There is this Professor and like all mortals he is feeling charitable with his advices. He thought he would be in a better position to advice because he has all the academic credentials. There is no better person to advice than the one that he felt most deserving, the uneducated.
Like all man that are obsessed with himself and his knowledge, he took a boatride one day and he met with the boatman, a young man who has no formal education.
He ask the young man,
'Do you read?'
The young man answered 'No'.
Well looks like you have no real education.
'Without education 25% of your life is gone'
The Professor started on his lectures.
The Boatman listened attentively. He has been rowing the boat for tourists like the Professor and didn't see how education affected his livelihood, but of course if an educated man wants to depart some wisdom, he is more than welcomed.
The Professor went on and on and talked about computer, geology, history and culture. The boatman didn't understand a thing but he thought it would be rude to interrupt and he continued to listen.
The boat spotted a leak, but the Professor was still busy delivering his speeches, the boatman very politely asked,
'Sir, do you know how to swim?'
The Professor was a bit confused, why the sudden question. This man must be testing me since I have been making him feel inadequate. Instead of answering, he asked why.
'Well, coz the boat is sinking'
You gotta know how to swim otherwise, 100% of your life is gone.
The Lesson
Many people these days are proud of their worldly possession and this includes what they perceive that they know. What didn't hit them is the realisation that living is an art and the most basic requirement has to be fulfilled first and I list the requirements as follows:
- passion
- humility
- drive
- practicality
- reasonableness
I will not preach nor lecture because I would hate to become the Professor. I rather be the boatman to have the most basic skill but I am able to ply my trade.
