Slow Havamal: 28

[kylec]

In the 28th verse, we’re advised that knowing the answer and how to explain it is enough to seem wise to others. They will find it difficult not to speak of your wisdom to others.

There’s a subtle aspect of the wise man hidden in this verse. Unlike the grifters of previous verses who broadcast their limited knowledge, this wise man is quiet. He will seem wise if he “knows the answer.” That implies he wasn’t cornering anyone at a party to baste them in his wisdom. He waited until he was asked a question. Then he shared the answer—to that question, presumably, and not all semi-related topics he could associate with it. Someone had a need, and the wise man satisfied that need without inflicting his ego on the poor seeker. It was enough to know the answer, and how to explain it.

The second part is important. It separates the wise man from the seven-time World Memory Champ. I like to think of this as the difference between knowledge borne of experience, and Jeopardy knowledge. We’re impressed when people know a lot of trivia, and to a great extent, our education system is built to hone the ability to memorize and repeat. That’s what it rewards. It’s entirely possible that Ken Jennings, et al, have deep understanding of many of the subjects they answer, but it isn’t necessary. Being able to associate an author with clues from a book will win you $2,000, even if you’ve never read it. The wise man treats trivia as hearsay. He can’t just know. He must understand.

I’ve heard it said that you can be confident you understand something if you can explain it at least three different ways to someone who knows very little, and get your point across. That demonstrates you are constructing useful maps based on firsthand knowledge of a territory, rather than repeating one map you committed to memory. The ability to take complicated things and make them simple enough for a layman to understand—to the extent of his needs—confirms a kind of wisdom. While it’s easier and well-rewarded to traffic in cheap knowledge, even people in my culture of instant gratification are impressed when someone displays a depth of understanding beyond what they’re used to.

And those people will not shut up. Just as they’ll gossip you seven ways from Sunday for being a rascal, someone who stays quiet and gives useful answers will earn a reputation as a fount of wisdom whether he likes it or not. There are no secret sages. They are never as famous as the self-promoters, but anyone who demonstrates use will eventually become known for it within his extended circle. Put another way, the cream rises to the top. There are many fields in which that’s not true, and I would venture to guess that all off them are con rackets. If we want to be wise, we have to wander far and wide. Listen. Observe. Learn. Shut the hell up. Give helpful answers and explanations. Shut the hell up, again.