worldly wisdom

Of Emily, who died in 1848 at the age of 30 after publishing her sole novel “Wuthering Heights,” Charlotte wrote, “In Emily’s nature the extremes of vigour and simplicity seemed to meet. Under an unsophisticated culture, inartificial tastes, and an unpretending outside, lay a secret power and fire that might have informed the brain and kindled the veins of a hero; but she had no worldly wisdom; her powers were unadapted to the practical business of life … .”

Her sister Charlotte wrote that Emily, who knew French and German, played Beethoven on the piano, studied in Brussels and, well, wrote “Wuthering Heights,” was a “homebred country girl” with “no worldly wisdom.”

Arguably the finest early Northern Renaissance painting in Los Angeles, the panel shows burbling baby Jesus with a mixed expression — part little old man, signifying worldly wisdom, and part playful infant, toying with the lock on a book that will someday tell a story of Christian salvation.

At just 29 years old, the composer speaks from a worldly wisdom that belies his age, pondering the encroaching fears and looming responsibilities of adulthood and growing up.

“Your parents, my dear, have no more worldly wisdom than a pair of babies.”