[November 23, 2020] And so it began. My best childhood friend, Wilson, and I would fight over the most trivial matter. Often, we couldn’t even remember what the fight was about. One fistfight, the one I do remember, was when Wilson said I had no good sense. I wouldn’t say I liked the insult, so I slugged him in the ear.
“Good health and good sense are two of life’s greatest blessings.” – Publilius Syrus, a Latin writer
Perhaps Wilson was wrong after all. True enough, I didn’t have much good sense as a kid growing up in a small town. Cotton farming was what made the town livable. Town population, under 500. We were fortunate to have the railroad running through the center, and that’s where my dad worked.
The economic mainstay and cotton accounted for our town also had two car dealers, a clothing store, a medical doctor, and three bars. Nearby towns of similar size had none of these luxuries. Most of my friends grew up there, got married, had kids, and retired there. Me? I left.
Having a good sense means someone can make practical decisions about what to do. For clarity, there is a distinction between good sense and intelligence.1 Good sense provides us with practical knowledge derived from experience. Intelligence, the ability to learn and remember, gives the ability to apply that practical knowledge.
However, intelligence does not necessarily guarantee that the person has good sense as well. This is why there is a saying that “common sense is not so common.” 2
What makes common sense so important is that it is composed of both good sense and intelligence. Thus, the difference between the two and a reason so many incorrectly use the concepts interchangeably.
Leaders must have both good sense and intelligence to be effective. Thomas Paine, an American patriot and revolutionary, wrote a pamphlet titled Common Sense, advocating for independence from Britain. It was one of the most incendiary and popular writings in U.S. history. In the pamphlet, Paine discusses good sense and intelligence. I recommend reading it.
—————–
- https://www.theleadermaker.com/leadership-and-intelligence/
- As readers of my leadership blog know, I’m no philosopher. That is why I’m limiting this article to good sense. For a more in-depth understanding, I will write about “common sense” in the future. Common sense was written about by Aristotle and many of the greatest minds in history. https://grandinmedia.ca/aristotles-commonsense-philosophy/
Gen. Satterfield, I appreciate the distinction betw/ common sense and good sense. Maybe I’m too loose with words but most people really don’t care because they are in no hurry to be understood. They just want to get home and sleep or watch tv. They are the sheople that need to get a real life where they can be productive. At least most of them are not involved in crime but being passive simply will not work. Having good sense means action!
Remember that it takes more than good sense to succeed. Gen. Satterfield makes note of it but I want to highlight it more. Intelligence and hard work – measure by consciensousness (sp?) – means more than one might imagine.
Very good article on the basics. This needed to be written. For without such ideas, we cannot be good leaders. I’ve too seen leaders who lack the basic good sense that god gave them. What a shame they only now hurt themselves and those who work for them.
“Good Sense”, good article, great reading. Thank you, Gen. Satterfield for your work to help us all be better people and fantastic leaders.
Makes too much good sense to me. I see, Gen. Satterfield, that you and I had a similar growing up experience. Small town, good friends, protected from the outside world (maybe too much), and a great family to be with. These are the things that most of our kids no longer have to help build their character. What is really missing is a good foundation in religion, where people are respected and understand we all need a little help sometimes.
As usual, good point Max. I think there is too much emphasis today on allowing the government to help you and not enough on the family.
… and the family is considered quaint, old-fashioned, and thus no longer necessary. We at the govt will take are of you ….
Excellent point about the family. Today, why do you need to get married? The leftists say that it is an institution of slavery (weird but that is what they believe and say). They say that because govt can’t take over when families are strong. Just look at how blacks in America have become overly dependent upon govt and how their family structures have been gutted.
“Of all things, good sense is the most fairly distributed: everyone thinks he is so well supplied with it that even those who are the hardest to satisfy in every other respect never desire more of it than they already have.”
― René Descartes, Discourse on Method
“You may not have a hell of a lot of good sense but you do have to use the hell out of the little that you do have.”
― George E. Miller
Thank you Emma. These are some really good quotes on ‘good sense.’
Tanks! Dennis!
Good stories about the town you grew up in. Makes for a more interesting article. Maybe it was good for you to have grown up there and to have had so many odd jobs. That experience made you who you are!
Right. 😊😊😊😊
Gen. Satterfield, yes, please do write about common sense as well. Too many today don’t have it. Why? Ha, I’m no philosopher nor am I a psychologists but I do know a little about people and most of us are intellectually lazy. That explains it in part, yes, in part only.
Excellent article to start off my week. I like opening my iPad and reading this blog each morning when I wake up. My dog comes over to lay down at my feet, my coffee pot automatically spits out a great cup of hot coffee, and I relax sitting in my recliner. What a life. Then, off to work. See you guys later today.
He He He… yep, thanks Tom, good time at work today. Most of us are under a new pandemic lockdown which might just be the wannabe dictators of leftist politicians worldwide.
“Leaders must have both good sense and intelligence to be effective. ” – Gen Satterfield
But they must also be motivated. So says Gen Satterfield and he is absolutely correct.
Yep, it all matters and matters a great deal. Sadly, this is NOT what we are teaching our children and young adults. They are being taught ideologies of Karl Marx and Mao Zedong. All in the name of ‘compassion’ for others. Remember the signs at our National Parks about not feeding the animals? The reason is that they will forget how to feed themselves. How ironic that the same govt feeds the poor their whole lives.
This article makes too much good sense to me! I know, I’m certainly not original with that comment but I couldn’t resist it. Ha Ha. Seriously, I do appreciate the distinction made between good sense and common sense. Good for clarity but the problem is that nearly everyone else uses the terms interchangeably and that is that.
You are right Randy G. And, I don’t think this is going to change because verbal sloppiness is ENCOURAGED (as Gen. Satterfield would write).
Yes, good point Randy and well said. I think that the reason we have sloppiness in language is so that we all can get what we want. We simply interpret things the way we like. For example antifa (a domestic terror organization) is about fighting fascism but they are themselves fascists. Go figure.
So very true but sad at the same time. 👍
Yep, I agree.
Wonder what would happen if leaders were truly responsible.
Our military veterans know what to do.
Our police and other first responders know what to do.
Why don’t our politicains know what to do?
Just when you thought things are going to hell in a handbasket, up comes Gen. Satterfield with a spot-on blog post about the realities of being a leader. Good Sense is about what it takes to perform as a leader – given a proper set of core values, motivation, and good luck.