--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writers who have delved into human…" description: "\"Writers who have delved into human nature, ancient masters of strategy, historians of human stupidity and folly, kings and queens who have learned the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/robert-greene-498_fools_writers-who-have-delved-into-human-natur_2159415.png" --- # Writers who have delved into human nature, ancient masters… ![“Writers who have delved into human nature, ancient masters of strategy, historians of human stupidity and folly, kings and queens who have learned the hard way how to handle the burden of power, there knowledge is gathering dust, waiting for you to come and stand on their shoulders. Their wit can…” quote by Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/robert-greene-498_fools_writers-who-have-delved-into-human-natur_2159415.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/robert-greene-498_fools_writers-who-have-delved-into-human-natur_2159415.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/robert-greene-498_fools_writers-who-have-delved-into-human-natur_2159415.png) > “Writers who have delved into human nature, ancient masters of strategy, historians of human stupidity and folly, kings and queens who have learned the hard way how to handle the burden of power, there knowledge is gathering dust, waiting for you to come and stand on their shoulders. Their wit can be your wit, their skill can be your skill, and they will never come around to tell people how unoriginal you really are. You can slog through life, make endless mistakes, wasting time and energy trying to do things from your own experience. Or you can use the armies of the past. As Bismarck once said, 'Fools say that they learn by experience. I prefer to profit by others' experience.'” [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) ## 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 past masters lets you avoid mistakes and accelerate growth, using their wisdom as a shortcut. **In simple terms:** Use history’s lessons to shortcut personal development. Key Takeaway Study past masters to fast‑track your success. Themes power history learning efficiency Mood strategic reflective pragmatic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - leadership training - entrepreneurship Key Concepts strategic borrowing wisdom acquisition mentorless growth Questions to Reflect On - Which historical figure’s tactics could you apply today? - How do you ensure you add your own twist? A Different Perspective Relying on others’ ideas may stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Human stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-stupidity/) [Learn By Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-by-experience/) [Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skill/) [Time and energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-energy/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Fools say that they learn by experience. I prefer to profit by others experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/fools-say-that-they-learn-by-experience-i-prefer-to-profit-by-others/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [We do not learn by experience, but by our capacity for experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/we-do-not-learn-by-experience-but-by-our-capacity-for-experience/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [I was thinking that we all learn by experience, but some of us have to go to summer school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-de-vries/i-was-thinking-that-we-all-learn-by-experience-but-some-of-us-have-to/) [Peter De Vries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-de-vries/) > [We all learn by experience, and your lesson this time is that you should never lose sight of the alternative. Sherlock Holmes speaking with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/we-all-learn-by-experience-and-your-lesson-this-time-is-that-you/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Whatever it is you want to do, take a job in that field. You will learn by experience and, slow and steady, you'll get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/whatever-it-is-you-want-to-do-take-a-job-in-that-field-you-will-learn/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [there are some people who never learn; indeed, few people learn by experience, so far as I have ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/there-are-some-people-who-never-learn-indeed-few-people-learn-by/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [None of us feels the true love of God till we realize how wicked we are. But you can't teach people that - they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/none-of-us-feels-the-true-love-of-god-till-we-realize-how-wicked-we/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I wasn't a very good student. I prefer to learn by experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/i-wasn-t-a-very-good-student-i-prefer-to-learn-by-experience/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [We all learn by experience but some of us have to go to summer school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-de-vries/we-all-learn-by-experience-but-some-of-us-have-to-go-to-summer-school/) [Peter De Vries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-de-vries/) > [Humans hardly ever learn from the experience of others. They learn - when they do, which isn't often - on their own, the hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/humans-hardly-ever-learn-from-the-experience-of-others-they-learn/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“one of the few things I’ve learned is that humans hardly ever learn from the experience of others. They learn—when they do, which isn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/one-of-the-few-things-i-ve-learned-is-that-humans-hardly-ever-learn/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [We must learn by experience to avoid either trains of thought or social situations which for us (not necessarily for everyone) lead to temptations.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/we-must-learn-by-experience-to-avoid-either-trains-of-thought-or/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [And not only did he learn by experience, but instincts long dead became alive again. The domesticated generations fell from him. In vague ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/and-not-only-did-he-learn-by-experience-but-instincts-long-dead/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [ “Adults, in their dealing with children, are insane," he \[Ed Ricketts\] said. "And children know it too. Adults lay down rules they would not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/adults-in-their-dealing-with-children-are-insane-he-ed-ricketts-said/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Normality is the ability to learn by experience, to be flexible, and to adapt to a changing environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-s-kubie/normality-is-the-ability-to-learn-by-experience-to-be-flexible-and-to/) Lawrence S. Kubie ## More by Robert Greene > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I'm afraid I'm just too intense to have soft ideas, you know, about what to read when you're trying to pass the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-m-afraid-i-m-just-too-intense-to-have-soft-ideas-you-know-about/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [You are facing death and danger and competition, but at any moment, you can decide to have a fearless mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/you-are-facing-death-and-danger-and-competition-but-at-any-moment-you/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Let me spell it out: with the psychotic boss, nothing you do is ever quite right. They set traps, asking you to do