Although I don't agree with most of his economic theories, there is a quote from John Maynard Keynes that I think is a classic. He was assailed by one of his peer for changing his opinion on some issue of the day, and he replied, "When the facts change, I change my opinion. What do you do, sir?"
I have long noted that most people fall into two camps, the curious and the opinionated. The curious have opinions, but they are willing to challenge them, and to change them if the facts and circumstances warrant. The opinionated are not willing to change, but will fight and argue, terminate friendships and family ties even, rather than admit, to themselves or others, that they are mistaken on any opinion they hold. I strive diligently to remain curious.
Yes, that's the one comment I like from Keynes as well. :)
Being able to change one's mind is, to me, an essential skill for living honestly. We've all been wrong a hundred times; whatever locks us into our mistakes is anti-human and anti-life.
I was amused by your last sentence and thought of commenting on it but decided not to. Now I find I want to after all. You wrote "So, get it the habit of admitting your ignorance and any legitimate errors; it will make further course-correction easier for you." When I read that, I wanted to ask, "So should we keep covering up our illegitimate errors?"
Actually, I added "legitimate" because many people self-accuse to a fault. And so the line could have been "admit actual errors, but don't accept unearned guilt."
Although I don't agree with most of his economic theories, there is a quote from John Maynard Keynes that I think is a classic. He was assailed by one of his peer for changing his opinion on some issue of the day, and he replied, "When the facts change, I change my opinion. What do you do, sir?"
I have long noted that most people fall into two camps, the curious and the opinionated. The curious have opinions, but they are willing to challenge them, and to change them if the facts and circumstances warrant. The opinionated are not willing to change, but will fight and argue, terminate friendships and family ties even, rather than admit, to themselves or others, that they are mistaken on any opinion they hold. I strive diligently to remain curious.
Hi Gordon,
Yes, that's the one comment I like from Keynes as well. :)
Being able to change one's mind is, to me, an essential skill for living honestly. We've all been wrong a hundred times; whatever locks us into our mistakes is anti-human and anti-life.
So wise!
Thanks, Tim. :)
I was amused by your last sentence and thought of commenting on it but decided not to. Now I find I want to after all. You wrote "So, get it the habit of admitting your ignorance and any legitimate errors; it will make further course-correction easier for you." When I read that, I wanted to ask, "So should we keep covering up our illegitimate errors?"
Actually, I added "legitimate" because many people self-accuse to a fault. And so the line could have been "admit actual errors, but don't accept unearned guilt."
So, many angles to cover on these things!