I acquire knowledge to appreciate the world around me, and to be able to participate in it. I think that the book Tao of Pooh clearly states that acquiring knowledge for the sake of complaining or appearing clever or appearing wise is pointless and a waist of energy, and I agree with that. Knowledge is just a tool, a skill we use, to interact with the world and our surroundings. I do not focus on knowledge as if it is some kind of ultimate, stuff of enlightenment. Just as I use my arms and feet to appreciate the ruggedness of a mountain, my eyes to appreciate its size, my nose to appreciate the fresh air, I use knowledge to appreciate the time it took for the mountain to form, the way the wind flows around and erodes the mountain’s ridges.