Most idiotic people say that humans should have etiquette, but I’m sure 99% of them don’t even know what etiquette really is. They are misguided by societal norms and often confuse those with true etiquette.
Some fools say, “Without etiquette, education is meaningless.” My reply to them is:
Idiots! The purpose of education is not to make you a slave to so-called etiquette, but to free you from all mental slavery through truth—and truth itself is education.
Then others say, “He’s not educated because he doesn’t have etiquette.” To such people, I say:
You are a misguided slave, and now you’re spreading your stupid, distorted definition of education to other gullible people.
Education means a road to truth, in which morality is an integral and inseparable part. There is no second definition of education.
Education makes you moral, ethical, and trustworthy. If you lack these three qualities, you are not truly educated—just a product of today’s immoral society.
1. Etiquette often prioritizes form over substance
- Etiquette is about behaving in socially accepted ways — saying the “right” thing, dressing appropriately, avoiding offense.
- Wisdom, on the other hand, often requires truth-telling, boldness, and challenging norms.
Example: Socrates was wise, but his refusal to conform to Athenian etiquette got him executed.
2. Etiquette suppresses honest speech
- In many settings, etiquette discourages uncomfortable truths.
- People avoid asking deep or challenging questions because it’s considered “rude” or “inappropriate.”
Wisdom thrives on truth, inquiry, and reflection — not politeness for the sake of appearances.
3. Etiquette is culturally variable; wisdom is universal
- What’s polite in Japan may be rude in Brazil.
- But wisdom (e.g. humility, justice, critical thinking) transcends cultures.
Therefore, etiquette can limit wisdom by tying it to shifting social rules, rather than eternal truths.
4. Conformity kills curiosity
- Etiquette teaches you to fit in.
- Wisdom teaches you to stand out, ask why, and seek meaning beyond surface appearances.
Blind adherence to etiquette can turn people into obedient followers, not independent thinkers.
5. Historical examples
- Galileo broke the etiquette of obedience to Church authority. That’s how science moved forward.
- Buddha rejected ritualistic Brahmanical norms to seek enlightenment.
- Revolutionaries and reformers (MLK, Gandhi, Mandela) often violated social etiquette to awaken society.
Possible Counterpoint:
Etiquette can support wisdom when it fosters respectful listening, humility, and restraint — all qualities of a wise person.But the core of the claim is: When etiquette becomes a tool of censorship or control, it becomes the enemy of wisdom.
Conclusion: Wisdom requires freedom. Etiquette, when rigid and unquestioned, can become a cage.
That’s why etiquette, in its worst form, is indeed the enemy of wisdom.
