bumping for conversation

Greetings!

This topic reminds me of the sayings "street wise" and "book smart".

It also reminds me of three very important men in my life:

Number One - had a grade 8 education and never had the means to attend university or college, but throughout his life was very well read and very well self-educated, with an amazing memory.  His reading had no limits - in amount or in content or in category.  He was always reading, studying, memorizing, drawing and doodling, figuring and deciphering.  I considered him to be very intelligent.  Could sit at a piano and play music by ear (I remember him sitting down and playing "Delilah" after hearing us play it on our record player).   Had street smarts, probably because of the type of childhood and upbringing.  Went as far as he could in his work, more than a laborer, but less than a professional.  I've had people tell me who worked with him over the years how well he knew what he did, how well he taught them, and how he helped and related to others.

Number Two - a lot like Number One, very intellectual and interested in learning, always reading, always seeking.  This person's memory was even more pronounced than Number One - almost what one would call a photographic memory.  He was/is brilliant and quick witted.  He had the opportunity to go to university, and got a degree . . . and could have done better than he did marks wise - he had the potential.  He did not excell at university because he did not apply himself, he was easily distracted and lacked some personal motivation, and is struggling with this somewhat today.  He lacks street smarts, and in some ways people smarts, especially in relationships.  He is naturally gifted in so many ways, but gets easily bored with hobbies, sports, games, etc. once he feels he has tackled them.

Number Three:  This man has a combination of both, actually all three things - book smart, people smart, and street smart.  Did not go to university, but did take some secondary education.  Has self-taught, self-improved, self-motivated, himself to the top of his career.  Does not have the university degree to back up his learning though, and this has even been pointed out to him throughout his career.  His greatest strength is his people smarts, both in understanding and knowing people and relating to people.

Hope, peace, joy, love ...

 To me it seems there are scholars -- those who love the  academic life of the mind and tend to be able to focus narrowly on one subject area, spending a lifetime becoming an expert.  They are intellectuals who are fascinated by, and fascinate those who share their interests.

Sometimes they can even check the oil in their cars, too.

Then there are the renaissance people.  Dilettantes who sloppily follow their interests and might have difficulty holding their own in a  focused, and scholarly discussions. They can, however, do many practical things.

This discussion brings to mind one of my favourite Einstein quotes....

It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry.

as well as this one

Imagination is more important than knowledge.  Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

And my grandfather, who never went to school, said "life is the greatest teacher, look for something new everyday"

Well, if imagination is the currency, I must be an intellectual and educated. (except for that bit about putting oil in my car).

I lived in my imagination as a child, and I thought one day I'd grow up. I don't think I did.

My imagination hasn't encircled the world yet, but I'm working at it - I've now reached Canada!

Smiles at Pilgrim...

Imagination is key.  One can read books and score perfectly on tests but if there is  no imaginative skills that information will simply be stored like the Web.  There are vast amounts of knowledge out there but until someone does something with it it is meaningless.

My single most favourte quote of all time

An idea is salvation by imagination.

Frank Loyd Wright

.... the inclusion of imagination brought me to this thought:  intellectuals put ideas together, even from totally different corners of the world.  They play with the interaction of ideas & disciplines, and can recall things usefully

Being educated means you have completed the requirements of a degree or other measurement.  What you are able to do with your education is the important part.  Intellectualism is one possibility, getting down to work efficiently & effectively is another - perhaps together, perhaps not.

I think imagination is the key to creativity. How else can people envision what has never been?

I'm not sure that it is always easy to parcel people into intellectual vs. educated, if we are talking about "book smarts" vs. "street smarts". As Beloved said, I've known people with both, and some with certain street smarts, but not others. One might be very charismatic and gifted with people, but not particularly motivated to see projects through to completion. Or vice versa.

Has anyone met one of those amazing individuals who are accomplished  on almost every level?  

They seem to have imagination, task committment and "street smarts" in addition to being formidable scholars.

I think that makes them "Gifted".

Hi Ninja,

Yes, I was fortunate enough to marry him.

ps. Thanks for your kind words to my friend Isobel.