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About this quote

What does it mean?
The carefree mistakes of the wealthy teach lessons that the hard work of others cannot achieve.
In plain terms
The rich learn from mistakes while poor people struggle to learn through hard work.
What can you take from it?
Privilege allows learning through failure that others cannot afford.

Where it applies

  • social critique
  • education
  • class analysis

Putting it to work

  • studying class differences
  • analyzing satirical social commentary

Questions to consider

  • Does failure teach better than success?
  • How does privilege shape learning?

Another view

It assumes negligence is a valid teacher for all.

More from Matthew Prior

  1. And often took leave, but was loth to depart.

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  2. Till their own dreams at length decive 'em, And oft repeating, they believe 'em.

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  3. Cured yesterday of my disease, I died last night of my physician.

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