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Knowledge is Power

"Knowledge is power"

Sir Francis , an English lawyer, statesman, essayist, historian, intellectual reformer, philosopher, and champion of modern science,
coined this phrase, back in the early 17th century,in fact.
He was a man for whom virtually nothing was unachievable. He believed that in all cases, simply being in possession of the saliant facts, would inable a person to achieve greatness.
He was an energetic man. Bacon clearly assumed that for all people, motivation was a given

I was listening to Charles Adler's radio program today. He pointed out that knowledge was only part of the equation, the other half is motivation.

That set my puny little brain spinning.
How many people in this big old world of ours, are sitting on top of real gems of ideas, but lack the drive, initiative, incentive, (call it what you will, to realize their dreams?

Adler's topic of discussion centered around health issues. According to medical statistics, despite our obsession with gyms and spas, palates and fitness machines etc... us Baby boomers are far less healthy than our forefathers.

Today, we have so much info, to hand, in terms of medical technology, and health risk prevention. We have so many resources and so much knowledge, that we ought to be super humans by now.

The truth is, despite all this insight, we as a society, are fast becoming a fat, sedentary lot.
Life's stressful, dizzying pace, is leaving us dependent upon highly addictive processed (Fast) foods.

Conveniences in all areas of life are packing pounds on us, turning us one by one into cigarette addicts, Alcoholics, overeaters, and otherwise adversely affecting our health.

How can this be, if Knowledge is truly Power?

We know what we're doing to ourselves, we have the medical reports and resources,that, as Francis Bacon tells us, should impower us, right?

All that's missing is the motivation to make possitive changes happen.

I therefore suggest that this famous 17th century quotation "Knowledge is Power", should get an upgrade. In keeping with our 21st century lifestyle.

"Knowledge may well be power, but only impowering when motivation is present in equal or greater measure."