--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lessons learned are like bridges burned…" description: "\"Lessons learned are like bridges burned you only need to cross them but once. Is the knowledge gained worth the price of the pain, are the spoils worth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/dan-fogelberg-6850_bridges_lessons-learned-are-like-bridges-burned_481758.png" --- # Lessons learned are like bridges burned you only need to… ![“Lessons learned are like bridges burned you only need to cross them but once. Is the knowledge gained worth the price of the pain, are the spoils worth the cost of the hunt?” quote by Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/dan-fogelberg-6850_bridges_lessons-learned-are-like-bridges-burned_481758.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/dan-fogelberg-6850_bridges_lessons-learned-are-like-bridges-burned_481758.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/dan-fogelberg-6850_bridges_lessons-learned-are-like-bridges-burned_481758.png) > “Lessons learned are like bridges burned you only need to cross them but once. Is the knowledge gained worth the price of the pain, are the spoils worth the cost of the hunt?” [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning from painful experiences is costly but may yield valuable insight; weigh loss against gain. **In simple terms:** Painful lessons may be worth the cost. Key Takeaway Assess whether the knowledge gained justifies the suffering. Themes growth risk wisdom Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - career setbacks - personal loss - relationship endings - skill acquisition Key Concepts pain learning cost‑benefit analysis Questions to Reflect On - What lessons have you paid a high price for? - Can you avoid similar pain in the future? A Different Perspective Some lessons cannot be unlearned; risk of repeating mistakes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Knowledge gained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-gained/) [Lesson learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesson-learned/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Lessons learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons-learned/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) ## Related quotes > [I'm grateful for every scar, some pages turned, some bridges burned, but there were lessons learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/i-m-grateful-for-every-scar-some-pages-turned-some-bridges-burned-but/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [Some pages turned, some bridges burned, but there were lessons learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-pages-turned-some-bridges-burned-but-there-were-lessons-learned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I call these lessons ‘learned on the fly’ because the knowledge gained from the experiences connected with them were very much akin to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-delaware/i-call-these-lessons-learned-on-the-fly-because-the-knowledge-gained/) [Michael Delaware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-delaware/) > [We didn't do anything wrong, but among the lessons learned, given the magnitude of the problems we now face in Afghanistan, a major U.S.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/we-didn-t-do-anything-wrong-but-among-the-lessons-learned-given-the/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-haig/) > [Take and chance and don't ever look back. Never have regrets, just lessons learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/take-and-chance-and-don-t-ever-look-back-never-have-regrets-just/) [Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/) > [From a business perspective, the question related to cities and sustainability is clear and compelling: can you have a healthy company in an unhealthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-makower/from-a-business-perspective-the-question-related-to-cities-and/) Joel Makower > [“It is not so much about what life hands you, but what you do with what you get.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idowu-koyenikan/it-is-not-so-much-about-what-life-hands-you-but-what-you-do-with-what/) [Idowu Koyenikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idowu-koyenikan/) > [The young man should first learn perspective, then the proportions of objects. Next, copy work after the hand of a good master, to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-young-man-should-first-learn-perspective-then-the-proportions-of/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Evaluate every performance on: stage presence, concentration, delivery, material and lessons learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklyn-ajaye/evaluate-every-performance-on-stage-presence-concentration-delivery/) [Franklyn Ajaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklyn-ajaye/) > [Even the most daring and accomplished people have undergone tremendous difficulty. In fact, the more successful they became, the more they attributed their success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-rose/even-the-most-daring-and-accomplished-people-have-undergone/) [Barbara Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-rose/) > [“Every woman should have a daughter to tell her stories to. Otherwise, the lessons learned are as useless as spare buttons from a discarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-white/every-woman-should-have-a-daughter-to-tell-her-stories-to-otherwise/) [Karen White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-white/) > [there should be some lessons learned and how you can use the stuff you hear today to achieve your dreams or enable the dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-should-be-some-lessons-learned-and-how-you-can-use-the-stuff/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“In the school of life, every experience offers a lesson.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/in-the-school-of-life-every-experience-offers-a-lesson/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [It was a huge deal, a huge musical discovery that became life lessons learned. You can't return from having an experience like that. