“The wisest man is he who does not fancy that he is so at all.” – Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, poet and critic (1 Nov 1636-1711), in Satires, also known as Satire 4 (1716)

The most authentic wisdom is humility, which recognizes one’s limitations and the limitations of others, too. In these days of instant social media access, arrogance is a blinding factor. The humble remain open to gaining new experiences and knowledge and continuing to grow. This is the best path to becoming wiser. The Socratic paradox is that the more we know, the more we usually realize that we do not know.

Socrates knew that and believed he truly knew ‘nothing.’ Recognizing this ignorance is true of us all is a significant step toward learning. With eyes wide open, we can take our first steps toward understanding and gaining self-improvement. It behooves us to stay from the crowd, clapping ourselves on the back. Instead, let’s seek to constantly educate ourselves.

In the broadest sense, we should always question authority and reject the notion that expertise (be it found in individuals or government agencies) should be blindly followed. Instead, we must ask questions that lead to different perspectives and remain open to new and challenging ideas. It is okay to be ‘wrong.’ This provides needed opportunities to learn, grow, and create a better world by starting with ourselves. Healthy skepticism is an invaluable best practice in our society and our world.