100 THE PRINCIPLES OF SELF-MASTERYThe Meaning of Education
There has long been a general misconception of the meaning of the
word educate. The dictionaries have not aided in the elimination of this
misunderstanding, because they have defined the word educate as an
act of imparting knowledge. The word educate has its roots in the Latin
word educo, which means to develop from within; to educe; to draw out;
to grow through the law of use.
Nature hates idleness in all its forms. She gives continuous life
only to those elements that are in use. Tie up an arm, or any other
portion of the body, taking it out of use, and the idle part will soon
atrophy and become lifeless. Reverse the order, give an arm more than
normal use, such as that engaged in by the blacksmith who wields
a heavy hammer all day long, and that arm (developed from within)
grows strong.
Organized Knowledge in Action
Power grows out of organized knowledge. But, mind you, it grows out
of it only through application and use.
A person may become a walking encyclopedia of knowledge with-
out possessing any power of value. This knowledge becomes power
only to the extent that it is organized, classified, and put into action.
Some of the best-educated people the world has known possessed much
less general knowledge than some who have been known as fools, the
difference between the two being that the former put into use what
knowledge they possessed while the latter made no such application.
An educated person is one who knows how to acquire everything
needed in the attainment of their main purpose in life-without
violating the rights of others. By that definition, many knowledgeable
individuals come nowhere near qualifying as "educated." Similarly, it
might also be a great surprise to many who believe they suffer from
lack of learning to know that they are well educated.