By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest.
I’d like to imagine that it’s the blurb he put on the back of his own book: “I’ve done the reflection (noble!); buy now and you can get the benefit—it’s easy! -- or you can go stumbling off without the benefit of my wisdom like a sucker.”
- K’ung Fu-tzu
The ‘imitation’ part is appropriately meta for a quote page.
I’d like to imagine that it’s the blurb he put on the back of his own book: “I’ve done the reflection (noble!); buy now and you can get the benefit—it’s easy! -- or you can go stumbling off without the benefit of my wisdom like a sucker.”