Беды мучат, уму учат

The ordeals that you go through make you understand how to avoid them. See В нужде и кулик соловьем свищет (B), Горе заставит - бык соловьем запоет (Г), Натерпишься горя - научишься жить (H), От нужды волк лисой запел (O)

Var.: Беда мучит, да беда и выучит. Что мучит, то и учит

Cf: Adversity is a good discipline (a good teacher, a great schoolmaster) (Br.). Adversity makes men wise (Am., Br.). After crosses and losses, men grow humbler and wiser (Am.). Misfortunes make us wise (Am.). There is no education like adversity (Am.). The things which hurt, instruct (Am.). Trouble brings experience, and experience brings wisdom (Br.). The wind in a man's face makes him wise (Br.)