Herbert Spencer once said, “The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools,” and he was absolutely right. Learning from past mistakes is one of the best ways to make future improvements. We should not minimize mistakes merely because they reflect badly on us if only because each mistake has the potential to correct someone from making the same mistake later on or contributing to finding a new method of doing something. In science, should it never have been pointed out that the world was not flat? In that era, people mistakenly believed that it was, but by educating and proving that this was untrue, society as a whole is wiser. Not only that, but continued scientific breakthroughs have occurred as a result of updated, factual information. Imagine what kind of theories would be in place if no one ever thought to correct this mistake! Even on an individual level, behavior that shows you to be a fool does not dictate that that is what you are. If by that mistaken act you realize what was so wrong with what you did, then you are learning and changing yourself for the better.