Experience is the best teacher

Posted by ESC on June 29, 2003

In Reply to: Experience is the best teacher posted by ope on June 29, 2003

: hi please help me with this assignment what is the meaning of the proverb experience is the best teacher?

Most people learn more by doing something than by reading about it.

EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER - "The great Roman leader Julius Caesar recorded the earliest known version of this proverb, 'Experience is the teacher of all things,' in 'De Bello Civili' (c. 52 B.C.). Over a century later, the Roman author Pliny the Elder in 'Naturalis Historia' (A.D. 77) wrote, 'Experience is the most efficient teacher of all things,' and the Roman historian Tacitus said simply, 'Experience teaches,' in his 'Histories' (c. 209). The earliest English rendering appeared in 1539 as 'Experience is mother of prudence,' which was included in Richard Taverner's 'Proverbes or Adagies.'.the exact wording, 'Experience is the best teacher,' appeared in the 'Widow Bedott Papers' by Frances M. Whitcher." From Wise Words and Wives' Tales: The Origins, Meanings and Time-Honored Wisdom of Proverbs and Folk Sayings Olde and New by Stuart Flexner and Doris Flexner (Avon Books, New York, 1993).

Another source gives the meaning and a later date for the first English rendering: "One learns more from experience than from books. The proverb has been traced back to 'The Schoolmaster' by Roger Ascham and comes from the L*tin phrase 'experiential docent' meaning 'experience teaches.' Water Scott (1854-1900) disagrees with the proverb, saying that 'experience is the name every one gives tho their mistakes.'." From Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996).

• Experience is the worst teacher Bob 06/30/03