"GUMPTION"

We have known
        some
pretty smart people
      in plain old
"book learning..."

Some even "exceptional"
      we might say
because
     if you apply yourself
you can absorb 
     knowledge...big time

But wait...

My economics professor
    (friend of many years, 
          as it turned out...)
used to say:
     "It doesn't matter 
    how much you know 
         if you don't 
      have GUMPTION."

and then he continued
   "And the sad thing is---
     it can't be taught."

He never really defined it 
    to us, to my satisfaction
but now after many years of
    life experiences,
here's what I think it means:

      "Common sense."
----------
Definitions:

"Perception...shrewd or spirited 
    initiative; resourcefulness

"Ability to decide what is best 
to do in certain situations"
***************
BY MIL
19 January 2018