"Wisdom Comes from Hands" is an article I came across today in a book I bought before, *Youth Digest*. The author is named Ye Qingcheng, but I don't know much about the author.
Undoubtedly, the title "Wisdom Comes from Hands" attracted me, motivating me to read on. At the same time, I wondered why the author believed that wisdom comes from hands.
The article tells the following story, which I'll briefly recount:
One winter, when temperatures were below -20 or -30 degrees Celsius, the author and a tour guide were watching the Northern Lights in Kiruna, Sweden. Walking through the forest, they noticed small wooden cabins everywhere. The author's praise of the cabins led the tour guide to tell him about Sweden's standards for talent and share his own story.
Apparently, in Sweden, students' hands-on abilities are cultivated from primary school, with courses in woodworking, handicrafts, sewing, cooking, home economics, and more. Those with excellent grades have a bright future.
The tour guide then recounted his story. Born into an intellectual family and being an only child, he grew up pampered and privileged, smoothly progressing through university. The idea that "all other pursuits are inferior, only studying is superior" was deeply ingrained in him. After arriving in Sweden for graduate studies, he discovered he was actually quite clumsy. He couldn't turn on the gas stove, cook, or fix things—in short, he couldn't do many easy tasks. It was then that he realized his limitations stemmed from his inherent weaknesses.
Only after improving his practical skills did he discover he had become a better person. After living in Sweden for a while, when his wife and mother had a conflict, he believed that resolving the issue was paramount. Seeing him busy himself with tasks, the conflict between his wife and mother naturally dissipated.
…
Actions speak louder than words. After hearing the tour guide's story, the author was deeply moved and resolved to strive to live life to the fullest.
The article concludes by echoing the title: "Wisdom comes from the hands," a quote from the Swedish educator Jean Piaget. Undoubtedly, Sweden has one of the highest per capita levels of education in the world. Human practical skills truly need to be cultivated from a young age. Those with both high cultural literacy and strong practical skills are undoubtedly the strong ones!
Reading this article also made me think of myself. I grew up under the pampering of my parents, and even now I still can't cook, can't fix a bicycle chain, and haven't ridden a bicycle in a long time. However, I'm a little better off than the tour guide in the article. As a child, I could cook, turn on the gas stove, and do some simple chores. I believed in doing what I could myself and didn't subscribe to the idea that "all other professions are inferior except for studying," nor could I understand the underlying meaning of "a scholar is useless in a hundred ways."
In ancient times, scholars were refined and cultured, but physically weak. Farmers could support themselves, and carpenters could build themselves a warm home. But how could a scholar who only knew how to study but lacked practical skills take care of his daily life if he failed the imperial examinations?
In today's society, both mental and practical abilities are indispensable. A person who can't use their brain will likely live a mediocre life; they might be socially awkward and remain in a small place, accomplishing nothing. A person who can't use their hands, even if exceptionally intelligent, can't take care of themselves, and even if they are a true hero, they probably won't have a place to use their talents.
Do you agree with the saying "wisdom comes from hands"?
...
Comments
Post a Comment