学以致用。智者用高尚的品味和博雅的学识武装自己——此乃经世致用的学问,而非市井杂谈。他们具备广博的智慧妙语,懂得大量的丰功伟绩,并且深知如何在各种情况下加以运用。通常情况下,用俏皮话的方式阐释严肃的教义更有益。灵活实用的知识比七艺(1)更有帮助,不管七艺有多么雅致。
A man of knowledge to the point. Wise men arm themselves with tasteful and elegant erudition: a practical knowledge of what is going on not of a common kind but more like an expert. They possess a copious store of wise and witty sayings, and of noble deeds, and know how to employ them on fitting occasions. More is often taught by a jest than by the most serious teaching. Pat knowledge helps some more than the seven arts, be they ever so liberal.
(1) 指中世纪欧洲大学常设的七门学科:语法、修辞、逻辑、算术、几何、音乐和天文。