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Essay on Man, Epistle II

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Socrates’ Ideas in an Interview with a Wise Man Essay

In most modern societies, wisdom is viewed as a combination of an intrinsic insight and years of experience and is generally lauded as the desired state of mind. Wise people are seen as authorities, and their opinions are treasured and followed as the principles that one should consider essential for a happy and fulfilling life. However, the concept of wisdom is not a social constant and, thus may vary depending on one’s values and philosophy. Keeping Socrates’ ideas in mind, I believe that my friend’s grandfather is the wisest person in my community since even in the times of social conflicts he promotes the ideas of compromise and cooperation, thus encouraging a peaceful resolution of any issue.

When applying the allegory of the cave as told by Socrates to the interviewee, I must admit that my friend’s grandfather neither would turn away from the truth nor would be shocked by it. Instead, he would observe it calmly and accept it as an integral and inevitable part of life. From the standpoint of proactiveness and the willingness to change the world for the better, the specified approach toward managing complex issues might be seen as the sign of weakness.

However, it seems that the ability to recognize the point at which one cannot influence the current state of affairs and, instead, focus on what can be changed is the sign of true wisdom. Rather than taking immediate actions, the interviewee would observe and make conclusions to finally arrive at the decision that seems most sensible. Therefore, I believe that this person is wise since he can align his priorities and refuses to focus on the negative issues that he cannot change. His proverbial peacefulness and willingness to compromise add to the overall impression of him being extraordinarily wise.

In addition, approaching the philosophical stance of the interviewee from the perspective of Socrates’ “Apology,” one will also have to admit that the interviewed man is very wise. Specifically, my friend’s grandfather showed no inclination to believe that his own opinion or life position could be defined as wise. Instead, he pointed to several issues that he deemed as philosophical and ethical flaws, thus being entirely certain that his philosophy required further improvements.

The identified phenomenon could be attributed to the interviewee’s humbleness; however, after a series of questions, it became clear that he was quite objective about his beliefs and philosophy. Therefore, the respondent’s recognition of the flaws in his arguments and the willingness to address them can be regarded as another sign of wisdom.

Finally, referring to Socrates’ opinion on Plato’s “Symposium,” one will have to agree that the interviewee’s wisdom is largely defined by his ability to experience, express, and share love. The respondent’s very personality was based on the idea of love, which stretched from having warm feelings to others to being protective and supportive toward family members. Thus, the interviewee proved to be a very wise person.

Following the traditional expectations of wisdom, the interviewee was very peaceful and focused on the idea of a compromise as the means of resolving both external and internal conflicts. His ability to embrace the principles of love and understanding, as well as the skills of resolving complex dilemmas by searching for the objective truth, are worth appreciation and have to be recognized as the manifestation of wisdom. Embodying the ideas of nonconfrontation and compromise, his philosophy is worth being considered exemplary.

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IvyPanda. (2021, January 7). Socrates’ Ideas in an Interview with a Wise Man. https://ivypanda.com/essays/socrates-ideas-in-an-interview-with-a-wise-man/

"Socrates’ Ideas in an Interview with a Wise Man." IvyPanda , 7 Jan. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/socrates-ideas-in-an-interview-with-a-wise-man/.

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IvyPanda . 2021. "Socrates’ Ideas in an Interview with a Wise Man." January 7, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/socrates-ideas-in-an-interview-with-a-wise-man/.

1. IvyPanda . "Socrates’ Ideas in an Interview with a Wise Man." January 7, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/socrates-ideas-in-an-interview-with-a-wise-man/.

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IvyPanda . "Socrates’ Ideas in an Interview with a Wise Man." January 7, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/socrates-ideas-in-an-interview-with-a-wise-man/.

• Socrates by Aristophanes and Plato
• Socrates as a Founder of Western Philosophy
• Lessons From Plato’s Book ‘the Apology’
• Intoxicated by My Illness and A Father’s Faith: Comparison
• Death Awareness Effects on Self-Realization
• The Roles of Reason and Imagination
• Rights and Self-Consciousness
• Role of Friend in Self-Knowledge

The fool speaks, the wise man listens.