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/it-was-a-huge-deal-a-huge-musical-discovery-that-became-life-lessons/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [One of the lessons learned during the Vietnam War was that the depiction of wounded soldiers, of coffins stacked higher than their living guards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dean-myers/one-of-the-lessons-learned-during-the-vietnam-war-was-that-the/) [Walter Dean Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-dean-myers/) ## More by Dan Fogelberg > [Mystery's a thing not easily captured, and once deceased, not easily exhumed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/mystery-s-a-thing-not-easily-captured-and-once-deceased-not-easily/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [Be On Your Way is one of the favorite songs I've ever written. What a terribly sad song, but what a beautiful melody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/be-on-your-way-is-one-of-the-favorite-songs-i-ve-ever-written-what-a/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [I went to college as a theater major. But after about three weeks of that, I changed to the school of fine arts as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/i-went-to-college-as-a-theater-major-but-after-about-three-weeks-of/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [Love when you can, cry when you have to, be who you must, that's a part of the plan. Await your arrival with simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/love-when-you-can-cry-when-you-have-to-be-who-you-must-that-s-a-part/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [I wanted to pay tribute to my musical influences: Buffalo Springfield, Lightfoot, the Beatles, the Hollies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/i-wanted-to-pay-tribute-to-my-musical-influences-buffalo-springfield/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [Getting the best response from people is how I base my success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/getting-the-best-response-from-people-is-how-i-base-my-success/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [My life is as an artist, not an entertainer. I don't consider myself an entertainer, but I can do that thing when I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/my-life-is-as-an-artist-not-an-entertainer-i-don-t-consider-myself-an/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [I had gone full-on folkie; I'd had it with bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/i-had-gone-full-on-folkie-i-d-had-it-with-bands/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [People who listen to my records expect the ballads from me. The rock 'n roll is on there because it's another mode of expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/people-who-listen-to-my-records-expect-the-ballads-from-me-the-rock-n/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [I love the subtlety and tonal range of the acoustic guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/i-love-the-subtlety-and-tonal-range-of-the-acoustic-guitar/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [You've got to just follow your heart and do your best work. For better or worse, I have followed my heart. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/you-ve-got-to-just-follow-your-heart-and-do-your-best-work-for-better/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man, I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/my-life-has-been-a-poor-attempt-to-imitate-the-man-i-m-just-a-living/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [It's only an interim trip. I love the music, but it's really giving me a way in which I can comfortably explore my art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/it-s-only-an-interim-trip-i-love-the-music-but-it-s-really-giving-me/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [My dad was vehemently opposed to electric guitars. He did not look on that kind of music as legitimate in any way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/my-dad-was-vehemently-opposed-to-electric-guitars-he-did-not-look-on/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [I kinda threw the spotlight away from me for a little while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/i-kinda-threw-the-spotlight-away-from-me-for-a-little-while/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) [Explore all 97 Dan Fogelberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) ## More Bridges quotes > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [In my rear view mirror the sun is going down sinking behind bridges in the road and I think of all the good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/in-my-rear-view-mirror-the-sun-is-going-down-sinking-behind-bridges/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [My first big mistake was made when, in a moment of weakness, I consented to learn the game; for a man who can frankly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/my-first-big-mistake-was-made-when-in-a-moment-of-weakness-i/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you walk, try to think nothing! You can then obtain the silence of a streetlight or a bridge; stop thinking; after that, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-you-walk-try-to-think-nothing-you-can-then-obtain-the-silence-of/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [By the time they were pulling into the parking lot of the A&P, the mood was fading, the moment gone. Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [Al Pacino and Jeff Bridges do it for me in a big way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-scanlon/al-pacino-and-jeff-bridges-do-it-for-me-in-a-big-way/) [Angela Scanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-scanlon/) > [Instead of building castles against your enemies, build bridges for them to come to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/instead-of-building-castles-against-your-enemies-build-bridges-for/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Instead of finding himself in nerd heaven—where every nerd gets fifty-eight virgins to role-play with—he woke up in Robert Wood Johnson with two broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/instead-of-finding-himself-in-nerd-heaven-where-every-nerd-gets-fifty/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Each person is an island unto himself, in a very real sense; and he can only build bridges to other islands if he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/each-person-is-an-island-unto-himself-in-a-very-real-sense-and-he-can/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [The real test of a bridge player isn’t in keeping out of trouble, but in escaping once he’s in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-sheinwold/the-real-test-of-a-bridge-player-isn-t-in-keeping-out-of-trouble-but/) [Alfred Sheinwold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-sheinwold/) > [The law ... allows rich as well as poor to sleep under bridges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/the-law-allows-rich-as-well-as-poor-to-sleep-under-bridges/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [Guys like Todd Bridges never overcame being a child star. You can't have any big failures. I've always felt regular. I played organized ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bow-wow/guys-like-todd-bridges-never-overcame-being-a-child-star-you-can-t/) [Bow Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bow-wow/) [Browse all 1,521 Bridges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Lessons learned are like bridges burned you only need to cross them but once. 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