Speak and Write with Wisdom and Conviction
by Josie Etzel
One of the worst possible ways to propose to someone is by listing everything undesirable about said person’s family. However, this is exactly how Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy went about it in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. His first proposal, though zealous, was downright insulting to Elizabeth, and his blunt remarks to her left him with an equally blunt rejection. Mr. Darcy’s main issue was that while his proposal was saturated with conviction, it sorely lacked wisdom. He shamelessly spoke his mind and believed firmly in the words he spoke, but he failed to consider how his speech affected his audience. This scene is a key example of why both wisdom and conviction are equally important when speaking. Fortunately, speaking and reasoning with wisdom and conviction is a vital quality that Clapham seeks to foster throughout the entirety of a student’s education.
The Oxford English dictionary offers several definitions for wisdom, two of which are especially relevant to this aforementioned quality: first, “capacity of judging rightly in matters relating to life and conduct,” and second, “soundness of judgement in the choice of means and ends.” In the context of speaking and reasoning, this could indicate knowing when to speak, knowing how to phrase your thoughts effectively, or using your words constructively and being conscious of the weight they hold. As for conviction, the OED defines it as “a firmly held belief or opinion; the quality of showing that one is firmly convinced of what one believes or says.”
At Clapham specifically, the discipline of “speaking and writing with wisdom and conviction” is a seed planted early in each student’s mind and fostered until its roots splay out over the entire curriculum, whether during a rhetoric class or a passionate colloquium discussion.
Additionally, this virtue is equally important beyond Clapham in countless fields, from job interviews to presidential debates. The world outside Clapham, however, also offers examples of what occurs when wisdom and conviction are lacking—that is, when individuals are deprived of the common sense to defend their beliefs as well as the courage to do so effectively.
However, this raises the question of how one goes about “speaking and reasoning with wisdom and conviction.” This quality is multifaceted and carries several meanings, the first of which is the attribute of knowing how and when to speak as well as making one’s words meaningful. A synonym of wisdom is discernment, and part of speaking wisely is discerning what time is appropriate to speak and what words are the best to use. Keith Kauffman, in an article for The Aquila Report approaching speaking with wisdom through the lens of Proverbs 26, wrote: “There are times when wisdom dictates that we speak up, but there are also times when wisdom dictates that we remain silent. The role of godly wisdom is to know the difference between the two, to accurately evaluate the situation one finds themselves in and know which path is the right one.” As for the second part of that definition, Mary Sharp Emerson shed some light on the topic in some of her writing for Harvard University. She wrote in an article about workplace communication that, “communication is primarily about word choice… building and mastering effective communication skills will certainly be time well-spent.” She took the skill of speaking with wisdom and applied it in a job-oriented sense, but the idea is the same: a core part of “speaking with wisdom” is learning to speak effectively.
"There are times when wisdom dictates that we speak up, but there are also times when wisdom dictates that we remain silent."
But why is all of that important? First, Clapham emphasizes the importance of the truth of the Gospel and weaves this emphasis into every corner of the curriculum. To offer an illustration of why this quality is so instrumental, imagine a school in which students were not reared in this quality. Rather than taking time to listen carefully to what their peers have to say on a certain topic, students would rush blindly into arguments and pay no heed to what the other party might contribute. Similarly, in place of zealous, carefully crafted essays, students would produce dry, half-hearted papers feebly defending topics they have no real opinions towards. With this contrast in mind, Clapham’s emphasis on speaking and writing with wisdom and conviction becomes infinitely more meaningful. By training its students so rigorously in this field, Clapham equips them to share the Gospel in whatever corners of the world they land. This skill also lends its use to other fields beyond missions. It encourages students to think deeply about their beliefs and, in examining them closely, how to better justify them.
Practical ways that people could go about embodying this quality include thinking carefully before speaking and actively defending what they believe. Part of speaking and reasoning with wisdom is being conscious of the power words hold and as such not using them frivolously. Rather, Clapham takes great care in ensuring that students realize the importance of being intentional with the way they speak. In a similar vein, Clapham also presents students with chances to think critically about their convictions and how to approach debates with people who might not agree. And while these are skills that are learned at Clapham, they continue to appear in alumni in their years beyond the school. In a personal interview, Mr. Atchison described Clapham alumna Priscilla Logan as “articulate in her thinking, she’s thought carefully about what she believes, and she…interacts with the beliefs of others with consideration. And when she talks about those things, she does so with thoughtfulness and says what she believes.” Logan, now a substitute teacher at Clapham, is an individual who encapsulates the quality of speaking and reasoning with wisdom and conviction both while she attended the school and long after she graduated. She illustrates the importance of this quality in ordinary life. Too often we may write off the importance of wise speaking as a necessity reserved for the powerful or influential, but Logan’s exemplary display of this quality in her everyday life proves how vital this quality is for simply living well.
However, one could argue that this quality is not important; in other words, that wisdom and conviction are not as necessary to speaking and reasoning as they are often believed to be. For example, in American politics, many otherwise successful leaders use their words more for the acquisition of power rather than the communication of ideals. Is this quality truly vital to a healthy rhetorical life? The use of rhetorically underhanded methods (e.g. manipulation, dishonesty, etc.) sometimes appears to be the only means to achieve an end—and even if there are other means available, often cutting rhetorical corners is a more effective way to get a point across. However, especially in the environment of Clapham, true, ethical speaking and reasoning remain crucially important skills. While manipulation or dishonesty may seem to work in the short term, the long-term effects of such tactics will deal equal damage to the speaker and their audience. In light of this, Clapham has made great efforts to equip its students to speak and write with integrity and grace—or, as the quality was phrased in Clapham’s Portrait of a Graduate, speak and write with wisdom and conviction. Despite counterarguments, the answer to the question of this quality’s vitality is a resounding yes. As previously stated, wisdom and conviction go hand-in-hand when speaking. One must have the wisdom to know what to say and the conviction, or courage, to be able to actually say it. Additionally, wisdom goes beyond simply knowing what to say; it also extends to knowing how to say it effectively and kindly.
In conclusion, being able to speak and reason with wisdom and conviction is a vital skill regardless of whatever path one’s life takes. Clapham, in placing such an emphasis on it, is preparing its students to create a positive impact on the world they live in through the limitless ways possible. This quality is timeless and cannot be outgrown or obsolesced. By creating a body of students who can effectively articulate the truth of what they believe in, Clapham is forming a dazzling contrast to a world otherwise dimmed.
“Josie Etzel is a junior at Clapham School. She loves theatre, theology, and literature as well as engaging in thoughtful discussions with her classmates. In her free time, she enjoys painting, writing stories, and spending time with her friends.”