• Post author: Heather
• Post published: June 4, 2021
• Post category: Quotes
• Reading time: 3 mins read

Fools often can’t stop themselves from stating their opinions and telling anyone and everyone who will listen just what they think. A wise man on the other hand, is more interested in hearing what others have to say. He knows he will learn something new, or he just likes to take in all the information and draw his own conclusions silently. He knows that he will learn more about a situation listening rather than talking. He has no need to spout out wisdom or opinions so that others will notice him.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the moment, we don’t listen to others as well as we’d like to. Here are some tips on how you can become a better listener.

1.) Be present with who you are listening to. The best gift you can ever give someone else is your time and attention. Really be present in the conversation. Make eye contact. Connect with them and what they are saying. Eliminate distractions like your phone.

2.) Listen to learn. Sometimes we listen to someone and as they are talking, we think we have things figured out. Think of each conversation as a place where you can learn something. Take in information rather than commenting on everything that is said.

3.) Don’t wait to talk. Are you really listening or are you really waiting to talk? The fool waits to talk. Don’t be a fool. When you are waiting to talk, the person with you can sense it. Choose to show how good of a friend you are by being present and not just waiting to talk.

4.) Choose your response thoughtfully. When you slow things down and listen more, you can form better responses that are well thought out. You are basing your response on having gathered more information, so you are coming from a better place to contribute to the conversation.

Your turn…Do you actively listen or do you wait to talk?

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'Of Studies' by Francis Bacon

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Francis Bacon, the first major English essayist , comments forcefully in Of Studies on the value of reading, writing, and learning.

Notice Bacon's reliance on parallel structures (in particular, tricolons ) throughout this concise, aphoristic  essay. Then, compare the essay to Samuel Johnson 's treatment of the same theme more than a century later in On Studies .

The Life of Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon is considered a Renaissance man. He worked as a lawyer and scientist throughout his life (1561-1626.)

Bacon's most valuable work surrounded philosophical and Aristotelian concepts that supported the scientific method. Bacon served as an attorney general as well as lord chancellor of England and received his education from several universities including Trinity College and the University of Cambridge.

Bacon wrote over 50 essays beginning with "Of" in the title and following the concept, such as Of Truth , Of Atheism and Of Discourse .

Bacon Facts

Bacon's uncle was the lord keeper for Queen Elizabeth I. He helped symbolize the approvals for key documents. Additionally:

• Bacon is known as the father of the scientific method which was influenced by his own Baconian method based on reason and observation.
• There are rumors that Bacon was mostly attracted to men, due to his late marriage in life, among other ​theories.

Interpretations of 'Of Studies'

Bacon's essay expresses several comments in Of Studies that can be interpreted as the following:

• Studying is helpful for better understanding and provides a knowledge that develops experience, as well as a character that grows.
• Reading provides delight and fun, ornament and showing off, and the ability for success.
• Bacon expanded upon different fields of study depending on one's goal; for example, to master clarity with language, study poetry.

'Of Studies' Excerpt

"Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar. They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning, by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books, else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things. Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores [Studies pass into and influence manners]. Nay, there is no stone or impediment in the wit but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man’s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the Schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores [splitters of hairs]. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers’ cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt."

Bacon published three editions of his essays (in 1597, 1612, and 1625) and the last two were marked by the addition of more essays. In many cases, they became expanded works from earlier editions. This is the best-known version of the essay Of Studies , taken from the 1625 edition of  Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral.

Version From the First Edition (1597)

"Studies serve for pastimes, for ornaments, for abilities; their chief use for pastimes is in privateness and retiring; for ornaments in discourse; and for ability in judgment; for expert men can execute, but learned men are more fit to judge and censure. To spend too much time in them is sloth; to use them too much for ornament is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules is the humor of a scholar; they perfect nature, and are themselves perfected by experience; crafty men contemn them, wise men use them, simple men admire them; for they teach not their use, but that there is a wisdom without them and above them won by observation. Read not to contradict nor to believe, but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some are to be read only in parts, others to be read but curiously, and some few to be read wholly with diligence and attention. Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready, and writing an exact man; therefore, if a man write little, he had need of a great memory; if he confer little, he had need of a present wit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning to seem to know that he doth not know. Histories make wise men; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend."

