Knowledge, otherwise defined as the familiarity with facts, truths or principles, is the currency of the mind and has always been a powerful commodity in human history.
Education has proven of an innumerable count in many facets of society, be it political, social or economical ad infinitum, its capacity to overturn and outweigh other factors, however massive or diverse. Personally, I'd prefer something along the lines of: "Education has proven to be significant in many facets of society; be it political...." Your first sentence here still doesn't sound right to me. Regardless of the context, those with knowledge have never been disadvantaged; there is little of the past wherein the scholarly were not held in high regard, nor does the future forecast the coming of such a time. Indeed, it is no understatement to say that the accumulation and possession of bountiful knowledge is tantamount to success in any endeavo
ur. However, this being said, it is not unprecedented for those of considerable wisdom to be starved and impotent in the matters of power. Just as often as we have been shown the potency of information and understanding in victory, so have we been well acquainted to entities or purposes that are availed nothing by it. This is evident through simple empirical observation of reality, whether it is now or three thousand years prior
Excellent! Subtle but imperative!; it is not uncommon for the blissfully ignorant or fortunate to stand atop the well-learned and at particular times this becomes glaringly apparent. It can then thus be derived this summary: it is not the possession of knowledge but the skillful and appropriate application of such that results in the culmination of substantial power. It must also be noted, though
, that those deficient in intellectual merit have generally shown themselves incapable of maintaining the semblance of their supremacy. History seldom bears witness to individuals capable of blindly stumbling through life with any degree of prosperity in the highest echelons of society; this again testifies to the import of
repletive Pretty sure this isn't a word. Try something like: "abundant" or "abounding" knowledge.
On no account should the power of information and superior understanding ever be dismissed or neglected. Knowledge is the essence upon which all
contemplation Try another word, doesn't sound entirely right here. is founded and it is an established aphorism that “what enables the wise sovereign and good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is FOREKNOWLEDGE”. “That is,” as is commonly inferred, the “knowledge of the enemy’s dispositions, and what he means to do”. Despite being written in a military context, this principle has broad parallels across which it can be applied. While it cannot be said to be absolute, a wealth of knowledge in capable hands is an asset sufficient to surpass any mortal difficulty. There is no shortage of historic examples to this assertion. One such event occurred in the late Han Dynasty: the combined strategic victory of Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang at the famous Battle of Red Cliffs that resulted in the rout of Cao Cao’s numerically superior army is a prime example of the brilliance that can be accomplished through ingenious use of acquired knowledge. The coalition forces attained a high ground in the affairs of strategy and subsequently an ultimate victory by employing a fundamental principle in the art of war: it is said that “in making tactical dispositions, the highest pitch you can attain is to conceal them”. Zhou Yu utilized a “converted spy” scheme designed with a two-fold effect that served the purpose of undermining the enemy’s intelligence and bulking their own. The result of this struggle was determined not by prevailing circumstances or fortune but by the trafficking and manipulation of knowledge, a direct exemplification of the vitality of information. This is epitomized by the famous words of Master Sun Tzu: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.”
Brilliant. Yet, be it as it may that knowledge is an imperative to any fruitful enterprise, it cannot be said that it is in itself an affirmation of undisputable triumph. Even in the modern era where intellect is undoubtedly weighted more heftily than physical prowess, this statement holds true. Whilst it is essentially certain that one will never be at a loss to be educated, it has never been a guarantee to power. This is demonstrated in all ages over the millennia. It is far from a rarity for
doctorial "Doctoral" is probably the term more frequently used. holders to be inadequately employed and insignificant. To quote a certain academic, “I’ve two Ph.Ds and the current Prime Minister of Australia doesn’t even have a degree. How is this fair?”
Lol! I think this alludes to a good point. The knowledge in which one possesses must be congruous and applicable to the context of the "power" that the individual seeks to attain. For instance, if you were to fight for a position of power in the field of law, it would logically follow that you need to possess the knowledge applicable in THAT field and THAT position, and not something like a PhD in Veterinary Science. Similarly, in past times the wise were often poorly lived, with decrepit conditions in rural villages and were even outright prosecuted in such cases as those of the Catholic Church and Galileo. As if to provide a stark contrast, it has so happened that presidencies of powerful first world democracies have been occupied by college drop-outs and massive dynasties and empires have been headed by incompetent, even mentally disabled or child emperors through the inheritance of lineage.
Good. Luck plays a huge part in the attainment of power. This discrepancy is prevalent throughout all of recorded history and any considerations that fail to recognize this fact may be considered highly erroneous.
However, it is nigh-impossible for good fortune alone to sustain one in power. This fact has also been made obvious by humanity’s many failings. How often is it that inept leadership leads to the collapse of the state, no matter how formerly powerful or vibrant? The powerless emperors of the late Han Dynasty led the kingdom to collapse by allowing corruption to seep into its structure and the relentless expansion of the Mongol Empire came to a swift closure due to the incompetence of Ghengis Khan’s later descendants. Even the expansive Roman Empire was no exception; despite exercising dominant control over the greater part of the known world, it yields no advantage if there is not the proper knowledge to capitalize on it. Like the flanks of an army, knowledge and power must succor one another if there is to be the sight of any great object. “Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory” and this cannot possibly be accomplished without any formidable background of knowledge. Prudence must be paid to this point in deliberations over the effect of knowledge in the matter of power.
If the larger picture is observed, it becomes apparent that only in the proper use of secured knowledge does it carry substantial bearing. It can be likened to the ownership of a powerful weapon without
the apparatus or means to operate it; if it cannot be used in any practical affair, then its potential will remain untouched. The wise understand this disparity. Colonel Henderson has to say of this, "The rules of strategy are few and simple. They may be learned in a week. They may be taught by familiar illustrations or a dozen diagrams. But such knowledge will no more teach a man to lead an army like Napoleon than a knowledge of grammar will teach him to write like Gibbon." Not only is effort expended in the acquisition of information, but many hours are spent on the deliberation of its use ere a prolific venture is launched, as “many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat”. The Art of War dwells not on set maneuvers but rather the variation of tactics using knowledge to adjust to the circumstance: “He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain”. This principle is highly transferrable to all aspects of being.
“Knowledge is power” is inaccurate; it is in the correct augmentation of it that it becomes a lethal tool. I like! I like! Without doubt, even at a glance we can see the immediate merit of knowledge, but only in its proper usage can the full extent of its usefulness be extracted. Never since the ancient civilizations of the world has this fact been altered and it is shown to us repeatedly over the long span of years. The Art of War was written three millennia ago, but its theories that stress the dire nature of knowledge and its variable use have prevailed to this day against the test of time.
Talk more about the points/ideas you have raised throughout the essay in a more concise nature, instead of reiterating that your contention has been proven repetitively throughout history. Talk not then of the power of knowledge; speak instead of he who utilizes it to its full effect.
Nice conclusive statement. This is much better than your initial essay. Your essay is complicated without being convoluted, and your language is more controlled. Kudos to you! 
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