Watching the Wise
We need wise people in our lives to serve as models and inspiration, helping us straighten out our own crooked paths.
"Take a good hard look at people's ruling principle, especially of the wise, what they run away from and what they seek out." Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 4.38
As Seneca noted, you cannot make something crooked straight without a ruler to measure it against. This is the essential role that wise people play in our lives: they serve as models and inspiration, giving us a standard to bounce our ideas off and test our presumptions.
It is entirely up to you who that wise person will be. It could be your father or mother, a philosopher, a writer, a thinker, or even a guiding question like "What would Jesus do?". The important thing is to pick someone, carefully observe what they seek out and what they run away from, and do your best to emulate their actions.
Common Questions
Why do we need wise people in our lives?
Wise people act as a "ruler" against which we can measure ourselves, helping us straighten our own crooked paths by serving as inspiration and a way to test our presumptions.
How do I choose a wise person to follow?
The choice is up to you—it could be a family member like a parent, a philosopher, a writer, or a religious figure like Jesus; you just need to pick an inspiring model.
What exactly should I observe in a wise person?
You should take a good hard look at their ruling principles, paying close attention to both what they actively seek out and what they run away from.
Your Key Takeaway: Find a wise person to look up to—someone who can serve as your personal ruler. Observe their choices and actions closely, and do your best to emulate them in your own life.