• Thinking About Reading
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• Of Truth, by Francis Bacon
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Benjamin Disraeli: 'The fool wonders, the wise man asks.'

The fool wonders, the wise man asks.

In the words of Benjamin Disraeli, "The fool wonders, the wise man asks." This profound quote encapsulates the stark contrast between two distinct approaches to life. At first glance, it seems to suggest that those who merely wonder about things are fools, while those who seek understanding through questioning are wise. However, upon closer inspection, this quote holds a deeper meaning that delves into the essence of wisdom and the pursuit of knowledge.To summarize the quote, Disraeli suggests that those who passively wonder about life's mysteries without actively seeking answers are regarded as fools. On the other hand, the wise are individuals who possess the intellectual curiosity and courage to inquire, to ask questions, and to delve further into the depths of knowledge. This straightforward interpretation emphasizes the importance of active engagement, using one's intellect to seek answers instead of simply speculating.But what if I were to introduce a concept that challenges this conventional understanding and adds an unexpected twist to the article? Let us consider the philosophy of wonder. Wonder, as explored by various philosophers throughout history, is associated with a state of awe, marvel, and contemplation. It stimulates our innate curiosity, raising questions about our existence, the universe, and our place within it. Wonder encourages us to explore the marvels of life and to embrace the unknown.The fool, in this context, may be seen as an individual who remains in a constant state of wonder, constantly amazed by life's intricacies but without the agency to ask questions and seek answers. They may be content with the mystery, blissfully unaware of what lies beyond their awe. This perspective presents an intriguing contrast to Disraeli's quote and prompts us to consider the value of wonder itself.In contrast, the wise person, according to Disraeli, is driven by an innate desire for knowledge, pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. They do not merely marvel at the wonders around them; instead, they actively seek to understand and unravel the underlying truths. The act of questioning becomes their compass, leading them on a journey of intellectual growth.While Disraeli's quote implies that the wise man asks questions, the introduction of wonder as a parallel concept reminds us that there can be profound beauty in simply wondering. Wonder ignites our imagination, allowing us to appreciate the mysteries of life without the need for immediate answers. It encourages a sense of humility, acknowledging that some things may forever remain beyond our comprehension.In light of these contrasting perspectives, it becomes clear that both wonder and questioning play crucial roles in our intellectual and spiritual development. The interplay between the two creates a harmonious balance, allowing us to marvel at the unknown while actively seeking understanding.Ultimately, Disraeli's quote serves as a reminder to embrace both wonder and inquiry on our journey to wisdom. It encourages us to remain curious, to engage with the world around us, and to never settle for surface-level understanding. By cultivating both the capacity to wonder and the courage to ask questions, we unlock new avenues of knowledge and experience the richness that life has to offer.In conclusion, Disraeli's quote, "The fool wonders, the wise man asks," carries profound meaning that extends beyond its initial interpretation. It highlights the importance of actively seeking answers rather than passively wondering, urging us to engage in the pursuit of knowledge. However, by introducing the concept of wonder, we uncover a broader perspective that acknowledges the beauty of contemplation and appreciates the mysteries that may forever elude our understanding. The integration of wonder and questioning enables us to cultivate a deeper sense of wisdom, nurturing both our inquisitive nature and our ability to be awestruck by life's marvels.

Benjamin Disraeli: 'The wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages are perpetuated by quotations.'

Benjamin disraeli: 'it is much easier to be critical than to be correct.'.

The Wise Man's Fear

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Chapters 48-65

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Chapters 93-108

Chapters 109-129

Chapter 130-Epilogue

Character Analysis

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How does Kvothe meet the genre standards of a hero? How does he exceed the heroic cliché?

Kvothe has many different teachers in this novel. Describe the different kinds of education he receives and where they come from. Do you think any one type of education is better or more important than another?

There are many more women in The Wise Man’s Fear than there were in The Name of the Wind , and we see women in a wider range of circumstances. How do women function in this novel? How does geography and culture contribute to women and their behaviors in this novel? Where do women have power and where are they powerless in this novel?

