As reading Francis Bacon‘s essay, “Of Studies”, one realizes of its enduring quality. Bacon’s precise ideas were as valid in his days, as they are in the present times. His assertions have that universal quality that not only makes them cross physical frontiers, but also temporal ones. Throughout the essay there are many points in which I agree; but one of my favorite statements is the one that follows: “To spend to much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament is affectation; to make judgment only by their rules, is the humor of the scholar.” This phrase by itself contains much of the issues that people use to deal with when it comes to using their knowledge.
“To spend to much time in studies is sloth” I could not agree more with this statement. Some people hide their aversion to work behind their compliance to studies; either consciously or unconsciously, they develop an attraction to any kind of knowledge-gaining means. They spend their whole life behind books, computers or research papers. They go from major to major, certificate after certificate, defeating one matter after another one; but seeming to conquer no specific objective. And you can say there is nothing wrong with liking studying whichever is the extent; but the drawback of this approach, is that they are missing the practical part, the hands-on fraction, the real world experience that help people bound to succeed. Personally, I always thought that theoretical knowledge was much more important than practical, but life has taught me that there is no complete education without applied experience. When people put theory into practice, the first one is perfected. Not only because they can see the tangible results of their study, but also because they tend to deepen in the study of the topic as they find, in the process, new problems to solve or new doubts to clear. Moreover, having just the theory only makes you be a good encyclopedia, someone to look for reference. But it seems that there are people who enjoy precisely that. They like to show off “to use them (studies) too much for ornament is affectation”. This group functions by pretending, by acting, by impressing others with ostentation of a knowledge that sometimes is not even real. They seek knowledge in order to attain discourse, to impact with their verbosity, to overwhelm with their intellect.
Their interest in studies is not acquiring knowledge to be used in life, but to be used in an act. They live by the opinion others have of them. They do not realize that what they are really showing is their incompetence to put all that knowledge into good use. But, if being as superficial as to seek knowledge only to impress is bad, being intransigent is worst. “To make judgment wholly by their (studies) rules is the humor of the scholar.” To form an opinion following only the statements of a thesis, without considering facts, exceptions, or special situations is humorous; but, the sarcastic kind of humor. Often, a person who is in the process of learning, tend to have a rigid mind about definitions. They judge things according to strict principles learned in school. They judge people according to the studies they have. They judge life according to what it should be. But once they experience the variations of a practical life, once they see the different ways a problem can be accomplished, they are able to expand their minds. – They can consider the rules and the exceptions-. Then again, a complete education is one that is supported by practice, by real life experiences.
Education is a fundamental part of life, is a privilege and something to take advantage of. If all you do is study and never use what you have learned, what have you achieved? If you only study to achieve recognition, what did you waste your time for? If your knowledge is narrowing your view instead of broadening it, what is the point of learning? Education can help you excel to your highest dreams if used in the right manner. That was Bacon’s message then, and that is the message today. Essentially, nothing has changed.
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