"It is not from ourselves that we learn to be better than we are"

This quote by Wendell Berry speaks to the idea that we can learn from others to progress versions of ourselves. It recommends that we need to not rely exclusively on our own knowledge and experiences to improve, but rather look to those around us for assistance and motivation. We can gain from the successes and failures of others, and use their knowledge to help us become better people. It likewise implies that we ought to be open to positive criticism and feedback from those around us, as it can help us to determine locations of enhancement and grow. Ultimately, this quote motivates us to be simple and acknowledge that we can gain from others in order to become better than we are.