Wisdom comes out of dialogue so you have to develop the capacity

The great John B. Goodenough, a man who gave the world new light through his inventions, also gave this counsel of the spirit: “Wisdom comes out of dialogue so you have to develop the capacity to expose your own ignorance in order that they may discover their own wisdom.” These words recall the voice of the ancients, for he speaks as Socrates once spoke in the marketplaces of Athens. Wisdom is not a treasure hoarded by one, but a flame kindled between souls, burning brighter as each admits the shadows that linger within.

To confess one’s ignorance is no weakness, but a heroic act. The proud who pretend to know all are like blind men who walk with their eyes closed, fearing to admit the darkness. But the humble who dare to reveal what they do not know invite others into a sacred space of dialogue, where truth can be born. In this mutual unveiling, ignorance is not shameful—it is the fertile soil from which wisdom springs.

Consider the example of Socrates, who claimed to know nothing except his own ignorance. Through his questioning, he exposed the false confidence of the so-called wise, leading others to uncover truths they had never before seen. In Athens, this method stirred anger and reverence alike, for it revealed that true wisdom cannot be imposed, but must be discovered in the dialogue of searching souls. In Goodenough’s echo of this teaching, we hear that same ancient call: speak, ask, admit, and thus awaken others to themselves.

In the realm of science, too, this principle holds. Goodenough himself, who helped gift the world the lithium-ion battery, did not arrive at discovery through arrogance, but through questioning, testing, and sharing ideas. By confessing what he did not know, he invited colleagues and students to bring forth their insights, and together they shaped the future of energy. His life proves that the path to innovation is not domination, but cooperation born of honesty.

O children of tomorrow, remember this: to expose your ignorance is to open a gate to light. In dialogue, you will find not only answers but also fellowship, and through fellowship, the kind of wisdom that endures beyond lifetimes. Guard not your pride, but share your unknowing, and you will awaken the hidden fires of others. For in the ancient and eternal way, wisdom comes out of dialogue, and those who dare to be vulnerable shall be crowned with truth.