Many people grow too wise in their own eyes, forgetting that even Solomon of all wisdom gathered advisers to guide his decisions. Wisdom does not eliminate the need for counsel; it deepens it. To make our thoughts reasonable, enduring, and relevant for future generations, we need editors, mentors, and critics. To achieve the best in our dreams and aspirations, we must accept our mistakes and correct them with humility.
Far too often, we refuse to acknowledge the inadequacies in our perspectives and actions, even when they are clearly pointed out to us. We assume we know so much, and that is where we falter. This is why people sometimes ridicule our thoughts, question our intellectual capacity, or lose trust in our judgment and even in our faith.
We must never forget this truth: many people think they know, but only when you discover how much you do not know will you understand how ignorant you truly are. No human being is exempt from error. No mind is sacrosanct. Therefore, never set yourself up as a god of all knowledge. No one person knows it all. Even Plato, the great “Philosopher King” had weaknesses in his views about the polis, the ideal state.
Submit yourself to counsel and constructive criticism, and your thoughts will be refined, strengthened, and shaped to meet human needs. This principle applies to your education, career, leadership, creativity, spirituality, and personal development. No one is perfect at anything; there is always room for correction.
It is instructive to note that the best books we read, those we call classics or bestsellers are the most heavily critiqued. They emerge as masterpieces because the author embraced meaningful criticism. I remember vividly the editing stage of my first book, How to Build Attractive Personality (2009). I had to reorganize an entire chapter because of new insights given to me by a friend I call “My Intellectual Friend,” a scholar in psychology. His criticisms enriched the book and broadened my ideas. This reinforced a timeless truth: to grow intellectually or professionally, you need many sources of ideas and balance. Only then can you call yourself competent in your field.
On the contrary, many dreams flourish briefly and then die, not because they lacked potential but because of ignorance, arrogance, and the “I-know-it-all” attitude displayed by some young people.
In my book Strategic Career Development, I shared the story of a young man named Jorleman (a fictional name but a true story). He was employed as an accountant by a reputable transnational company. Rising quickly in the corporate system, he adopted an unhealthy mantra: “Everybody for himself; God for us all.”
He kept no close friends at work. He was inward, abrasive, and unwilling to take advice. Worse still, he disrespected older, experienced colleagues, referring to them as “colo” — people with antiquated, colonial thinking. He dismissed their counsel as irrelevant, believing he knew everything. Gradually, he isolated himself. His colleagues restricted their interactions with him to professional necessity, while the older staff simply ignored him.
Blinded by arrogance, he failed to recognize how his behavior affected his work and future prospects. In the end, he lost his job, not because he lacked skill, but because he refused to take counsel.
What we must all note is this: many people lose their dreams, their followers, and their opportunities because they refuse to accept mistakes when they are pointed out to them. When you grow too confident in your thoughts, remember that you are not an island of knowledge and wisdom.
“Rome was not built by one big head.” Nations, companies, communities, and legacies are built through a tapestry of ideas. Your dreams, too, can flourish when you embrace counsel.
Understand this deeply: no single “big head” is better than two diverse good heads. The old adage says, “A word to the wise is enough.” Let me add my own twist: a self-acclaimed wise man never knows he is ignorant, until he falls.
As you conceptualize ideas, pursue your dreams, or navigate your profession, embrace guidance. Learn from others. Be open to new perspectives.
Do not grow too wise to take counsel. Do not become another “all-knowing” Jorleman. Keep refining your ideas, your work, and your character. Embrace divergent views that enrich your understanding of life.
Be wise, but never assume you know it all.
Author: Moses A. Katamani
Email: infomoskambel@gmail.com
Website: www.kambelconsult.com