:the power of knowledge
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The power of
Enrich your life by indulging in some time to seek out and research topics of interest
"To furnish the means of acquiring
knowledge is . . . the greatest benefit
that can be conferred upon mankind.
It prolongs life itself and enlarges the
sphere of existence."
John Quincy Adams (1767-1848)
As human beings we all have the potential to acquire
knowledge and learn new things throughout our lives. The quest to
acquire knowledge can go beyond job training or formal education
and every person can benefit from making life a learning journey in
which she learns something new every day.
Knowledge can be acquired through higher education but it can
also be acquired through free and plentiful sources such as public
libraries and the Internet.
Vincent Van Gogh once said, "What would life be if we had no
courage to attempt anything?" The path to acquiring knowledge
could be as simple as taking a class or reading a book, but empirical
experience may be the best way to eek out the meaning of life.
Observing nature in order to determine how a thing functions is
an empirical approach to learning; it is knowledge gained through
observation and personal experience. Attaining knowledge in an
empirical fashion is the root of a human being's education and may
still be applied at any age.
Seek Out the Sommelier
In all areas of our lives, our sensory reactions are affected by the
depth of our knowledge. Take wine, for example. If you want to
enjoy it more fully, you don't have to shell out hundreds for a bottle
of Château Lynch-Bages; you simply need to learn about the vino
you are already drinking. Buy a wine encyclopedia, take a class—or
head to a restaurant with a sommelier who likes to educate patrons
during the meal. You won't just think about wine differently; you will
taste it differently.
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