If longevity has quality, we could become a nation of gurus. Mountaintops would be prime real estate. It's not simple accumulated knowledge. Wisdom has a generous quality. It takes into account not just oneself but those around you.
Wisdom also embraces the notion of values and does so without apology and embarrassment.
Nor is it paralyzed by ambiguity, recognizing that some questions can never be neatly answered. Embracing uncertainty, in fact, is a great trait of wisdom. This definition reflects the findings of one of the few empirical studies on wisdom and aging, described in the journal the Gerontologist by Paul Baltes, director of the institute's Center for Lifespan Psychology. In the study, people young and old were presented with certain scenarios and asked to provide advice. Imagine that a good friend of yours calls to tell you that she can't go on anymore, that she has decided to commit suicide.