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Essays on Wise Man

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A Wise Man Essay Example

• Pages: 2 (337 words)
• Published: May 22, 2017
• Type: Essay

There was once an old wise man who live on top of a mountain. (I don’t know why the wise men always like to stay on top of mountains. ) Whenever the villagers had a problem, they would climb up the mountain and ask the old man for advice. One day a young man decided to climb up and ask the old man a question. | “Wise man,” he asked, “What makes a man truly great? ” The old man looked at him and said, “Do you sincerely want to know? ” “Yes, yes! ” the young man replied the wise man. “Well,” the wise old man said to him, “Let me tell you in the form of a story” There was once a Greek man who suffered from a deadly disease.

Knowing that he will die soon, he was the first to join t

he army when his country was in a battle with the enemy. Hoping to die in battle, he would fight in the front line, exposing himself without any worry for his life. Eventually they won the battle and he was still alive. His general was so impressed with his bravery which contributed much to the victory. The general decided to promote him and award him with medals of bravery and honor. On the day of presentation, he was looking very down and sad. Curiously, the general asked him the reason why and was told of his deadly disease. How could I let such a brave soldier die? ”, the general thought. So the general hired the best physician and finally cured the soldier. But from that day onwards, the once valiant soldie

was no longer seen at the front. He would always avoid danger and tries his best to avoid danger and protect his life. “Young man”, he wise man said, “if you want to be truly great, you must not be scared of dying, you must be daring. ” Fear not that life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning.

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The Wise Man Story in English

Introduction to the wise man story.

This wise man story introduction will give you a clear idea of what this story contains. So, in this story, you'll find out that we have various problems related to our day-to-day activities in human life. But the solution to any problem is not to think repeatedly. Instead, we should try to think of that problem's solution, and only through that will we be able to conquer the problem. Let’s read the story ahead to know more.

About Wise Man

On the mountains once upon a time, there lived a wise man. He had been residing there for years and spent hours each day praying.

A Wise Old Man

He wasn't motivated by wealth, fame, or luxury. He held spirituality and eternal bliss . He would always be content and at ease. People in his immediate vicinity frequently questioned how he could be so at ease. 

People's Perception about the Wise Man

People always called him a wise man. He would also assist others in solving their concerns. People began turning to him over time to address their difficulties. The wise man would always want to help them. Everyone who heard of his excellence gained a fresh perspective on approaching their challenges.

People's Problem

People in the locality of the wise man were worried about their day-to-day life problems. The wise man had received repeated complaints from some men about the same issue. He then decided to impart problem-solving skills to them. All the people also agreed that they would meet the wise man in the hope that he would bring some good changes to their problems.

People Gathered and Interacting with the Wise Man

One by one, people started complaining about their problems. The knowledgeable man gave them appropriate guidance. But those men didn't understand that correctly, so they kept returning and asking the same question. The people came every day and kept asking about the same problem. 

Wise Man Solved the People's Problem.

The wise man became upset but did nothing. He chose to approach it calmly. He then told them a joke, which caused everyone to laugh. Only a handful of them smiled when the wise man repeated it.

No one even smiled when the wise man repeated the joke again and again. On the other hand, they kept glaring at him and asking what it was. The wise man finally responded, " You can't laugh at a joke multiple times, then what makes you cry at a problem over and over again? "

Finally, those in his immediate vicinity understood the intelligent man. They decide to correct their errors after realising them. " Worrying more won't bring you any solution but will simply waste your time and energy, " the wise man explained to them. The people enthusiastically nodded in agreement with the wise man and dispersed.

The wise man's story moral is that you should not worry about your problems because by worrying, you will not be able to solve them; instead, you will waste your time and energy. 

The wise man story conclusion shows that this story played a very significant role by teaching its readers a lesson that worrying is not the solution to any problem. However, instead of that, we should try to find the answer to any situation as it will make us feel good, and also we will save our energy by not wasting it on worries. 

FAQs on The Wise Man Story in English

1. Write the character sketch of the Wise Man. 

The wise man was old, soft-spoken and kind-hearted. He always tried to help other people. He loved to do works related to humanity. In this story, he played the central character. 

