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About this quote

What does it mean?
Notes that rulers often become prudent only after facing a significant setback or failure.
In plain terms
The dukes acted wisely only after they were hit by a serious blow.
What can you take from it?
Learning often comes after mistakes.

Where it applies

  • recovering from failure
  • leading under pressure
  • reflecting on mistakes

Putting it to work

  • review failures
  • adapt quickly
  • learn from others

Questions to consider

  • What lesson did you learn after a failure?
  • Is hindsight always clear?

Another view

Not all people learn from failure; some repeat the same mistakes.

More from Philippe de Commines

  1. Deux grands princes qui se voudroient bien entr'aymer, ne se devroient jamais voir, mais envoyer bonnes gens et sages les uns vers les autres, et ceux la les e…

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  2. Car on ne doit point tenir pour conseil ce qui se fait apres disner.

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. Qui a le profit de la guerre, il en a l'honneur.

    Permalink to quote #4

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