The Nine Virtues - Wisdom

Part of the Dedicant's Path requirements are an exploration of the nine virtues as listed in Our Druidry (pg 15). To that end I'll do a post each to discuss the dictionary and ADF definitions of the virtue and my own current understanding of it. I hope to use these posts as inspiration/raw material to draw together and synthesize for my essay on the virtues.

Dictionary Definition 

–noun

1. the quality or state of being wise;  knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.

2. scholarly knowledge or learning: the wisdom of the schools.

3. wise sayings or teachings; precepts. 

Dictionary.com

 ADF Definition

Good judgment, the ability to perceive people and situations correctly, deliberate about and decide on the correct response.  

Our Druidry (pg 15)

My Understanding

The sole accumulation of knowledge does not make one wise. Divorced from context and passion facts and figures will never equate to wisdom. A person could collect raw knowledge for a lifetime and never ever actually achieve wisdom. 

Wisdom requires discernment, judgment, experience, compassion, empathy and the ability to anticipate the immediate future, that is, the likely result of decisions and deeds. It also takes courage.

Those we consider to be wise are often asked to to decide, to judge, to advise and therefore to assume the burden of fault or blame.

Wise persons have made mistakes, poor decisions, and reaped the consequences, ideally lived through their personal crucibles and gained personal insight into their own motivations and the ripple effect of them. This is a type of knowledge that cannot be gleaned from books or at the foot of a mentor, it must be earned by living. It is also not knowledge restricted by age. The archetype of the wise old person advising the younger hero is near and dear to our cultural hearts but is not necessarily fully accurate. Wisdom may be found in persons of nearly any age.

Wisdom implies morally acceptable or even superior judgment and action. A wise person is capable of understanding the ramifications of actions both in the now and in the potential future. A wise person is able to understand and accept that a decision may result in an immediate negative reaction but ultimately prove the better decision in time. A wise person is willing to accept their own limited nature and understands the dangers of hubris and arrogance.

Wisdom is hard earned and may be a dutiful burden as much as an asset.