2. Why did the people visit the wise man? 

The people were upset and worried about their problems, so they went to the wise man to find a solution. 

3. Why did the wise man tell the joke repeatedly to the people? 

The wise man presented the joke repeatedly to the people to make them realise that thinking of the same problem won't solve it or will not reduce their worries. Even it would lead to more issues related to their mental state. 

The Fool Speaks, and the Wise Listen

• Minahil Mohsin
• July 26, 2023
• CSS , CSS Solved Essays
• 42559 Views

CSS 2023 Solved Essay | The Fool Speaks, and the Wise Listen

Minahil Mohsin, a student of Sir Syed Kazim Ali, has attempted the CSS 2023 essay “ The Fool Speaks, and the Wise Listen ” on the given pattern, which Sir  Syed Kazim Ali  teaches his students. Sir Syed Kazim Ali has been Pakistan’s top English writing and CSS, PMS essay and precis coach with the highest success rate of his students. The essay is uploaded to help other competitive aspirants learn and practice essay writing techniques and patterns to qualify for the essay paper.

1- Introduction

People who speak without a check make a fool of themselves in others’ eyes. They lack sensitivity and insight and thus know not when they must put a halt to their talking. On the other hand, wisdom breeds patience, and intellectual people are considerate towards others’ opinions for the sake of self-growth.

2- Understanding the African Proverb

3- Why is Speaking Much Considered the Trait of Fools?

• “Any Fool Can Criticize, Condemn and Complain, And Most Fools Do.” – Benjamin Franklin
• “You Are Not Learning Anything When You Are Talking.” – Lyndon B. Johnson
• “People Who Keep Talking Talk, For They Are Scared of Getting Silent and Being Proven Wrong.” – Democritus
• “When Fools Speak, the Wise Listen, But When the Wise Speak, the Fools Argue.” – Noam Chomsky
• Political Parties and Politicians Criticizing Each Other on Irrational Grounds

4- Why is Listening Considered the Wise’s Priority?

• Case in Point: Mahatma Gandhi, who sought out diverse perspectives to inform his own beliefs and actions
• Case in Point: Good Communication – The Key to a Successful Marriage
• Case in Point: Good Communication Between a Doctor and Patient is Crucial to Proper Diagnosis and Treatment
• Case in Point: Research Proving that Employees Who Feel Heard and Valued by Their Managers Are Four Times More Likely to be Satisfied with their Jobs and Perform Better
• Case in Point: A Mentor-Mentee Relationship, Where the Mentor Shares his Expertise, and the Mentee Actively Listens and Learns
• Case in Point: The World Bank’s Mediation to Resolve the Water Conflict Between Pakistan and India

5- How Could Good Listening Skills Be Instilled in Men?

• By Being Present with the One Speaking
• By Developing a Learning Attitude
• By Not Waiting to Talk and Acting Wisely
• By Choosing a Response Carefully

6- Is Speaking Always a Foolish and Listening Always a Wise Thing to do? A Critical Analysis

• Showing Charisma and Charm – A Sign of Leadership
• Speaking Without Thinking at Times Brought About by Excitement, Adding Energy to a Conversation
• Listening at Length, Often Difficult, Draining, and Boring
• Listening to Counter Arguments, a Challenging Feat

7- Conclusion

The primary source of human communication, speech, is the crucial tool that can make or break a man’s personality. People who speak without a check make a fool of themselves in others’ eyes. They lack sensitivity and insight and thus know not when they must halt their talking. Moreover, they hold such a high opinion of themselves – evident in politicians’ speeches worldwide – that merely talking for the sake of talking becomes the sole purpose of their lives. On the other hand, wisdom breeds patience. Intellectual people are considerate towards others’ opinions for the sake of self-growth. For instance, Gandhi is known to seek out diverse perspectives to develop his own beliefs and ideas. Not only this, but good listeners can also foster positive personal and professional relationships. Nevertheless, it is not always the case that the talkers are fools and listeners, wise, for adept speech is a quality of skilful leaders, and listening for hours on end can drain a person of his energy and make him grumpy. However, being a good listener when the speakers are wise is a much-needed skill that can be developed by developing a learning and receptive attitude. This and only this can help the masses avoid regrets and misconceptions arising from unbridled speech. This essay elaborates on why speaking is a fool’s and listening to a wise person’s priority and how could good listening skills be instilled in men to promote a culture of productivity.

