The central characteristic of wisdom is that you don’t have it when you need it the most – and that’s how and why you acquire it.

Wisdom is a tree. In the drought of ignorance it slowly and painfully begins to grow. By the time it matures, whatever it was that triggered its growth is usually already over. Thus, wisdom is usually in the possession of those who don’t need it any longer; but they can’t transfer it to those who need it but who do not know that they need it. They too will acquire it when their time is up.

Wisdom’s face, indeed, is cast in irony. Wise is the one who takes this recognition along into the next life and into the next set of experiences.

– Che Chidi Chukwumerije.