Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment.

The saying frames wisdom as a developmental process: “good judgment” is not innate but accumulated through experience. The twist—experience often comes from “bad judgment”—acknowledges that many lessons are purchased through error, miscalculation, or overconfidence. Rather than excusing poor choices, it normalizes them as part of becoming capable, encouraging humility and persistence. The line also implies a pragmatic ethic: evaluate decisions by what they teach and how they refine future choices. Its enduring appeal lies in its comic bluntness and its consoling message that setbacks can be converted into insight.

["Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.", "Good judgment comes from experience—and experience comes from bad judgment."]