"Commonsense is the realised sense of proportion"

Commonsense emerges as the practical wisdom applied to everyday situations, the intuitive faculty that allows individuals to judge correctly what is appropriate and reasonable. When Gandhi says that commonsense is the "realised sense of proportion", he suggests that commonsense is not simply an inborn instinct or a spontaneous reaction, but rather a cultivated awareness of balance. It is the ability to weigh circumstances, priorities, and implications, making judgments that are harmonious with context and reality.

Sense of proportion refers to the capacity to recognize appropriate relationships between things: the significance of one thing in relation to another, the magnitude of an issue in a given setting, or the relative value and urgency of competing interests. To "realise" this sense means making it active and conscious, not allowing impulses, prejudices, or undue emphasis to distort one's judgment. In practice, commonsense is demonstrated by people who can see what truly matters, avoid exaggeration, and act without being carried away by extremes.

Gandhi’s insight is especially important in times of uncertainty, when emotions or social pressures might tempt people to overreact or lose track of what is genuinely important. Those guided by commonsense are able to maintain this equilibrium; they distinguish between trivial matters and critical ones and respond proportionately. Such practical wisdom is not rigid intellectualism or technical knowledge, but the lived ability to keep things in perspective.

When facing moral decisions, conflicts, or daily challenges, a realised sense of proportion guards against both hyperbole and complacency. Commonsense rooted in proportionality enables one to recognize the limits of one’s knowledge, the scope of one’s influence, and the realistic consequences of actions. Ultimately, Gandhi’s reflection invites us to cultivate an alert, measured approach to life: not responding automatically, but pausing to assess the real weight of each circumstance, and acting with judicious moderation.