(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.)
Which do you think is more important, knowledge or experience?
In my opinion, both are important. However, people today, including myself, tend to have a lot of knowledge but not enough real-life experience.
Many people spend a great deal of time surfing the Internet. They receive a huge amount of information every day, but they rarely experience things for themselves. Instead, they watch other people’s experiences or read about them online.
In a sense, many of us are all theory and no action. I enjoy surfing the Internet too, but sometimes I feel like I’m just a critic rather than someone who actually does things.
In the 1980s, there was no Internet or smartphones, so people had to go out and experience things in order to learn about them. They gained knowledge through direct experience.
First, knowledge is essential. For example, mathematics is a basic form of knowledge. If you understand math, you can perform everyday tasks such as addition and multiplication. Without this knowledge, it would be difficult to live a normal life—for example, even buying things in a store would be challenging.
There is also another important aspect of knowledge.
As Otto von Bismarck once said, “Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others.”
Since we can only experience a limited number of things in our lives, it is important to learn from other people’s experiences.
History is a good example. By studying history, we can learn from past mistakes and avoid repeating them. Without such knowledge, we are likely to make the same errors again.
On the other hand, experience is just as important.
The more we experience, the more we grow.
For example, consider the famous Japanese manga Doraemon. In the beginning, its quality was not very high. However, because there was less competition at the time, the creator had many opportunities to gain experience. Through this process, he eventually became one of the most successful manga artists in Japan.
There is also a Japanese saying: “Children do not understand their parents’ hearts.” It is difficult for children to truly understand their parents’ feelings. However, when they become parents themselves, they finally begin to understand.
This kind of understanding comes not from knowledge, but from experience. Since I do not have children, I may not fully understand my parents’ feelings yet.
Many famous people have emphasized the importance of both knowledge and experience. For example:
- Benjamin Franklin: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
- Francis Bacon: “Knowledge is power.”
- Julius Caesar: “Experience is the best teacher.”
- John Dewey: “An ounce of experience is better than a ton of theory.”
In conclusion, both knowledge and experience are essential. However, many people today, including myself, lack real-life experience. We have plenty of knowledge, but not enough action.
Our task is to learn about the world through our five senses—not just through our smartphones.