This is the key to every problem. Even the invincible mystery of life itself will eventually fall to our understanding if we pursue wisdom long enough and hard enough. When faced with the insurmountable problem we will be shown the heart of it. There are many legends of people who saw the answers to things that stopped the better educated from solvingjust because they knew it couldn't be done.
I dare say that there is no man more ignorant about earth science than I was when I first desired to find out how it all works. This must be so because I have found out how it all works.
I opened my Gordian Knot without even knowing it. And carry my sword from a stone when I'd had no idea it was buried. I Just came at it all in total ignorance with one answer that led to many: That the respect for Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom -and I found it was right.
I didn't handle all that power very well because I am not a people man. I do care, only not very much and not at all well. Thus here I am talking to myself. But if you are not scared of god I can help you restore your faith, to the extent that you shall move mountains. It is easy enough if you think of yourself as King Arthur or Prince Alexander. The key is being willing to recognise your ignorance and rather than ask for information of men ask god for it first.
I set myself to trying to learn about the weather. I had nothing better to do as Margaret Thatcher had put all the builders out of work. So I took myself to the local libraries, Each one in those days had a complete set of the Encyclopoedia Britannica. Knowing only that I was ignorant I set myself the task of undoing decades of ignorance.
There are four kinds of people, three of which are to be avoided and the fourth cultivated:
1. Those who don’t know that they don’t know;
2. Those who know that they don’t know;
3. Those who don’t know that they know;
And:
4. Those who know that they know.
Anon.
Rendering of the Arab Proverb.
This should be regarded as Muslim Scripture.
Men are four:
1. He who knows not and knows not he knows not, he is a fool—shun him;
2. He who knows not and knows he knows not, he is simple—teach him;
3. He who knows and knows not he knows, he is asleep—wake him;
4. He who knows and knows he knows, he is wise—follow him!
Lady Burton—Life of Sir Richard Burton. Given as an Arabian Proverb. Another rendering in the Spectator, Aug. 11, 1894. P. 176. In Hesiod—Works and Days. 293. 7. Quoted by Aristotle—Nic. Eth. I. 4. Cicero—Pro Cluent. 31. Livy—Works. XXII. 29.
So I went from One to Four, encompassing a lot of sleep on the way. The only thing I clearly remember doing is not asking god to tell me things but begging and demanding that he tell me things. His problem with mankind is that he can not just tell us, We have to be prepared to receive the answers. So it is a slow process, one I came to late in the day -something that generally takes Seventy or Eighty years.
Ah well. I am here now.
Something for you to bear in mind:
When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it; this is knowledge.
Confucius—Analects. Bk. II. Ch. XVII.
Knowledge and Wisdom, far from being one,
Have oft-times no connexion.
Knowledge dwells
In heads replete with thoughts of other men,
Wisdom in minds attentive to their own.
Cowper—The Task. Bk. VI. L. 88. “Knowledge dwells,” etc., found in: Milton—Paradise Lost. VII. Seldon—Table Talk. Young—Satires. VI. Night Thoughts. V.
Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Daniel. XII. 4.
