Knowledge is optional

‘Knowledge is wealth’ – this is one phrase or anecdote that all of us are taught through our childhood. But, its realization is often attained after an opportunity is lost or a mistake made.

Knowledge is indeed one’s greatest strength but, it is also one’s greatest stumbling block. But, there is another age old adage that we totally ignore. Knowledge is indeed optional.

We choose what we want to know and the knowledge that we acquire over the years eventually determines our life. Everything in our life is determined by the knowledge we possess either accidentally or through our education.

The statement is so simple yet it eludes most of us. In all honesty, I was told about this during a lecture by one of my professors. He said three words, “Knowledge is optional.” And, yes it really was. So simple, yet so elusive for my whole life.

Three words set in motion a chain of thoughts which have eventually led to this article. I thought about what I had chosen to learn and what I had ignored. I had 500 students around me who were clapping in joy because of the knowledge that they had successfully, but out of choice, acquired over the past year. It was convocation time!

Sitting there in an auditorium hummed with the chatter of 500 joyous pairs of hands, I was in an absolute silence of my own. Most people might not have even heard the crazy old man on the dais. But, he knew what he was saying. The colour of his hair and the glint in his eye told me he was right.

I had chosen what I wanted to learn. I had chosen where I wanted to learn it. I was sitting in that auditorium because of the options that I had chosen. It was this knowledge that might eventually give me my bread, but it was just an option; a decision to let this knowledge lead me. So true, knowledge indeed is so optional.