For some time I have had a pet peeve with that saying, “Knowledge is Power”.
At best, knowledge is potential power.
I know the purist philosopher-types can opine here: an expanse of knowledge will provide the terrain for enlightenment and enlightenment will set you free. And, is or is not enlightened freedom nothing other than pure power?
But, in business, we have to combine some skilled action with our knowledge.
And, to oversee that skilled action, we have to blend in thinking…thinking ahead – let’s call that planning.
Of knowledge and thought, thought is more closely linked to power.
So Thought is Power is closer to fact.
However, in business, thought on its own isn’t of much value.
Skilled action is required.
Thought, when coupled with specialized knowledge and skilled action, is power.
Reader comments (10)
Comments from the original blog platform, 2008–2021.
Ralph Vugts ·
In our busy (Sales Performance/Sales Training) knowledge is power. The more we know about a clients problem the great chance we have of success (selling them a sollution)
Rick ·
"Wisdom comes from intuition. It far transcends knowledge. Great knowledge, knowledge of many things, may be had by virtue simply of a very retentive memory. It comes by tuition. But wisdom far transcends knowledge, in that knowledge is a mere incident of this deeper wisdom." Ralph Waldo Trine 'In Tune with the Infinite', (1942, 45th Anniversary Edition)
Rick ·
“…knowledge cannot be separated from thought; every substitution of a better thought for a worse thought is a transforming agency which marks an important advance in knowledge.” “Only the choosing of wise thoughts, and necessarily, the doing of wise deeds, leads to wisdom.” “Wisdom cannot be found in books or travel, in learning or philosophy, it is acquired by practice only.” James Allen 'Light on Life's Difficulties', (1912)
rick baker ·
Given further acceleration, we can conclude that knowledge will grow increasingly perishable. Today's "fact" becomes tomorrow's "misinformation". Alvin Toffler 'Future Shock', (1970)
rick baker ·
“Knowledge is only power when it can be made available, practical.” Orison Swett Marden ‘Pushing to the Front’, (1911)
rick baker ·
"Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours." John Locke British Philosopher (1632-1704)
Rick Baker's Thoughts ·
Thought Tweet #651 Thought Tweet #651
rick baker ·
"Knowledge is the most democratic source of power." "You can use all the quantitative data you can get, but you still have to distrust it and use your own intelligence and judgment." Alvin Toffler, (born 1928) Author 'Future Shock', (1970)
rick baker ·
"What one fool can understand, another can." Richard Feynman U.S. Physicist and Professor, (1918-1988)
rick baker ·
"No man should escape our universities without knowing how little he knows." J. Robert Oppenheimer U.S. Physicist, (1904-1967)