To err is human also in so far as animals seldom or never err, or at least only the cleverest of them do so.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Humans err frequently; animals rarely do unless very clever. Error distinguishes human intelligence.
- In plain terms
- People make mistakes often; animals usually do not. Mistakes show we are human.
- What can you take from it?
- Error is a human trait.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is error necessary for progress?
- Are humans unique in error?
Another view
Animals also make mistakes in survival.
More from Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
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