"Quieres ser un filósofo, no un sabio barato"
— Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Simplified Meaning:
A philosopher is someone who thinks deeply about life's big questions, like what is right and wrong, or what makes people happy. They spend time studying and understanding these topics, trying to find the truth. On the other hand, a cheap sage might give simple advice that sounds wise but lacks depth or real understanding. It's a bit like the difference between a doctor who deeply studies medicine and someone who gives out home remedies without really knowing if they work. Imagine you want to learn how to be better at making decisions. A philosopher would encourage you to study different situations, think deeply about possible outcomes, and learn from the experiences of others. This takes effort and time but leads to true wisdom. A cheap sage might just tell you to always follow your heart, which sounds nice but isn't very helpful when the choices are complex. Applying this to your life means aiming to really understand the things you care about, instead of just looking for quick and easy answers. For example, instead of taking shortcuts in learning a new skill, invest the time to learn it properly. This approach leads to deeper knowledge and better results in the long run.