That is the paradox of the epidemic: that in order to create one contagious movement, you often have to create many small movements first.
~ Malcolm Gladwell in THE TIPPING POINT
The acquirement of spiritual wisdom does not necessarily prevent us from making worldly mistakes; but because it develops the qualities that will prevent them, and because it takes to heart the lessons of experience, humbly and receptively, it does reduce the frequency of those mistakes.