Fortune Cookie Friday: Imagine the Knowledge

Today’s post will be a little shorter than usual because I’m learning more about nature in the great outdoors. I love learning all I can about the world around me.

There is a saying: “Scientia potentia est,” or “knowledge is power.” This quote is often attributed to Francis Bacon; indeed, the more we know, the better off we can be.

Unfortunately, knowledge is a tool. Like any tool, we must know how to use it—wield it. We can do this with practice and testing new bits of information. Sometimes it takes a bit of finesse, and other times it takes some imagination.

Today’s fortune is something Albert Einstein said during a 1929 interview with a Post correspondent.

When Einstein was asked about his thought process, he said, “I believe in intuitions and inspirations…I am enough of the artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

Einstein’s imagination allowed him to take his vast knowledge of both simple and complex physical science and see the relationship between space, time, and energy.

Knowledge is powerful and can be a precise tool or a wide lens. It’s okay to focus on some details when learning or researching, but we can’t use knowledge with blinders. We need to step back like an artist examining our work and think outside the box from time to time.

We should train with knowledge, so we know how to use it when we need it most. But also develop our skills and be creative to recognize when that knowledge can be adapted for another purpose.

With enough imagination, we can take a small amount of knowledge and do many things. Imagine using knowledge as a universal tool like a swiss army knife.

We are all looking for answers in this world, so get out there and find them. Learn, grow, and be creative.