Ralph Waldo Emerson defines a key characteristic of a truly wise person. It is not necessarily the possession of esoteric knowledge, but a particular quality of perception: the ability to find awe and "the miraculous" in everyday, "common" experiences.

While the unobservant mind passes over the ordinary as boring or insignificant, the wise mind sees the extraordinary complexity in a leaf, the profound mystery in a child's question, or the cosmic dance in the changing seasons. This capacity for wonder keeps the world fresh and alive. It is a form of presence that finds endless fascination in the here and now.

This quote invites us to sharpen our perception. It suggests that wisdom is available to anyone who learns to look at the familiar with new eyes.