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If you were to ask someone, "do you think you are wise or foolish?" most people would probably answer that they are wise, or at least refuse to admit that they are foolish. Yet we see and hear on a daily basis about all the foolish things that people do. If everyone were as wise as they believed they were, then who is perpetrating all the foolishness in the world?

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Greek philosopher Socrates is said to have said, “Mankind is made of two kinds of people: wise people who know they're fools, and fools who think they are wise.” This statement holds the key to understanding wisdom. 

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One quality that defines a fool is his incapacity to recognize that he is one. He is under the reins of his ego and is clouded by the belief that he always knows best. When he performs good deeds, it is usually done in public for the sake of impressing others. He is eager to take credit for the good done by others, refuses to admit his mistakes, and is quick to blame and point out the faults of others. He is full of arrogance, loves to be the center of attention, and is easily angered. He is at the mercy of his desires, whether it is for money, power, fame, material possessions or sensory gratification. 

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The fool often attaches himself to a benevolent or large organization to justify or gain authority to commit his unethical acts. Police brutality, government corruption, priests who abuse children and spiritual gurus who belittle their disciples are good examples. They convince themselves that they are righteous because they wear the robe of a "good" cause. Their judgment of good and evil is not based on the act itself but on who commits it. An act that is considered "evil" when anyone else commits it becomes justified when they are the ones committing it.

Some people have wisdom confused with knowledge or intelligence. When explaining why they are wise, they will tell you about the college degrees that they earned, the prestigious university that they attended, or about their highly-skilled profession. Some may claim that they are wise because they studied with some famous person, can recite scriptures, or attended a theological seminary. Wisdom has nothing to do with knowledge or intelligence. There are many illiterate people around the world who are infinitely wiser than some college professors or heads of a religious organization. 

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Wisdom is not taught in any college, and you cannot get a degree in it. There are many books written about it, but the only way to attain it is through long-term self-reflection and self-discipline. Wisdom is a daily experiential practice. 

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Being able to look at ourselves objectively is the first step in acquiring wisdom. As long as we continue hiding or denying our shortcomings and looking for someone else to blame, we will not make any progress. It is in recognizing and admitting just how foolish we are, and having a strong desire to become something better, that we can make a sincere effort to change. This is when the seed of wisdom germinates. And like any plant, even after the seed germinates, you must continue to water and feed it for it to eventually bear fruit. 

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So, if you think you are wise, you may wish to rethink the question. And if you realize just how foolish you are, you are taking your first step towards acquiring wisdom.