He is telling you we all get smart(er) by living thru our mistakes, you have choices and can pick any of several things (x, y, or z....a, b, or c, etc, ad infinitum)- remember? more than one way to skin a cat...more than one way to leave a lover...more than one way to poison yourself. Not everyone reacts the same to the same plant, so it is always a toss up to what you gonna get.
