Value of wisdom
I told my friend that the mansion I was staying in was studded with rubies and diamonds (which wasn’t really THAT much of an exaggeration), and she responded, “Does it make you mad? Because I can see how it would make people feel that way - these jewel-encrusted homes.” And I couldn’t really say it did.
Something I’ve come to accept is that as much as one could chastise people with money for living a certain way, it’s those people that bring the world where it is. They jumpstart progress and development. Sure, they might not always do it for the poor, but they still do it. In doing so, they bring the world’s potential to newer levels. Modernity wouldn’t be where it is if it weren’t for the pioneers, the entrepreneurs, the people who have money and live richly, etc.
The one thing I think that this situation does call for, however, is an understanding of these extremes. Understand the rich, the poor, and the in between. I feel like witnessing and experiencing these would inspire people to do one of two things:
- They would feel compelled to change the world and start taking action, no matter how big or small, to do so.
- They would realize there’s no such thing as changing the world and thus, continue to live their life as they do.
The latter wouldn’t necessarily be stagnation though, as far as I’m concerned. The people who fall in that category would live with an increased wisdom and understanding, which is so much more valuable than ignorance.
I think I’m somewhere in between (1) and (2), in between the power to change the world and the powerlessness that we have over where modernity is taking us.
