“Good judgment comes from experience—and that comes from bad judgment”

“Good judgment comes from experience—and that comes from bad/poor judgment” is a jocular saying that was allegedly told by Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. (1886-1945) in 1936. The saying was popularized after Buckner’s death in 1945, when it was printed in the Reader’s Digest.
 
The “good judgment comes from experience” saying has been used in finance, government and other fields. The saying is often—incorrectly—attributed to author Rita Mae Brown.
 
   
Wikipedia: Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr.
General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. (July 18, 1886 – June 18, 1945) was an American lieutenant general during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater of Operations and commanded the defenses of Alaska early in the war. After that assignment, he was promoted to command 10th Army, which conducted the amphibious assault (Operation Iceberg) on the Japanese island of Okinawa. He was killed during the closing days of the Battle of Okinawa by enemy artillery fire, making him the highest-ranking U.S. military officer to have been killed by enemy fire during World War II, and among the highest-ranking military officers to die during the war. Buckner was posthumously promoted to the rank of a full four-star general on July 19, 1954 by a Special Act of Congress (Public Law 83-508)
 
20 December 1945, Indian Journal (Eufaula, OK), pg. 13, col. 1:
Uncle Zeke’s Wisdom
The late Simon Bolivar Buckner used to tell a story of an old resident in his Kentucky home who was celebrated for his wisdom.
 
“Uncle Zeke,” a young man once asked, “how does it come you’re so wise?”
 
“Because,” said the old man, “I’ve got good judgment. Good judgment comes from experience, and experience—well, that comes from poor judgment!”
 
Google Books
The Reader’s Digest
Volume 46
1945
Pg. 66:
The Voice of Experience
IN 1936 when Simon Bolivar Buckner, now lieutenant general commanding our forces in Alaska, was attending a refresher course for colonels, a young instructor remarked that Regimental Headquarters should prepare the programs for company training, because inexperienced captains might make errors if they did their own.
 
Up rose Buckner and ended all argument by saying: “Uncle Zeke was known in my Kentucky home town for his wisdom. One day a young friend asked him, ‘Uncle Zeke, how come you’re so wise?’
 
“‘Because I’ve got good judgment,’ the old man replied. ‘Good judgment comes from experience, and experience — well, that comes from poor judgment.’”
 
16 July 1946, Tipton (IN) Tribune, pg. 6, col. 3 ad:
One day as an old man noted for his wisdom was asked why he was so wise. “Because I’ve got good judgment,” the old man replied. “Good judgment comes from experience, and experience…well, that comes from poor judgment!”
   
Google Books
Common Stocks Preferred for Profit and Investment:
With stories of wealth won and lost, and a capital wisely invested
By Willard W. Wheeler
New York, NY: Odyssey Press
1946
Pg. 55:
“Good judgment comes from experience, and experience—well, that comes from poor judgment.”
 
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Foundations for Constructive Industrial Relations
By R. Carter Nyman
New York NY: Funk & Wagnalls
1949
Pg. 31:
Someone has said that good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.
   
24 July 1950, Trenton (NJ) Evening Times, “Quotable Quotes,” pg. 12, col. 6:
“Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from poor judgment.”—Threads.
 
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23 April 1952, Ottawa Citizen, pg. 14, col. 2:
Today’s Quotation: “Good judgment comes from experience, and experience—well, that comes from poor judgment.”
—SIMON BOLIVAR BUCKNER
 
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10 November 1952, Nashua (NH) Telegraph, “Aunt Betsy says,” pg. 9, col. 1:
Shucks, good judgment comes from experience all right—but experience often comes from poor judgment!
   
Google Books
The Commodity Trader’s Almanac 2007
By Scott W. Barrie and Jeffrey A. Hirsch
Hoboken, NJ: Wiley
2007
Pg. 21:
Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment. — Rita Mae Brown
 
Google Books
The Complete Guide to Property Investing Success
By Angela Bryant
Ecademy Press
2008
Pg. 64:
“Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from poor judgment.” Will Rogers