Bought wit makes folk wise.

The proverb presents good judgment as something people may gain by paying a personal price. A mistake or setback can leave a stronger lesson than advice that carried no immediate consequences.

Its emphasis is on learning through experience, not on buying intelligence with money. It can recognize someone’s new insight while also acknowledging that the lesson came dearly.

Use it when someone has become more discerning after facing the consequences of a choice, or when explaining why a difficult experience may teach more forcefully than a warning. It may carry a wry note if the lesson was costly.