“Never confuse education with intelligence. You can have a master’s degree and still be lacking common sense!”
We often merge education and intelligence into one idea, assuming that the accumulation of certificates automatically bestows wisdom. Yet life, in its quiet but persistent way, reveals the flaw in this belief. A person may be surrounded by books, armed with degrees, fluent in theories and still walk through life with a striking absence of common sense.
Common sense, that subtle and often underrated wisdom, is not born from textbooks or examination halls. It is shaped by lived experiences, sharpened through observation, and refined by the simple but profound act of reasoning through life’s everyday challenges. It is the ability to see the practical meaning behind information, to turn knowledge into sound judgment.
The individual who is book smart but lacks practical wisdom may excel academically, digesting complex ideas with ease. Yet this same person may stumble through real-life situations, making choices that defy logic or fall short of practicality. They may be easily misled, unable to read social cues, or struggle to navigate human relationships — all because education alone does not teach the art of living.
True intelligence is a delicate balance: a harmony between what the mind knows and how the soul understands. It is knowledge applied with clarity, compassion, and foresight.
Education lays the foundation, but common sense builds the structure that allows a person to move through the world wisely.
The truly wise person recognises the limits of academic knowledge. They strive instead to cultivate practical intelligence, the kind that leads to purpose, meaning, and genuine human connection. In the end, it is not the number of certificates we possess, but the depth of our understanding that shapes our journey through life.
Have a great day.
Stay humble, stay blessed.
(Salam) Peace.
Alhaji Alhassan Ibrahim is a writer and a motivator.
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