Thursday, April 9, 2009

The Paradox of Human Wisdom

"The wise man does not think himself wise." 
I do not know who first said this, 
But he must have been wise and saw himself a fool.
For if the wise man thinks himself wise, 
Then he is a fool.
However, the inverse is pure truth as well.
The fool does not think himself foolish.
And if the foolish man thinks himself foolish,
Then he is wise, for he sees the truth.
But how can this be? 
The fool cannot be wise and the wise be foolish.
Then if the wise are not so and the fools know wisdom,
Then who can claim either side?
Because if the wise man sees himself as wise,
Then he never was wise to begin with and he is a fool.
Likewise, if the fool sees himself as wise,
Then he is still a fool and did not gain wisdom.
To distinguish further, only the wise know that no man is wise,
But all are as fools. 
So now I ask which are you?
Wise or foolish? 
Because however you answer, 
You are wrong. :)

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