“A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool because he has to say something.” Plato

The given statement is a proverb originated in Africa. Literally, it means that a senseless person is prone to speaking at length while he, with a sagacious mind, tends to stay quiet and listen to those speaking around or to him. The former is so busy speaking that he hardly finds any time to think, but the latter considers active listening his biggest strength that he uses to win over people.

To elaborate, fools are very low on the spectra of receptivity and sensitivity. Where a wise person is able to assess a situation and analyze whether he needs to speak or stay quiet, a stupid person just knows how to go on and on all occasions. He lacks the knowledge and insight about any given topic of discussion, and thus, his words are nothing but mumbo-jumbo. Benjamin Franklin elaborates it by saying, “Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain, and most fools do.” It means that speaking at length is the common trait of fools. Hence, foolish people lack the sense to consider the time, place, and company before speaking.

Next to it, fools have little interest in learning new things. They mindlessly talk about whatever goes on in their head, contrary to wise people who always look forward to spending a productive time listening to others to get different perspectives. As unwise people are indifferent to gaining knowledge, they talk merely for the sake of talking. As former American President Lyndon B. Johnson has said, “ You are not learning anything when you are talking” , fools possess little knowledge and insight. Thus, fools speak because they do not want to learn anything by listening.

Moreover, foolish people are insecure by nature. They are always conscious of not giving others a chance to prove them wrong. They are not like wise people whose words are weighed and calculated but like chatterboxes that simply do not know when to pause. And it is nature’s rule that the more one talks the more there are chances of his getting off the track and saying wrong things. Democritus has advocated for the same by saying, “People who keep talking talk, for they are scared of getting silent and being proven wrong.” It is, indeed, true that if there are loopholes in their utterance, fools will avoid getting quiet and giving others a chance to ridicule them. So, unintelligent people are scared of being called out for their mistakes.

Owing to their non-stop chain of meaningless talks, mindless people find themselves stuck in the shackles of naivety. Where wise people listen to others’ opinions, fools fail to develop a sense of reasoning and respecting others’ perspectives because they are not used to listening to anybody else. Thus, the moment they are confronted with somebody holding an opinion opposite or even slightly different to theirs, they become ready to blow a fuse. They react very quickly and extremely negatively, the reason for which is well-explained in Noam Chomsky’s words, “When fools speak, the wise listen, but when the wise speak, the fools argue.” It means that fools have little space in their brains to accommodate alien ideas. So, foolish people are quite irascible and easily annoyed.

Finally, all these traits make the fools indulge in a false belief of them being perfect beings. They never even entertain the fact that they might be wrong, unlike wise people who are always overtaken by self-doubt. Fools hold their own opinions so high that they outright disregard and reject any opposing perspectives. A vivid description of this fact is the political system around the globe. In every developing democracy, politicians consider it their sole duty to criticize and find faults with their opponents, putting aside national and public interests. These irrational fights are driven by nothing but ego. So, fools are greatly inclined to get indulged in unproductive verbal fights just to prove their might.

Conversely, wisdom breeds silence, contentment, and active listening. Where the fools are all about speech, wise people are never the ones to make haste when it comes to talking. Rather, they prefer listening to others to improve their own critical thinking skills and memory. By listening to others, they get to form their unique perspective of life, and their points of view are no longer limited by conventional wisdom and expectations. For instance, Mahatma Gandhi is known to have sought out diverse perspectives to inform his own beliefs and actions. As a result, he absorbed criticism and opinions, developing his political dogma and making him one of the most renowned leaders in history. Thus, wise people listen to develop their personalities.

