If you have the guts to keep making mistakes, your wisdom and

The words “If you have the guts to keep making mistakes, your wisdom and intelligence leap forward with huge momentum,” were spoken by Holly Near, a singer, activist, and poet whose voice has long carried messages of courage, growth, and compassion. Beneath the simplicity of her phrase lies an ancient truth—the truth that wisdom is not born from perfection, but from persistence; not from avoiding failure, but from facing it with an unbroken spirit. Near’s words remind us that those who dare to err boldly are the ones who discover the deepest truths of life, for every mistake is not a defeat but a teacher in disguise.

To have the guts—that is, the bravery—to make mistakes is no small thing. The timid mind fears error as if it were ruin, but the courageous soul welcomes it as a forge for growth. Each failure, painful though it may be, burns away illusion and strengthens resolve. This is the rhythm of learning, the heartbeat of all progress. The world’s greatest minds did not rise by walking a path free of missteps—they rose because they stumbled and rose again. To learn is to err; to grow is to endure. And those who understand this truth become unstoppable in both wisdom and achievement.

Consider the tale of Thomas Edison, the inventor who brought light into the homes of humanity. He was once told that he had failed a thousand times in his experiments to create the incandescent bulb. But Edison, with calm defiance, replied, “I have not failed a thousand times; I have simply found a thousand ways that do not work.” His intelligence leaped forward because he had the courage to let his mistakes teach him, rather than silence him. What others saw as failure, he saw as progress. His story is the embodiment of Near’s wisdom: that momentum is not lost in falling, but in refusing to rise.

From the dawn of civilization, the ancients have taught that error is the cradle of enlightenment. The philosopher Aristotle said that the roots of knowledge are bitter, but its fruit is sweet. Every wrong step refines the mind, humbles the heart, and purifies the will. Without the trial of error, there can be no mastery. The sculptor chips away at marble, destroying what was, until beauty emerges; so too must the seeker of wisdom carve through failure to reveal truth. The pain of mistake is the price of transformation, and those who pay it willingly are rewarded with clarity beyond measure.

Yet, the quote speaks not only of wisdom but of momentum—that mysterious force that propels one forward after each fall. For when one refuses to be defeated, each mistake becomes a step, each disappointment a push toward greater understanding. It is not failure that slows the soul, but fear—the fear of imperfection, the fear of being judged. Thus, Near’s words are a call to fearlessness. She urges us to keep moving, to act boldly even when uncertain, for the one who acts learns, while the one who hesitates remains forever ignorant.

In this way, her teaching becomes not merely advice, but a philosophy of living. To “have the guts to keep making mistakes” is to live with humility and curiosity, to see the world not as a test to pass but as a mystery to explore. It is to trade comfort for growth, pride for understanding. When one embraces imperfection as part of the journey, the heart grows patient, the mind grows sharp, and the spirit becomes resilient. This is how intelligence matures into wisdom—through experience, not avoidance.

Let this be the lesson, then, to all who seek greatness: Do not fear your mistakes—welcome them. Every misstep is a lesson written by life itself. The wise do not hide from their errors; they study them, learn from them, and rise stronger. Take heart when you fail, for failure is the crucible in which your potential is refined. Work, fall, reflect, and rise again—this is the rhythm of all who achieve anything of worth.

And when discouragement comes, remember Holly Near’s voice—gentle, but unyielding. She reminds you that the courage to err is the courage to grow. So go forth, and let your wisdom and intelligence leap forward through your persistence. Let your mistakes become your teachers, your struggles your mentors, and your perseverance your crown. For the soul that dares to stumble without giving up does not merely move forward—it ascends.