They call it 'common knowledge' because most people know it. But is it really that common? Sometimes, the simplest facts or tricks are the ones that take us years to figure out. This gallery showcases examples of 'common' knowledge that people often learn the hard way, making us wonder why it took so long. Explore these surprising revelations, and don’t forget to share the bits of everyday wisdom that you discovered later than you'd like to admit!
1
"Every action made in anger ends in sorrow." An attorney, when I was 24 -u/yours121110
2
Hard work isn’t always the answer. When I worked a minimum wage job, I would work hard and not take breaks, so a great job, and always finish early. I just then got told to pick up the slack for the employees who spent their time goofing off. Never got a promotion, raise, or even a “Hey, good job” -u/Disco-Onion
3
Just because I hold an opinion on something doesn't mean that I need to share it. I spent WAY too much of my early adulthood inserting my viewpoint into discussions that I wasn't really a part of. -u/xjuggernaughtx
4
Always get it in writing. -u/GKnives
5
Simply asking "how are you" once in a while is all it takes to not fall apart from old friends. -u/a_burdie_from_hell
6
People can break your trust quickly, even when you thought you knew them well. -u/blankslate_fullplate
7
That when people ask to borrow money, especially if it's a friend or family, just expect to never see it again. -u/Different-Chest-5716
8
Going too long without sleep can impair your ability to drive the same way as drinking too much alcohol. -u/SuvenPan
9
Your oral health is just as important as your general health. -u/SuvenPan
10
That you can actually say no to your parents. -u/EmperorZurg14
11
Sometimes regardless of how good a person you are, how hard you try, and how sincere you feel. There are people who will mistreat and take advantage of you. And more importantly, them doing that usually isn’t your fault. It’s more often a product of who they are and wasn’t as personal or important of a choice for them as it will feel for you. -u/BookOf_Eli
12
Percentages are reversible. So 8% of 25 is the same thing as 25% of 8 and sometimes the reverse is easier to calculate. -u/CheekyOnion64
13
Always eat before shopping at Costco. -u/mtl_jim
14
Bit late to this but a university lecturer once said "Practice doesn't make perfect, it makes permanent." Make sure you're learning the right way to do things as much as you can, because otherwise, those bad habits will take longer to change. -u/SourTarte
15
Just because they're older than you, doesn't make them more mature. Would've saved me from an entire marriage. -u/Ok_Chocolate3253
16
There are no rules to doing chores. You can make it more fun if you want to. For no reason, I forgot that I could watch a tv show while I fold laundry and I didn’t have to just sit there and do it. -u/whippedcreamcheese
17
That gargling saltwater works way better than cough drops for colds and sore throats. -u/Nimbous
18
Time goes by fast. -u/CoolPotatoTomato
19
You can actually download the entirety of Wikipedia. -u/SuvenPan
20
There are no vineyards at Martha's Vineyard. -u/OoLaLana
21
Tell the police nothing. Tell the paramedic everything. -u/Accurate_Leg_2447
22
That you need to regularly check and top up the fluids in your car. I bought my first car at 16, a cheap old beater, and knew nothing about cars other than gas makes it go. Found out the hard way that it had other required fluids that I had neither checked nor filled. Broke down on the highway and messed up my engine. -u/ZanzibarLove
23
Don't make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings. -u/Yoschnitzel
24
When tying your shoes, the direction of the loop before you knot matters. Most of my life my laces were constantly getting loose throughout the day until well into adulthood. -u/UnitedCitizen
25
Being well-educated in one area doesn't mean that a person can't be a total idiot in other areas. -u/Red-belliedOrator
