Wisdom

As I'm still trying to sort out my life (and really, who isn't?), I began reading "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. While not even finished with the book, she brought up a great point - everything that is considered 'genius' has already been said. Any advice that one could use in their life has already been claimed by someone else (even if not in a certain phrasing). For instance, the example Rubin uses is "If you want to know how to lose weight, you need to eat less and exercise more." - While that might click with you depending on the eloquent way of saying that phrase, you already know that eating less and exercising more was the answer.

In addition, what makes one wise? Coco Chanel is credited with saying that a woman should be two things: classy and fabulous. While I agree with Chanel, should she be considered wise because of her famous quote? Marilyn Monroe has a slew of repeated quotes, from "Give a girl the right shoes, and she can rule the world" to "It's better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you're not." Should Monroe be hailed as a wise human being because of it? The same woman with wisdom in her words also had three marriages and rumored affairs with presidents. Does her reason and logic cancel out what occurs in her personal life?

Perhaps it is by personal accord that we define what is wise and what is not. I could become cliche by saying people cannot obtain wisdom alone, but it is by outside forces such as literature, spiritual books, or other life scenarios that teach wisdom in others.

It takes more consideration than simply hearing a thoughtful quote to determine that wisdom is contained within it. Or at least that's what I think - but don't take my word for it.