Knowledge corrupts

Knowledge is power.  That is something I'm sure we all hear so many times in our life. It gives us  option that enables us to make better decision, to avoid unwanted situation, to come up with a better suited solution for us and possibly others. However, just like any other power, it can easily corrupt the power holder, especially when it is possessed without wisdom.  Power without wisdom is like a baby playing with a knife. They will either hurt themselves, or others, or probably even both.

I personally believe knowledge should be used to help and advancing ours and other people's life. Knowledge shouldn't be used as a base for condemning others or to feel superior about ourself. Let's say one knows, based on IQ test, that they are genius and brag about it and use that knowledge to make a point every single time that people around them are not as smart. What good does it do?  Letting others know their weakness, based on the knowledge we have is one thing. But there should be the next step, what can we do to help? Isn't it said with great power comes great responsibility? But why when it comes to the power of knowledge, we often forget the responsibility part? We use our knowledge to judge others, we use our knowledge to boost our ego and make us feel better than others, we use our knowledge to manipulate others.


Socrates once said that the only true wisdom is knowing we know nothing. I believe it is true in so many level. Whatever we think we know, can be proven wrong tomorrow, since today's wisdom is tomorrow's foolishness. There is also possibility that we don't know as much as we think we do no matter how much of an expert we are. So let's not only be knowledgeable and powerful, but also be wise.