The Value of Wisdom An angel appears in a puff of smoke to a man and says to him, ""Because you have lived a good and virtuous life, I can offer you a gift: you can be the most handsome man in the world, or you can have infinite wisdom, or you can have limitless wealth."" Reflecting on his life, the man says, ""I'll take the wisdom."" ""Wisdom is yours,"" says the angel, disappearing in another puff. The smoke is barely clear before the man thinks, ""I should have taken the money.""