Etymology of Vision
The word vision comes from the Latin visio, meaning “sight, seeing, thing seen.” This, in turn, derives from videre, meaning “to see.” The root weid- in Proto-Indo-European (PIE) also meant “to see,” and it gave rise to various words related to sight and perception, including video, visible, and even wit (as in quick-witted, originally meaning “quick to perceive”).
Etymology of Wisdom
Wisdom comes from Old English wīsdom, a compound of wīs (“wise, knowing, learned”) and -dom (“state, condition”). The root wīs traces back to the Proto-Germanic wissaz, which is related to the PIE root weid-—the same root that gave us vision. This is because, in ancient language, knowledge and seeing were closely linked. To “see” was often metaphorical, referring to understanding.
How They Relate
Both vision and wisdom share the same deep linguistic root in weid-, meaning “to see.” This suggests that, at their core, seeing and knowing were once understood as deeply connected.
- Vision is the ability to see, whether physically or metaphorically (as in having foresight or imagination).
- Wisdom is the ability to see in a deeper sense—perceiving the truth beyond appearances, understanding patterns, and applying knowledge with discernment.
Ancient cultures often linked wisdom with sight. The blind prophet Tiresias in Greek mythology, Odin sacrificing an eye for wisdom in Norse myth, and the metaphor of enlightenment (light = knowledge) all reflect this ancient association.
Vision allows one to perceive, while wisdom allows one to interpret what is perceived.
At their root, to see is to know, but true wisdom comes from understanding what is seen.