In the real world, the smartest people are those who make mistakes and learn. It’s a powerful reframe of what intelligence really means. Let’s break down why this hits so hard.
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Meaning
Kiyosaki is drawing a stark line between two different definitions of “smart.” One is about perfect test scores, the other is about real-world results and resilience.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out for years. The school system, for all its good intentions, often penalizes experimentation. A wrong answer on a test is a failure. It’s a mark against you. But out here? In business, in life, in relationships? The opposite is true. The most successful people I know have a massive collection of scars from trying things that didn’t work. The key isn’t avoiding the mistake—it’s the speed and depth of the learning that follows. That’s the real asset. School rewards the right answer. Life rewards the right process, and that process is messy and full of course corrections.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Education (260) |
| Topics | experience (26), failure (52), learning (190) |
| Literary Style | contrasting (12), witty (99) |
| Emotion / Mood | humble (74), provocative (175) |
| Overall Quote Score | 83 (302) |
Origin & Factcheck
This comes straight from Robert Kiyosaki’s 2015 book, Why the Rich Are Getting Richer. It’s a core theme in his financial education philosophy. You sometimes see similar sentiments misattributed to other business thinkers, but this phrasing is definitively his.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Robert T Kiyosaki (98) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Why the Rich Are Getting Richer (52) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Born in Hilo, Hawaii, Robert T. Kiyosaki graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and served as a Marine Corps helicopter gunship pilot in Vietnam. After stints at Xerox and entrepreneurial ventures, he turned to financial education, co-authoring Rich Dad Poor Dad in 1997 and launching the Rich Dad brand. He invests in real estate and commodities and hosts the Rich Dad Radio Show. The Robert T. Kiyosaki book list spans personal finance classics like Cashflow Quadrant and Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing, along with educational games and seminars.
| Official Website | Facebook | X| Instagram | YouTube
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | In the real world, the smartest people are those who make mistakes and learn. In school, the smartest people don’t make mistakes |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2017, ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781612680811, Last edition: 1st Edition, Number of pages: 256 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 2, Lessons Beyond School, page 35 |