By Kirk McCarley
“If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don’t know.” Kansas
If you had to make a choice, would you rather be smart or wise?
Earlier this year I had the chance to spend a week pedaling nearly 400 miles across Georgia with a contingent of other souls. Given that each day’s ride began around 7 a.m., many were typically done around noon. After pitching a tent, showering, and grabbing a bite, not necessarily in that order, there was idle time to debrief with fellow cycling mates, enjoy a beverage or two, and share stories, most of little import.
During one of our late afternoons, the subject drifted towards that of “smart” people. By smart, names of some of the modern-day titans of innovation and technology were bandied about: Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk among them. Admiration for their inventiveness and ingenuity, along with contributions to societal gains were affirmed.
As I listened, I couldn’t help but contemplate that term, smart. Intelligence is an attribute which we all aspire to, yet might there really be a different quest? I blurted out, “Is it preferable to be smart or wise?” which altered the direction of the discourse, subjecting me to some gentle, good-natured scorn for the balance of the ride.
I still reflect on that conversation.
AI research defines “smartness as the ability to acquire and process information quickly, while wisdom is the judgment to apply that knowledge effectively. In other words, smart gives you the facts; wise gives you the orientation.”
Smart goes on to be characterized as:
- The “What:” Raw cognitive ability, high IQ, rapid learning, and analytical problem solving.
- Focus: Often optimizes for short- to medium-term efficiency, innovation, and finding the correct answer.
- Nature: Generally viewed as an inherent trait or capacity that can be sharpened through formal education.
- Example: Knowing a tomato is technically a botanical fruit.
Wisdom:
- The “How & Why:” Represents sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and long-term foresight.
- Focus: Prioritizes ethics, human flourishing, and the consequences of actions on oneself and others.
- Nature: Acquired over time primarily through lived experiences, failures, and deep reflection.
- Example: Knowing not to put that tomato in the fruit salad.
Practical Distinctions:
- Knowledge vs. Application: Smart knows how to build an atomic bomb. Wise knows whether it should be used.
- Impulse vs. Restraint: Smart individuals have the technical capacity to solve a problem quickly, whereas wise people demonstrate the restraint to wait for the appropriate context to act.
- Speaking vs. Timing: A smart person knows what to say, while a wise person understands when and how to say it.
I have a friend with a property management company. He shares a story which I call “the parable of the blue pillow.”
A homeowner who entrusted his agency with both the maintenance and leasing of their property insisted that a blue pillow be prominently positioned on a couch welcoming guests to their home. My friend found this request both out of typical scope and a possible indication that the client may have demanding expectations. “If they are sensitive to such an extraordinary matter, might there be other challenging demands forthcoming as well?” he wondered.
Upon further examination, he arrived at a realization. The homeowner wished to convey a specific and unique brand to their guests. The blue pillow was part of that brand. My friend came to understand that what his prospective client was ultimately trying to determine was if the property management company grasped what was most critical to this customer. In other words, could they be trusted to take care of the details?
His company ultimately passed that test and has loyally and amicably established a long-term relationship with this property owner.
Smart move to carefully hear the client’s specific requirements and align them with the company’s service capabilities. Wise response as well to take a moment to first evaluate the request and then reach an understanding of the meta message of what that petition really represented.
If you had to make a choice, would you choose smart or wise?
