ProverbChallenge
Dutch origin
Dutch originDoor schade en schande wordt men wijs
Meaning: People learn from their losses and embarrassments.
Literally: Through loss and shame one grows wise
Example: “Na die mislukte investering is hij voorzichtiger geworden. Door schade en schande wordt men wijs.” — After that failed investment he's become more careful: you live and learn.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 2 more languages
English: Adversity makes a man wise, not rich.
French: Vent au visage rend un homme sage (literally: Wind in the face makes a man wise)
Spanish: De los escarmentados nacen los avisados (literally: From those who have learned the hard way come the wary)
Japanese: 艱難汝を玉にす (Kannan nanji o tama ni su) (literally: Hardship polishes you into a jewel)
German: Durch Schaden wird man klug (literally: Through harm one becomes wise)
Russian: За битого двух небитых дают (Za bitogo dvukh nebitykh dayut) (literally: For one who's been beaten, you'd get two who haven't)
Chinese: 吃一堑，长一智 (Chī yí qiàn, zhǎng yí zhì) (literally: Fall into a ditch, gain in wit)
Origin: Schade en schande, loss and shame, are a classic Dutch alliterating pair.
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