Explore English traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-10-12
Meaning: Verified- Meaning and lesson
Experience can teach valuable lessons, but those lessons often come at a cost through mistakes, disappointment, or difficulty.
People may understand advice in theory, yet they are especially likely to gain lasting judgment after facing the consequences for themselves.
- When it is used
Use it when someone has learned an important lesson through a costly or painful event, rather than merely from warnings or instruction.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: Experience is a dear school, but it is the only one we are apt to learn in.