A tribute to Khalil Gibran and Knowledge

"A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle."
-Khalil Gibran


Don't let your little knowledge be idle because it is only a little knowledge. Knowledge does not decrease when shared, but multiplies and fortifies itself in the mind when repeated and shared with others. Teachers are made wiser when they teach, and scholars are only acknowledged as scholars when they share their knowledge, for before then, what are they but learned to themselves alone? 

However, don't speak unless your little knowledge is truth, and you believe it to be of benefit to those you share with. Unnecessary words and half truths can often be more dangerous than silence."I wash my hands of those who imagine chattering to be knowledge, silence to be ignorance, and affection to be art."

If you know of the doubts and flaws of your knowledge, let them know, so they may consider and judge for themselves. Do not force knowledge and stuff it down people's throats; remember:
"the teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind".

 Let not your confidence and ego blind you into baseless accusations and groundless facts, but be humble with your little knowledge; after all, a wise man thinks himself a fool, and only a fool thinks himself wise.

"Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself."

Avoid being condescending of those who are younger, though they have lived a shorter time, they may have older souls and brighter minds. Know that experiences are not measured by time but by intensity, and by the lessons taken from it. For surely, there is nothing that disgraces knowledge than arrogance.

 "Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh, and the greatness which does not bow before children." 

Note: All the quotes above in bold are by Khalil Gibran, a Lebanese poet. This is a tribute to him, to my Lebanese roots, and to knowledge.