"الفطرة السليمة هي على الرغم من التعليم، وليست نتيجة له."

The quote basically means that having common sense isn’t something you necessarily get from education. Instead, it’s often something you have naturally, even if you’ve never sat in a classroom. Think about it like this: no matter how many degrees you have, you might still miss the obvious stuff that someone without any formal education can easily see.

This idea has been around for a while. It’s been said in various ways through history, especially by people who wanted to point out that book smarts and street smarts aren’t the same thing. It’s kind of a critique on how we often value academic achievements over practical experience, even though both are important.

Let’s look at a real-life example to make this clear. Imagine two people – one is a recent college graduate with a degree in business, and the other is a high school dropout who started their own small business. The graduate might know all about business theories and models, but when it comes to running a business day-to-day, the high school dropout might be way ahead. They’ve learned from doing. They know how to talk to customers, manage cash flow, and handle unexpected problems. They’ve got that practical common sense that you just can’t get from a book.

So how can you apply this wisdom in your own life? Well, don’t underestimate the value of real-world experience. It’s great to learn and expand your mind through education, but also make sure you’re getting out there and doing things. Volunteer, take up a hobby, start a small project, or just pay attention to the everyday problems and solutions around you. It’s about finding a balance. Education can give you the tools, but you need common sense to know how and when to use them.

Let me tell you a story to bring this home. Picture a young woman named Lisa. Lisa aces every class in her engineering program. She graduates with honors and lands a job at a top firm. But on her first day, she’s stumped. The practical problems at work aren’t like the problems on her exams. She’s got all the theory, but she struggles with applying it in real situations. Then there’s her colleague, Tom. Tom didn’t go to college, but he’s been working with his hands in the field for years. He’s the go-to guy when something breaks down. Lisa realizes she can learn a lot from Tom – he’s got that invaluable common sense. She starts shadowing him, and little by little, she picks up the practical skills she was missing.

What’s the takeaway here? Don’t rely solely on formal education. Embrace opportunities for hands-on learning. Whether it's fixing a car, cooking a meal, or navigating tricky relationships, these experiences build your common sense. And remember, while education can open doors, common sense lets you step through them and make something of the opportunities on the other side.

So, next time you’re faced with a problem, don’t just think about what you learned in school. Use your intuition, think practically, and trust your gut. That’s where common sense lives – often in spite of, and not because of, all that formal education.