Politics, Art, Religion : Page 274

No matter how much of a specialist or authority one may be on a question, one may not in conversation use a positive or dogmatic tone. No matter how positively right a specialist knows himself to be, his tone must suggest being open to argument, and being willing to revise, in the light of the opposing comments, if not his ideas, at least his method or evidence. If in his heart, he feels, not anger or disgust at man's stupidity and wrongheadedness, but sorrow for mankind's tragic condition of being able to see things only as "through a glass darkly," and therefore of being wrong much of the time, he will more easily retain a considerate manner. If you keep reminding yourself that being human, you no doubt are often wrong, too, you can be sympathetic without condescension. Such a considerate attitude will beget the like in others. It will make them wish they could agree with you.