“A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.” Bruce Lee

Stepping up from the individual level, the quality of listening also assists men in their domestic relationships. Although men indeed learn from their mistakes, when people are open to advice and opinions, they get the opportunity to learn valuable lessons from others’ experiences as well. This way, creative solutions, better relations, and discoveries pave their way into human beings’ lives. A case in point is that of a successful marriage that can only result if the two wheels, man and wife, listen to each other rather than trying to impose their separate wills. Paying attention to what the other wants to convey proves the key to healthy marital relationships. In short, being attentive towards others is another trait of the wise to ensure better bondage in their domestic lives.

Similarly, when men enter their practical lives, professional relations and conduct also demand wisdom for growth. This wisdom lies in respecting and regarding those superior to one in knowledge and know-how. Those who fail to respect this difference and continue their gibberish fail to gain an advantage from professionals in the field. Whereas, those who consider professionals’ opinions and follow them gain many benefits. For instance, good communication between a doctor and a patient is crucial to proper diagnosis and treatment. Patients who pay heed to their doctors’ instructions get several health benefits by following the guidelines. So, it is evident that listening carefully to professional advice helps in wise decision-making for one’s own good.

Further, listening to others also holds great significance for wise people on an institutional level. When those in authority pay heed to what their subordinates say, the subordinates feel greatly empowered and more motivated to do a good job. On the other hand, employers who treat their team members as mere employees and never give importance to their opinions are much less likely to grow in their field. To support the stance, recent research by the Employee Satisfaction Index also proves that employees who feel heard and valued by their managers are four times more likely to be satisfied with their jobs and, thus, perform better. So, wisdom lies in giving others importance and making their presence feel worthy by listening to what they have to say.

Extrapolating this very impact on the organizational level, it is witnessed that wise people develop empathy and collaboration, broaden their horizons, resolve conflicts tactfully, and clarify misconceptions skillfully just by listening to others and observing the goings on around them. Such people also develop a high-grade emotional intelligence, unlike those whose only focus is to blow their own trumpet in every conversation they have. A great example could be found in a study by Scientific American on a positive mentor-mentee relationship, where a mentor shares his expertise, and the mentee actively listens to him and learns. A wise mentee would do his best to make the most of his mentor’s advice by carefully listening to and noting down his instructions to become more creative and excel professionally. So, by allowing themselves to be exposed to professional advice, wise people are able to become all the wiser in their business interactions.

Finally, global problems also find their solutions in the wise’s listening. On such a huge scale, it is only by listening to multiple perspectives that can help countries make the most informed decisions and improve international relations. Contrarily, countries that do not believe in listening to the international community’s voice find themselves isolated and loathed, much like the case of Russia. For the countries willing to resolve their issues through diplomatic means, mediators come and use active listening to understand the perspectives of all parties involved in order to solve the issues at hand. For instance, the World Bank has played a mediating role in helping Pakistan and India put a halt to their timeless water dispute. The Bretton Woods Institute has considered both countries’ problems and concerns and then given a sagacious solution, following which both parties have witnessed amelioration of the issue mentioned above. So, the wisdom of listening and its pros also apply to countries in the arena of international relations.

Keeping in view the uncountable merits of being a good listener and its connection with attaining wisdom, it is the need of the hour that the youth develops this quality to excel in their personal and professional lives. The first thing one can do to become an active listener is to be present with the one who is speaking. It means that one should be mentally active while listening to somebody else talk so that the act is not merely hearing but productive absorption of the words the speaker delivers.

Second, one can become a proactive listener by developing a learning attitude. In this way, one can avoid regrets due to over-speaking and miscommunicating in a conversation. A learning attitude would help the listener develop the capability of assessing and analyzing a situation, speaking only when needed, and saying only what is necessary. It will also assist him in improving his knowledge and insight on various topics and themes.

Third, one must stop listening just to respond and waiting only to talk. Rather, one should stay calm and composed while a speaker makes his point and focus on what he is saying. Finally, a listener should try to get to the bottom of all the claims a speaker makes and analyze them in terms of his own experiences. In this way, if one listens to others, not only would they want to listen to him, but also would he develop such wisdom that people would also start considering him a prudent man.

Along the same lines, one must learn how to respond in a certain situation. After developing a sense of assessing a situation and listening carefully to what is being said, a person should be mindful of his own words. It is crucial he does not become a social media warrior, attacking people with words and not considering what impact they might have on somebody’s mental health. So, words should be chosen carefully after understanding the situation at hand.

