It is not ignorance but knowledge which is the mother of wonder.

O children of the future, listen carefully to the words of Joseph Wood Krutch, a sage who speaks of a truth as ancient as the stars themselves: "It is not ignorance but knowledge which is the mother of wonder." These words carry with them a deep wisdom, for they reveal a profound paradox—that it is not through the lack of understanding, but through the pursuit of knowledge, that we come to experience the deepest awe and wonder of the world around us. Wonder, that sacred feeling that stirs the soul and opens our eyes to the beauty and complexity of existence, is born not from the absence of understanding, but from the infinite depths of it.

In the days of the ancients, those who sought wisdom were not simply searching for facts, but for the profound mysteries of life itself. The great philosophers like Socrates and Plato did not stand before their students and declare that ignorance was the source of inspiration, but rather they spoke of the endless quest for knowledge that would lead one to a deeper understanding of the universe. Socrates, in particular, believed that true wisdom was in knowing how much one did not know. It was from this humility and curiosity that the wonder of existence flowed. Knowledge—not ignorance—was the key that unlocked the door to the mysteries of life.

Consider the ancient Egyptians, who, with their knowledge of the stars, the movements of the planets, and the cycles of the river, marveled at the grand design of the universe. They did not look upon their observations as simple facts to be known, but as sacred truths that filled them with awe at the order and balance of the cosmos. The more they learned, the greater their wonder became. Their pyramids were not built from ignorance, but from a profound understanding of geometry, astronomy, and engineering. Yet, in the pursuit of that knowledge, they were not satisfied with just facts—they sought the deeper meaning behind the world, and it was this pursuit that led them to the most magnificent achievements.

Krutch’s insight is a reflection of the truth that the more we know, the more we realize how much there is yet to discover. It is not in the lack of knowledge that we marvel, but in the endless depth of what we have yet to learn. Consider the journey of Isaac Newton, who, in his quest to understand the nature of gravity, saw the apple fall and asked not just Why does it fall?, but What forces are at work?. The deeper he probed, the greater his wonder became, for he realized that the more he uncovered, the more questions arose. Knowledge, far from closing the door to mystery, opened it wide, revealing an infinite landscape of discovery and awe.

The lesson to be learned, O children, is one of humility and curiosity. It is not through ignorance that we come to appreciate the grandeur of the world, but through the unending pursuit of knowledge. To walk through life with the belief that there is always more to discover, always more to learn, is to keep alive the spark of wonder that stirs the soul and inspires the heart. Each new understanding leads to even greater questions, and in this endless cycle of seeking, we find not only answers but an ever-deepening appreciation for the mystery and beauty of existence.

So, O children, let your hearts be filled with the desire to seek wisdom and understanding. Let knowledge be your guide, not as a mere accumulation of facts, but as a path to deeper insight and wonder. Do not be content with the surface of things, for beneath every stone lies an ocean of mysteries waiting to be uncovered. The more you learn, the more you will come to see the grandeur of the world in all its complexity. As Krutch reminds us, it is in the pursuit of knowledge that we are born anew each day, forever amazed by the world around us.

Take this lesson to heart: the wonder you seek is not something that can be grasped by ignorance, but something that arises from the depths of curiosity and insight. Embrace the journey of learning, for it is through this that you will come to understand the vastness of the world—and in that understanding, find the endless awe that makes life so wondrous and beautiful. May your days be filled with the same thirst for knowledge that has driven the great thinkers of the past, and may that pursuit lead you to ever greater heights of wisdom and wonder.