Living in the 21st Century (4): Wisdom Vs Intelligence

Louis Egbe Mbua

From experience, there is a vast gulf

That separates wisdom from pure

Intelligence: the ability to grasp ideas people propose;

But not necessarily having the ability to yourself propose.

All men are intelligent but wisdom is light.

Do all men see the light?


Not all ideas are sound; and these are normally proposed

By the unwise and mistaken: who may or may not be intelligent.

Wisdom, on the other hand, is the ability to understand

All things at once by the person: applied for the benefit of all men

And for the greater good of the wise and unwise: the same.


It is possible to be intelligent but unwise: the reverse is hardly true.

Wisdom is applied for the entire good;

But intelligence is normally applied for self-propagation & survival.

So, a society that dwells on intelligence alone will fail,

But that which applies wisdom will thrive and win.


A man who believes in hurting unarmed protesters or the reverse

For pretentious peaceful settlement is completely unwise.

An unwise man may misuse his intelligence to perpetrate this act

To maintain: the power of oppression over his own people.

Others may not seek power but a self-worshiping nature,

And hatred of others may corrupt their intelligence into this act.


So, studying and obtaining qualifications is fine,

But not the same as knowing and applying all things

By intuition for the benefit of man: which is, in effect, wisdom.

The society that wins is that which can identify the wise

And separate them from the unwisely intelligent

Since the intelligent also have a positive role in society.


A developed society must identify these roles and put structures

In place: to implement policies that keep them in check.

This is the meaning of accountability in advanced societies

Where everybody is accountable for their actions and sayings

So the wise may be separated from fools irrespective of intelligence.

As a result, the society progresses morally and socially:

Otherwise, is that society not doomed?