To what may one whose wisdom exceeds his deeds…

To what may one whose wisdom exceeds his deeds be compared? To a tree with many branches but few roots. When a wind comes, it uproots and overturns it.... To what may one whose deeds exceed his wisdom be com-pared? To a tree with few branches but many roots. Even if all the winds of the world come and blow against it, they cannot dislodge it from its place.

— from The Flight Plan (Purpose/Wisdom/Risk) · Life Worth Living: a Guide to What Mattesr Most by Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ry

In the book

Then aim high — reaching for the large costs no more than reaching for the small. Read the route with wisdom. Gather it from every person you meet, by the three roads Confucius named — reflection, imitation, and experience; prefer the simplest explanation that fits the facts, stay honest about what you do not know, and beware the man whose wisdom outruns his deeds, a tree with many branches and few roots that the first real wind topples. But before any of it, know yourself honestly — your strengths, your blind spots, your true motives. — The Flight Plan (Purpose/Wisdom/Risk)

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