"The mistakes of the fool are known to the world, but not to himself. The mistakes of the wise man are known to himself, but not to the world"
- Charles Caleb Colton
About this Quote
This quote by Charles Caleb Colton speaks to the concept that the errors of a fool are frequently more noticeable to the world than to the fool himself. The fool might not be aware of the mistakes they are making, however the world can see them. On the other hand, the errors of a sensible man are known to himself, however not to the world. This suggests that the smart male is more knowledgeable about their errors and is able to learn from them, while the fool might not even be aware of their errors. This quote motivates us to aim to be wise and to gain from our mistakes, instead of to remain ignorant and unaware of our mistakes. It also acts as a reminder that our errors are not constantly as concealed as we may think, which we should be mindful of our actions and words.