The Elegant Universe

"Wits beyond measure is man's greatest treasure".
This was a line I came across in maybe the 6th or 7th book of the very popular Harry Potter series. And a very beautiful one at that. A wonder truly, how simple words can be put together to mean great and powerful things.but more than the beauty of the line, is the beauty of what it truly means.

So, what does it truly mean? Moreover, how hard could be to guess? Clearly it means that to know everything is man's greatest or ultimate achievement. But is that it? I can't really say. For I haven't asked that to the guy who made it. But I sure have one heck of a guess. But before we get to it, let me tell you of something that I came across recently. Something which was to change the way I look at life for ever.

It was during the night before my science exam. I knew not a thing in it and my mother was very cross with me indeed, to say the least. And it was after a lot of persuading and scolding that my mother finally got me to open my textbook. So, I was going it, chem first, and simultaneously processing all the fresh new data that was entering my head. and as I went on, I came across something very much unexpected. In my text, I read about dilution of acids and the energy that is released during the process, about the water of crystallization, of alkali metals and how alkalies are soluble in water. You might ask what was so unexpected and amazing about all of it, but what you must understand is that I talk not of the content, but the thoughts and ideas that came to me at that instant. The instant when I asked myself this simple question, 'how do you explain these phenomena?', 'how are they related?' It was at that instant that it all came to me. I was shaken, completely, by the striking revelation. The striking similarity! Proof within our own textbooks, proof of the amazing beauty contained within our own universe, of the amazing harmony. Each of the phenomena mentioned above pointed in the same direction, they could all be explained using the same simple solution. It was a wonderful insight. An insight in to the harmony in the working of our own universe. The idea was simply beautiful! I knew not if the explanation was a correct one. But I simply knew that the universe was filled with a lot more beauty and elegance than anyone could imagine. But that was not all. The greater truth came to me only much later. During a conversation I had. A memorable one too at that. This conversation, with a friend of mine, which was over the net, provided the final clue, to the grand answer. The solution to the puzzle, the question we discussed about. As to what the line at the very beginning of this post meant. The revelation was a direct result of the words of this friend, and I am very grateful to this friend for having helped me realize this awesome truth. I am forever indebted to her for having enlightened me in this way. So thank you, if you are reading this now.
Let me share with you this grand truth. Now, we discussed that the line might have meant knowing everything was man's greatest treasure. But 'everything' is a defined and measured quantity, one. 100 out of 100, 40 out of 40 all are defined and finite quantities all equaling one. But surely, the quantity mentioned in the line is not finite. In fact it is, quite to the contrary, infinite in magnitude. So what exactly is this quantity, this treasure. If you ask me, it is simply the desire, the will to learn, to know. Desire, motivation and the curiosity and necessity of man to learn is mans greatest and most ultimate treasure. For only then does the man have something to do, to accomplish. Our quest for knowledge is our greatest treasure. It is what defines us. Like, for example, great sportsmen are on a quest to know their sport better and be able to use it in the game, physicists try to understand their universe better. They are all devoted to their quests and hence are truly greats.

So now you know the answer. The answer to as to what the thought might mean. And I too now realize that that brief moment of ecstasy, of wonder, of realization was simply of understanding. Of coming so close, almost face to face, with the beauty and elegance of the universe. And maybe even more so, to finally understand the secret and true meaning of the thought.
Thank You,
A.B.G.D.