This quote means that it is better to have a life where you make mistakes and learn from them, than a life where you do nothing and have no experiences or lessons learned. Making mistakes is an honorable effort as it means that you are actively engaging in activities, trying things, and learning more about the world. Doing nothing is not useful as it wastes time and leaves you with nothing to show for it. It is essential to make mistakes, reflect on them, and then use that knowledge to make better decisions in the future.