Quote #8 | If you think education is expensive, look at the cost of ignorance.

Recently, I read “Educated” by Tara Westover. Early this year, I read Malcolm X’s Autobiography. If you haven’t read either, I highly recommend both. Each takes the reader on a visually descriptive journey of their lives while personifying the power of education.

In an earlier blog, I briefly touched on the ideas of knowledge is power, social mobility, and formal and informal education, all under the umbrella of a Malcolm X quote. The statement being…

“My alma mater was books, a good library…I could spend the rest of my life, just satisfying my curiosity.” — Malcolm X.

Thinking through how to write this blog in the context of our latest saved quote from my past (continuing my blog series). Many ideas race through my mind, as they would all of us.

The most profound part of this declaration about education is the assertion following it. That being “look at the cost of ignorance.” This call to action to reflect and evaluate shouldn’t be taken lightly. Patterns of our past attribute to habits in our present that ultimately dictate our future.

The examples are endless, but I’ll list a few. Stock market traders analyze a stock’s previous price action (highs and lows) to determine whether they should buy an entry (purchase stock/option). In sports, to prepare for a game, you watch film on your opponent to develop a game plan. In life, no matter where you stand on the nature versus nurture conversation, our actions, mindset, and goals are shaped by influences from our past.

To borrow a few words from Psychologist Hal Hershfield. Instead of looking for balance in life, we should aim for harmony. Harmony is a mixture of simultaneous sounds combined to make a pleasing effect.

This same philosophy can be used in life. By reflecting and learning from the past, and making good (based on your judgment) and life-progressing choices in the present, one can find comfort in the unknowns of the future.

Apologies for the tangent, but it was necessary to grasp the cost of ignorance. Let’s view education as the practice of continuous learning. Now give thought to where you started in life compared to where you are now. Think about peers, friends, and family from each stage of life. How has continuing to learn new things played a role?

Whatever the answer you have in mind. That is the cost.

To my nephew

Find the harmony in your life.