We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it and stop there lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove lid again and that is well but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the importance of learning from our experiences while also exercising caution. It compares the behavior of a cat that sits on a hot stove lid, which leads to pain and teaches the cat to avoid hot surfaces, to the cat's subsequent unwillingness to sit on a cold stove lid despite it being safe. The quote suggests that we should extract the wisdom from an experience and learn from it, but not let fear or caution prevent us from trying new things altogether.