of wisdom” which you will never reach on your own,for they are already granted to someone else.

Reply

Maria Galstyan December 22, 2010 at 7:00 pm

“Each one of us can only offer what he has.” – very true. I often say to myself “Do what you have to do in the best way and you will find the true way out of any complicated situation”. It usually works. As for discipline – it is always followed by chaos in my life – these two states always take turns..

Reply

Sanjay December 23, 2010 at 7:10 am

yes,i too having chaos in my life,but i always denied to give,cos what i have is pain,and feelings of lost…

IN SEARCH OF PEACE......... December 22, 2010 at 6:41 pm

gained some WISDOM through this article………….thank you master

Reply

Christa December 22, 2010 at 6:39 pm

I love your post, Olta. I also don’t know what wisdom really is, but I do recognise it when I encounter it. In others and myself. I also know that it carries many good things on its back, the largest of these being Peace.

Wisdom is a great thing to have around. :-)I like it a lot.

Reply

malka iqbal December 22, 2010 at 6:36 pm

DEAR….
i dont think that we can describe wisdom…but for me in simple word wisdom is the mixture of love honesty and truth….always follow the path of honesty

Reply

meenu December 22, 2010 at 6:29 pm

“Even without understanding what God does we can trust his wisdom”… So true and said so beautifully… Amazing

Reply

Victor December 22, 2010 at 6:28 pm

God’s wisdom applies to 8000 years ago, time has changed and if people continue learning that crap, then they will continue making the mistakes humanity has committed for 8000 years.

I like the Confucian way better:

Every child in Confucian schools since the Sung Dynasty have learned this:

People who desire clear moral harmony in the world must:

1) First order their national life

2) To order their national life must first order their home life

3) To order your home life must first cultivate their personal life.

4) To cultivate your personal life must set the heart right

5) To set your heart right, you must make your will sincere

6) To set your will sincere you must arrive at understanding

7) Understanding comes from the knowledge of things

8) When knowledge is gain, understanding is reached

9) When understanding is reached, the will is sincere

10) When the will is sincere, the heart is set right

11) When the heart is set right, personal life is cultivated

12)When personal life is cultivated, then home life is ordered

13) When home life is ordered, national life is ordered

14) When national life is ordered, then the world is at peace.

From the emperor to the common man, the cultivation of personal life is the foundation for all. Without an ordered foundation, the superstructure can’t be ordered. There is a cause and a sequence in things, and a beginning and end in human affairs. To know the order of precedence is to have the beginning of wisdom.

Reply

May December 22, 2010 at 11:12 pm

Islam teaches all the above and much much more. So to say that religion teaches c**p, sorry I don’t agree. Religion is the basis of all harmony. The reason we are in that chaotic state is that we(and that’s most of humanity) have left the teachings and devine words of the creator to guide us through this world and we have opted to follow the ‘divine’ words of the created rather than the creator.

sahadev January 13, 2011 at 6:21 pm

thanks

Sajjad Haider Mirza December 22, 2010 at 6:27 pm

A wise Man Talk To the point and less then the fool’s Person & wisdom will come Through patient.

Reply

Shikha December 22, 2010 at 5:30 pm

Awesome!! Thanks for putting it together so well!!

Reply

Gerard Horgan December 22, 2010 at 5:23 pm

Wisdom is experience plus internal calm along with the good grace of God from whom all good things come.

As Henri Nouwen wrote memorably in ‘Bread for the Journey’, God is total love, he does not send us to Heaven or to Hell, we send ourselves. So let us embrace and live our lives well, we only have the now.

Reply

Leave a Comment

{ 1 trackback }

Previous post:

Next post: