Confucius — By three methods we may learn wisdom: by reflection, by imitation, and by experience.
By three methods we may learn wisdom: by reflection, by imitation, and by experience.Confucius
Attributed to Confucius
Three doors into the same room: think it through, watch how others do it, or simply try and see. Reflection is noblest, imitation easiest, experience the hardest and most lasting.
Learning English uses all three at once — reflect on a thought, imitate a native phrase, then risk using it yourself. The third door teaches deepest, so do not skip it.
Words that widen the world
Serious thought or consideration.
Synonyms: contemplation, thought, meditation
Reflection turns experience into wisdom.
The act of copying or modeling on something.
Synonyms: copying, mimicry, modeling
We learn accent partly by imitation.
Common questions
It names three ways to gain wisdom — reflecting deeply, imitating good examples, and learning through direct experience.
It is popularly attributed to Confucius; the exact source is uncertain, so we mark it as attributed.
Carry it with you
In your own words, what does this thought mean to you? Write three or four sentences in English about a moment when it felt true — saying it yourself is how it stays with you.
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