“Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
Will Durant's quote, "Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life" highlights the distinction between the accumulation of information and the application of that knowledge to lead a meaningful and purposeful existence. Let's analyze how this quote emphasizes the value of wisdom over mere intellectual understanding.
Science as organized knowledge: Science is often seen as a systematic pursuit of knowledge through observation, experimentation, and analysis. It involves organizing facts and theories to understand the workings of the natural world.
Wisdom as organized life: On the other hand, wisdom is the ability to make sound judgments and decisions based on knowledge, experience, and understanding. It goes beyond mere knowledge to encompass the application of that knowledge in one's daily life.
Implication: While science provides us with valuable information and insights, it is wisdom that helps us navigate the complexities of life and make choices that align with our values and goals. It suggests that true understanding comes from not just knowing facts but living in a way that reflects our understanding.
The Importance of Applying Knowledge in Everyday Life
In today's fast-paced world, the accumulation of knowledge has become easier than ever before, thanks to advancements in technology and communication. However, simply knowing facts and information is not enough to lead a fulfilling life. As Will Durant points out, wisdom is the ability to apply that knowledge in a meaningful and purposeful way. In a world filled with superficial information, it is more important than ever to cultivate wisdom and use it to navigate the complexities of modern life.
Will Durant's Quote
One of Will Durant's famous quotes is: "“Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.” - Will Durant". It reflects his belief in the importance of both knowledge and wisdom in living a fulfilling life.
Reflection Questions:
Reflecting on this quote by Will Durant, consider the following questions:
- How do you differentiate between science and wisdom in your own life?
- In what ways do you actively seek to cultivate both organized knowledge and organized living?
- Can you think of an example in which science and wisdom intersect or complement each other?
- How do you strive to apply your knowledge in practical, wise ways in your daily decision-making?
- What steps can you take to further integrate science and wisdom in your life for a more fulfilling and meaningful existence?
Similar quotes
“Civilization is social order promoting cultural creation. Four elements constitute it: economic provision, political organization, moral tradition, and the pursuit of knowledge and the arts. It begins where chaos and insecurity end. For when fear is overcome, curiosity and constructiveness are free, and man passes by natural impulse towards the understanding and embellishment of life.” (Will Durant, Story of Civilization, pg 1, vol. 1)”
“Perhaps the cause of our contemporary pessimism is our tendency to view history as a turbulent stream of conflicts – between individuals in economic life, between groups in politics, between creeds in religion, between states in war. This is the more dramatic side of history; it captures the eye of the historian and the interest of the reader. But if we turn from that Mississippi of strife, hot with hate and dark with blood, to look upon the banks of the stream, we find quieter but more inspiring scenes: women rearing children, men building homes, peasants drawing food from the soil, artisans making the conveniences of life, statesmen sometimes organizing peace instead of war, teachers forming savages into citizens, musicians taming our hearts with harmony and rhythm, scientists patiently accumulating knowledge, philosophers groping for truth, saints suggesting the wisdom of love. History has been too often a picture of the bloody stream. The history of civilization is a record of what happened on the banks.”
“And last are the few whose delight is in meditation and understanding; who yearn not for goods, nor for victory, but for knowledge; who leave both market and battlefield to lose themselves in the quiet clarity of secluded thought; whose will is a light rather than a fire, whose haven is not power but truth: these are the men of wisdom, who stand aside unused by the world.”
“Every science begins as philosophy and ends as art; it arises in hypothesis and flows into achievement.”
“Our knowledge is a receding mirage in an expanding desert of ignorance.”
“In all things I saw the passion of life for growth and greatness, the drama of everlasting creation. I came to think of myself, not as a dance and chaos of molecules, but as a brief and minute portion of that majestic process... I became almost reconciled to mortality, knowing that my spirit would survive me enshrined in a fairer mold... and that my little worth would somehow be preserved in the heritage of men. In a measure the Great Sadness was lifted from me, and, where I had seen omnipresent death, I saw now everywhere the pageant and triumph of life.”