"Practical wisdom is only to be learned in the school of experience. Precepts and instruction are useful so far as they go, but, without the discipline of real life, they remain of the nature of theory only"
- Samuel Smiles
About this Quote
This quote by Samuel Smiles recommends that experience is the very best instructor. While guideline and advice can be helpful, they are only theoretical till they are put into practice. In other words, understanding gained from books and lectures is inadequate to get true knowledge. To really understand something, one must experience it firsthand. This quote encourages us to take dangers and learn from our mistakes. It also advises us that understanding gained from experience is more valuable than knowledge got from books. Ultimately, this quote motivates us to do something about it and gain from our experiences in order to acquire practical wisdom.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"
"Raising children is an incredibly hard and risky business in which no cumulative wisdom is gained: each generation repeats the mistakes the previous one made"
