What is the source of this quote about experience?

May 16, 2007 8:14 AM

I'm trying to find the source, as well as the correct phrasing, of a saying I've become fond of regarding experience and personal growth: "Beware the man who says he has 10 years of experience, who actually has 1 year of experience 10 times" For some reason, I seem to recall it may have been from a Japanese source, but my Google-fu has failed me thus far.
posted by mjbraun to Society & Culture (4 answers total)

I think it's attributed to Yukiso Yamamoto, however, I am almost sure that I have also read something similar in one of Brian Tracy's books as well.
posted by Ostara at 8:29 AM on May 16, 2007

I read a similar quote in a book by Anthony de Mello once. I think in his case, though it was "fifty years".
posted by mjklin at 8:52 AM on May 16, 2007

and this is probably nit-picking, but i've heard it as "has the SAME one year of experience 10 times", the word "same" being the important missing part.
posted by UnclePlayground at 10:59 AM on May 16, 2007

It was said of the US in Vietnam, frequently I think - not ten years of war, but one year, ten times over.
posted by A189Nut at 11:08 AM on May 16, 2007