Home › Proverbs

Bought wit is best.

Meaning: Wisdom gained through costly mistakes or hard experience proves more valuable than inherited knowledge or easy lessons.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Wisdom

  • Bought wit makes folk wise. — Hard-earned experience from mistakes and losses teaches more lasting lessons than theoret…
  • Care not," would have. — Indifference invites poverty; those who neglect their affairs lose what they might have g…
  • Like carrying coals to Newcastle. — Supplying something to a place already abundant in it wastes effort and resources foolish…
  • Catch that catch may. — Seize opportunities opportunistically without moral judgment about methods or fairness of…
  • Look to the main chance. — Prioritize opportunities that offer genuine benefit over distractions or minor advantages.
  • Hasty climbers have sudden falls. — Rushing toward goals without careful planning or preparation invites disaster and setback.

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…