Wit bought is better than wit taught.亲身实践胜过教师教导。
此句还有另一种说法是Wit once bought is worth twice taught。以上两句主要意思是通过实践直接得到的知识,胜过从教师或书本间接得到的知识。bought这里也可理解为“花实践代价得到的”。这里用bought是为了和taught押韵。wit bought和wit taught更有双声叠韵的效果。
还有两句用比喻来说明实践出真知:
He knows the water the best who has waded through it.
要知河深浅,须问涉水人。
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
布丁好坏,吃了才知。
也有不用比喻,直接指出实践重要的:
Experience is the mother of wisdom.
经验为智慧之母。(或智慧来自经验)
Experience teaches.
经验给人教训。