There's More to It
What you know isn’t all there is to know. But everyone loves to act like it.
They hear a little piece of information, a single perspective and some little dust around it, and then they form an opinion and speak it loudly all over the place as if it’s sound and true. As if there isn’t anything against it, or anymore to find out from it. They’re confidently loud about it and certain that it must be right, without ever considering that maybe there’s more to it: another perspective, another idea, or another possibility. Another point of view that will shed more light on what makes sense and might be true, or truer.
You act like what you know is all there is, but the truth is there’s more to be known. And the more to be known will probably show you more, guiding you to another conclusion, another opinion. If only you were to take the time to think about it a little longer, and wonder if there’s more.
You need to have the sense to acknowledge that you don’t know it all for any given situation. This is not saying you shouldn’t have opinions, guesses, or assumptions; only that you should realize the possibility of being wrong and not knowing it all. That is not how some act. Some believe they know it all and, as a result, that their judgments are sound. And maybe they are if that was all there is to know. Their judgments based on what little they know are, from that point of view, true and correct. But once you add all the missing pieces of information, their judgments fall apart. And that’s the whole thing: your judgments and conclusions are weak because you don’t know it all.
But it’s not bad to not know it all, because we rarely do. We might know enough for a good picture, and that could be enough for a conclusion, an opinion. Even knowing a very small amount is enough for an opinion. But the way you push that opinion should be relative to the confidence of how much you know. But it rarely ever is. People don’t even realize how little they know; they’re not aware of the fact that what you know isn’t all there is. They have no judgment of how little they know because they don’t know how much there is out there to be known. They’re only aware of what they know, and to their world, that’s all there is. So to them, they believe that’s all there is. And then they confidently judge, conclude, and scream out their ignorant opinions as if they were truer than true.
It is especially worse for those who believe they’re smarter than everyone else. It gives them a cocky attitude that they always know more and know best; they forget that they are human too, and that they too make mistakes and still have to learn and figure things out. Instead, they believe what they know is all there is to know, and that their opinion holds higher than those around them. Stepping in a pond and assuming an ocean out of it: fools.
This is not saying to lack confidence in your opinion or to forever doubt yourself, but instead to speak your opinion with an acknowledgment of ignorance. I think this, but I only know so little, so I’m not entirely sure. Maybe I’m wrong; maybe a future point will come across and prove me wrong. Instead of acting and screaming with confidence that I’m right and I know best because I’m so smart. That what I know is more than what others know.
Though it is true that appearing with doubt makes you look small. Socially, that is. You must appear confident with your opinion to demand respect. So maybe you do still parrot your opinion with confidence and, instead, prepare for and accept confrontation that proves you wrong or ignorant. Or, better yet, maybe you just state what you think confidently as an idea rather than a truth. Be confident with it when you state it, and be ready to acknowledge that you can be wrong and are wrong. Or maybe don’t attach any judgmental attitude and tone with it when you parrot it. Or maybe ask questions to figure out more of it. But socially, you need to act like you know in order to win. The social way of things doesn’t care about the truth or being right or wrong, only what makes the feelings feel good.
All in all, what you know is not all there is, and what you know will result in your opinions and judgments. Acknowledge that you might not fully understand or know simply because you may not know it all.
Look for the bigger picture; try to gain it all so that you can look at the bigger picture. If you only have one perspective, all you’ll see is one side. You need to seek the whole thing: all sorts of edges, curves, and views. Then you’ll have the bigger picture, and only then can you have a proper opinion and judgment. But that is for seeking the truth and making the most sense. Socially, pursuing such ways, you’ll seem small and uncertain, but you have to pursue it with confidence and stern words. Some people won’t understand, though. Assuming you know it all with your opinions often makes you look better. But it’s foolish and annoying to those who do know better. Just don’t be anxious or nervous about it, I suppose. Speak your mind clearly and all will be fine.
You don’t know it all, and what you know isn’t all there is. Look for other perspectives and views. Don’t just spout your opinion and judgment and act like that’s all there is, especially when you’re only coming from one view. Always look for other views, for every situation. It’s the way you’ll find the truth most often. No matter how you look at the truth, it’ll always be there. But the false can only exist in a certain way.