In a strong analysis of the discussion, one can deduce that fools are talkative, and the wise, listeners. But a question arises; are all the talkative people foolish and the quiet ones wise? The answer here could be extracted after going through some facts. First, speaking is also a quality of charismatic leaders; people who are good at talking show good leadership qualities. More often than not, even thoughtless speaking is brought about by positive emotions like excitement, adding energy to a conversation. On the other hand, silence can become agony if one listens to someone speaking at length. It would be difficult, draining, boring, and even challenging if the speaker’s notion is against one’s beliefs. So, in lieu of generalizing the connection between fools and speaking and the wise and listening, a balance must be struck between the two, and none prioritized over the other to gain the maximum benefit from each activity.

“It is better to remain silent and thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.” Mark Twain

In conclusion, all the arguments boil down to a single stance that foolish people have a severe lack of sensitivity, interest in learning, confidence in their knowledge, and control of their temper. Simply put, they are too immature to know what to speak and when to say it. So, all they do is speak without a pause. On the other side, there are the wise – calm, composed, and sagacious. They not only pay attention to but also respect others’ opinions and perspectives and use them to build their own unique take on life and its happenings, as could be seen in Gandhi’s example. Moreover, such people are also masters of conflict resolution and developing relationships, for their traits help them learn from their surroundings. Therefore, although the two qualities, talking and listening, cannot be objectively judged, still, there is a need to develop better listening habits by practising active listening and developing a learning attitude so that discussions could be more productive, and wisdom spread throughout the masses.

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College Essays

If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service?

If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one.

Table of Contents

What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get?

What's Good Editing?

What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid.

What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay?

Who Can/Should Help You?

Advice for editors.

Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing?

The Bottom Line

What's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get.

Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product.

Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you."

Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved.

Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering.

Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view.

Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do?

Help Brainstorm Topics

Sometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you.

If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay .

Help Revise Your Drafts

Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers .

Revision questions should point out:

• Places where more detail or more description would help the reader connect with your essay
• Places where structure and logic don't flow, losing the reader's attention
• Places where there aren't transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader
• Moments where your narrative or the arguments you're making are unclear

But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves.

Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision.

You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:

• Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn't come from you
• Use a thesaurus to make your college essay sound "more mature"
• Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn't come from you
• Tell you what to say and how to say it
• Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you
• Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager

Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions.

Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.

• An editor should say that the opening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it.
• An editor should point out where your prose is unclear or vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay.
• An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go.

Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader.

Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters.

Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must.

Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing).

Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's.

A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:

• If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished.
• If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes.
• If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing.

What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?

Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important.

On the Importance of Editing

Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College )

Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College )

On the Value of Proofreading

Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University )

Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College )

On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence

Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College )

Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University )

Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self.

Parents or Close Relatives

Your family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you.

A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent?

One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard.

Teachers or Tutors

A humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work.

Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you."

If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft.

Guidance or College Counselor at Your School

The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay.

At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application.

Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version.

Friends, Siblings, or Classmates

Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you .

Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you.

You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work.

If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation.

First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked .

Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you.

Introduction Questions

• Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not?
• Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea?
• Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through.

Essay Body Questions

• Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words?
• How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay?
• Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing?
• Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs? Between the narrative and moments of insight?

Reader Response Questions

• Does the writer's personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of "who he or she is"?
• Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well?
• Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough?
• Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay?
• What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement?

Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?

One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet.

My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service.

When to Consider a Paid Editor

In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you.

If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!)

If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see.

If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students.

If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays .

If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more.

Should You Hire an Essay Coach?

On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you.

But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you.

If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises.

Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?

On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results.

On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay.

Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores.

Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?

Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this!

For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this:

I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application )

For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies.

Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students.

• You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading
• A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed
• A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you
• A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting
• All of them agree that getting light editing and proofreading is necessary
• Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings
• If you can't ask any of those, you can pay for college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches who over-edit you work
• Don't buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it'll make your whole application sound false.

Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay .

Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges .

Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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