The best plan is to profit by the folly of others.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Learn from the mistakes others make so you do not have to make them yourself.
- In plain terms
- Use other people's mistakes to help you make better choices.
- What can you take from it?
- Observe errors in others to avoid them yourself.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Whose mistakes did you learn from?
- How do you avoid repeating errors?
Another view
You might not learn from others if you lack empathy or attention.
More from Pliny the Elder
When a building is about to fall down, all the mice desert it.
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