things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/let-me-spell-it-out-with-the-psychotic-boss-nothing-you-do-is-ever/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Evil or manipulative people don't need a book, they just do it anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/evil-or-manipulative-people-don-t-need-a-book-they-just-do-it-anyway/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Everybody knows what they were kind of drawn towards or what they're gifted at and it's more of courage and looking at yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/everybody-knows-what-they-were-kind-of-drawn-towards-or-what-they-re/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Remember: your bosses prefer to keep you in dependent positions. It is in their interest that you do not become self-reliant, and so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/remember-your-bosses-prefer-to-keep-you-in-dependent-positions-it-is/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I want to be able to write, that's my first love and I don't want to deviate from it even though I probably could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-want-to-be-able-to-write-that-s-my-first-love-and-i-don-t-want-to/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [It's sometimes hard to talk about politics and art. Obviously, I have my core beliefs, but I think art is best when it's troublesome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/it-s-sometimes-hard-to-talk-about-politics-and-art-obviously-i-have/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [If you change and adapt your persona, you are seen as inauthentic; if you stay the angry young man, you fade from attention or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/if-you-change-and-adapt-your-persona-you-are-seen-as-inauthentic-if/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Your energy, your spirit are important considerations. Feeling petty and frustrated can have reverberating consequences for your ability to think strategically and reach your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/your-energy-your-spirit-are-important-considerations-feeling-petty/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Fear creates its own self-fulfilling dynamic- as people give into it, they lose energy and momentum. Their lack of confidence translates into inaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/fear-creates-its-own-self-fulfilling-dynamic-as-people-give-into-it/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [What I like about the internet, what I see there is that its much more democratic. I have much more control, and if what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/what-i-like-about-the-internet-what-i-see-there-is-that-its-much-more/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“It is hard for us to imagine now, but our earliest human ancestors who ventured out onto the grasslands of East Africa some six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/it-is-hard-for-us-to-imagine-now-but-our-earliest-human-ancestors-who/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“Let us call this quality the Original Mind. This mind looked at the world more directly—not through words and received ideas. It was flexible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/let-us-call-this-quality-the-original-mind-this-mind-looked-at-the/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) [Explore all 511 Robert Greene quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) ## More Fools quotes > [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/) [William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/) > [Every man must wear out at least one pair of fools shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-derr-biggers/every-man-must-wear-out-at-least-one-pair-of-fools-shoes/) [Earl Derr Biggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-derr-biggers/) > [Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than to excel among fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prefer-to-be-defeated-in-the-presence-of-the-wise-than-to-excel-among/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The majority is never right. Never, I tell you! That's one of these lies in society that no free and intelligent man can help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/the-majority-is-never-right-never-i-tell-you-that-s-one-of-these-lies/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [“What would have been the fate of sages if there were no fools?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogwo-david-emenike/what-would-have-been-the-fate-of-sages-if-there-were-no-fools/) [Ogwo David Emenike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogwo-david-emenike/) > [“Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverbs-16-22-bible-kjv/understanding-is-a-wellspring-of-life-unto-him-that-hath-it-but-the/) Proverbs 16:22 Bible KJV > [“stultorum infnitus est numerus (the number of fools is infinite)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ecclesiastes/stultorum-infnitus-est-numerus-the-number-of-fools-is-infinite/) [Ecclesiastes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ecclesiastes/) > [Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/fools-learn-from-experience-i-prefer-to-learn-from-the-experience-of/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [The wise are wise only because they love. The fool are fools only because they think they can understand love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-wise-are-wise-only-because-they-love-the-fool-are-fools-only/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The magi, as you know, were wise men — wonderfully wise men — who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-magi-as-you-know-were-wise-men-wonderfully-wise-men-who-brought/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“that's what i mean about cats. they're always trying to make fools of us humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/that-s-what-i-mean-about-cats-they-re-always-trying-to-make-fools-of/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“I wish one half the world were not fools, and the other half idiots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-fern/i-wish-one-half-the-world-were-not-fools-and-the-other-half-idiots/) [Fanny Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-fern/) > [“What name do you use then, for two people who help each other?” “Why are they helping each other?” “Simply to be kind, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-manning/what-name-do-you-use-then-for-two-people-who-help-each-other-why-are/) [Michael G. Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-manning/) > [“The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars and the selfish hide in high places. (p 57)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-world-is-not-fair-and-often-fools-cowards-liars-and-the-selfish/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Today is April Fools Day. Believe nothing, and trust no one...So it's like any other day. Right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/today-is-april-fools-day-believe-nothing-and-trust-no-one-so-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,204 Fools quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writers who have delved into human nature, ancient masters of strategy, historians of human stupidity and folly, kings and queens who have learned the hard way how to handle the burden of power, there knowledge is gathering dust, waiting for you to come and stand on their shoulders. Their wit can be your wit, their skill can be your skill, and they will never come around to tell people how unoriginal you really are. You can slog through life, make endless mistakes, wasting time and energy trying to do things from your own experience. Or you can use the armies of the past. As Bismarck once said, 'Fools say that they learn by experience. 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