The difference between wisdom and intelligence

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WISDOM AND INTELLIGENCE

Cl. Mario D’Couto SDB

            ‘Who is a wise person?’ or ‘Who is an intelligent person?’ or we could also ask, ‘What is it that makes a person wise?’ or ‘What is it that makes a person intelligent?’ As I reflect on these questions, it brings me to the realization that there is a difference. A person can be wise and may not be intelligent while it could also happen that a person may be intelligent and yet not be wise. Thus, to re-irritate the question, ‘What is the difference between wisdom and intelligence?’

            To be wise involves being an integrated person and that implies the ability to choose between right and wrong; knowing why one should be good and avoid wrong doing. Intelligence involves being able to deal with situations from memory. For example, a person can play music mechanically by rote or he or she can feel the music as he or she is playing. Intelligence can also be of 2 kinds, theoretical and practical. Allow me to illustrate these 2 points with an example. From the time I was a student till today, I have seen that we all tend to “label” the so-called ‘smart-Alex’ as an ‘intelligent’ or a ‘wise’ person. Many a times, we tend to mix up the meaning of these two words. Hence, if a person were to quote left, right and centre or if he would get top marks in his subjects, then he would be considered as intelligent and wise. However, this may perhaps not be the case.

            Have you ever wondered about the way your grandparents lived? They may have not been intelligent in the sense of quoting different facts or being knowledgeable. But they were certainly wise. Thus what is the criterion or what is it that makes a person wise? Wisdom is a result of an integrated life style. A wise person can be intelligent though it is not necessary. An intelligent person may be able to quote from various books and facts but if he or she is not wise, then he or she is no better than a parrot. Even parrots can do the same. But because we are all human, we are all called to aspire towards wisdom for ultimately, wisdom is the knowledge of God.

            I would therefore like to conclude by paraphrasing the famous quote from the book of Sirach 1:14 and that is it is not the fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom but the love of the Lord that is the beginning of the wisdom. Let us, therefore, like King Solomon pray to God for the gift of wisdom to help us live our daily lives in the best way possible,

God of my ancestors, merciful Lord, by Your word You created everything. By Your Wisdom You made the human person to rule all creation, to govern the world with holiness and righteousness, to administer justice with integrity. Give me the Wisdom that sits besides Your throne; give me a place among Your children. I am Your slave, as was my mother before me. I am only human. I am not strong and my life will be short. I have little understanding of the Law or how to apply it. Even if a person is perfect, he or she will be thought as nothing without the Wisdom that comes from You.
          Wisdom is with You and knows Your actions, She was present when You made this world. She knows what pleases You, what is right and in accordance with Your commands. Send Her from the holy heavens, down from Your glorious throne, so that She may work at my side, and I may learn what pleases You. She knows and understands everything and will guide me intelligently in what I do. Her glory will protect me. Then I will judge Your people fairly and be worthy of my father’s throne. My actions will be acceptable.
          Who can ever learn the will of God? Human reason is not adequate for the task and our philosophies tend to mislead us, because our mortal bodies weigh our souls down. The body is a temporary structure of earth, a burden to the active mind. All we can do is make guesses about things on earth; we must struggle to learn about things that are close to us. Who then, can ever hope to understand heavenly things? No one has ever learnt Your will, unless You first gave him Wisdom, and sent Your Holy Spirit down to him. In this way people on earth have been set on the right path, have learnt what pleases You and have been kept safe by Wisdom.
-         Wisdom 9:1-6; 9 - 18

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