2017-10-06 A quote by Otto von Bismarck. In Japan, it is often translated as “fools learn from experience and wise men learn from history. This expression seems to suggest that “Learning from Experience” is a bad thing and that one should read history books. However, when we check the original text, the nuance is a little different.
original
Nur ein Idiot glaubt, aus den eigenen Erfahrungen zu lernen. Ich ziehe es vor, aus den Erfahrungen anderer zu lernen, um von vorneherein eigene Fehler zu vermeiden. Google Translate Only an idiot believes to learn from their own experiences. I prefer to learn from the experience of others in order to avoid mistakes of my own. I believe that only fools learn from their own experience. I prefer to learn from others experiences to avoid my own mistakes.
Therefore, the “learning from history” referred to here is “Learning from others’ experiences. Learning from history books may be included in “learning from others’ experiences,” but seeing the mistakes others made yesterday and being careful not to make the same mistakes yourself is also included in “learning from others’ experiences. The term “history” narrows the field of vision more than necessary.
Only a fool thinks he can learn from his own experience. I prefer to learn from other people’s experiences. That way I can avoid my own mistakes from the start.”
relevance - Other People’s Perspectives - Learn from those with little knowledge. - Usefulness of the classics
Fools learn from experience, the wise learn from [history Notation shaking: Wise men learn from history, fools from experience.
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