Wear your learning, like your watch, in a private pocket, and do not pull it out and strike it merely to show you have one. If you are asked what o’clock it is, tell it, but do not proclaim it hourly and unasked, like the watchman. – Lord Chesterfield
I sat in a meeting yesterday at the company I’m consulting for and really struggled to keep my “learning” in my pocket. Misconceptions were flying about that I really wanted to challenge so as to help solve a problem.
But after reading this quote this morning, I realize there was a part of me that also wanted to display my knowledge. The tip off, now that I think about it, was that I started getting nervous as I mentally prepared to speak.
The problem was more complicated than a lack of knowledge in the room, of course. Lots of fears and resentments and who knows what other relationship garbage. I thought I caught myself in time, but now I’m not entirely sure.