Knowledge is a wonderful thing, but it is only part of the equation. You may know that a tomato is a fruit, but true wisdom is understanding that it doesn’t belong in a fruit salad.

Knowledge is knowing the facts, but wisdom is about how you use those facts. The distinction between these two is what turns a knowledgeable person into an effective one.

In today’s world, we have access to more information than ever before. The internet allows us to learn about any subject in seconds. We can recite definitions, watch tutorials and read detailed guides. But is that enough? No, because knowledge without wisdom is like having a map without knowing how to navigate — it’s not the destination but the journey and how you approach it that makes the difference.

Why wisdom matters

Wisdom allows you to put knowledge into context. It’s about knowing when to use what you know and how to adapt it to fit the situation. For example, anyone can read a cooking recipe, but it takes experience and intuition to adjust that recipe when ingredients are missing or when something goes wrong. Wisdom is what makes you a cook, not just a reader of recipes.

A true expert is someone who can distil complex ideas into something even a five-year-old can grasp. This is what sets the wise apart from the knowledgeable. It is not about impressing people with how much you know — it’s about conveying those ideas in the simplest, most effective way possible.

The complexity trap

We often fall into the trap of assuming that complexity equals sophistication. Just like in the tomato example, we think that more complexity must mean more value. But wisdom teaches us the opposite: the best answers are often the simplest. True expertise is not about saying more — it’s about stripping away unnecessary details until only the essential remains.

Imagine trying to explain a complex topic such as quantum physics. A knowledgeable person might use all the jargon they know to describe it, while a wise person would focus on distilling the essence of quantum physics in a way that a child could understand. It’s the difference between drowning in details and illuminating the core idea.

Learning to distil complexity

Distilling complex information into simple, accessible language is a sign of true understanding. Think about how we learn in school — our best teachers were not the ones who threw a bunch of technical terms at us. They were the ones who could make a difficult topic relatable, breaking it down into bite-sized, comprehensible pieces.

As an adult, it is important to continue cultivating this skill. Whether you are in business, education or any other field, your effectiveness depends on how well you can communicate what you know. Can you take a complicated concept and explain it to someone who knows nothing about it? Can you make it so clear that it seems obvious, even when it isn't?

The power of simplicity

Simplicity, as we have seen, is not easy. It requires deep understanding and a willingness to let go of ego. It’s tempting to showcase everything you know, to pile on the jargon, and to hide behind complexity. But wisdom comes from having the courage to say, “This is what matters. The rest is just noise.”

Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” This is not just a saying — it is a guiding principle for anyone who wants to be more than just knowledgeable. It is about understanding that your goal should be clarity, not complexity. The goal is to communicate, not to confuse.

A final thought

The next time you learn something new, ask yourself: could I explain this to a five-year-old? Could I teach this to someone without overwhelming them? Because true wisdom is not about how much you know — it’s about how effectively you can share that knowledge. And, sometimes, that means knowing not to put the tomato in the fruit salad.

• Christian Chin-Gurret is a writer with a Master of Science in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a Bachelor of Science in Product Design, who offers a unique perspective on shaping the future of business through innovation, disruption and technology