Here's a breakdown:
* Learn wisdom: This refers to acquiring knowledge and understanding, especially about how to live a good and successful life.
* Follies of others: This refers to the mistakes, blunders, and foolish actions made by other people.
* By: This signifies the method of acquiring wisdom - by observing and analyzing.
Essentially, the proverb suggests that we can learn valuable lessons about life, both positive and negative, by paying attention to the experiences of others. By observing their mistakes, we can avoid repeating those same errors in our own lives.
Examples:
* Watching a friend get into a car accident after driving under the influence might make you think twice about ever doing the same.
* Witnessing someone lose their job due to poor communication skills might prompt you to improve your own communication skills.
The proverb encourages a thoughtful and analytical approach to observing the world around us. We can learn a lot by paying attention to the mistakes and successes of those around us, and use that knowledge to make better decisions in our own lives.