Public acknowledgement of error is almost entirely for show. It has no point unless you reexamine the habits of thought that produced the error, which is best done in private.
Jul 062022
Erring
Error is boundless.
Nor hope nor doubt,
Though both be groundless,
Will average out.
—Cunningham
Jun 162022
Of all discourse, only debate binds its participants, by rule and in advance, to a position that they must defend throughout. It is the formal expression of our worst tendencies.
Apr 082022
The desires to have one’s work understood, and oneself understood, are nearly opposite, and ought not to share a verb.
Mar 042022
When a man hears voices, they are never in doubt.
Dec 172021
We complain to the gods that they don’t exist.
Dec 102021
One ought to be exercised about injustice for the bad, but not inordinately.
Oct 072021
We believe only what we can afford, and our stupid or vicious beliefs usually come cheap.
Oct 012021
We are sometimes deceived that muddy waters run deep, more often that clear waters run shallow.
Sep 082021
When there are two opposed opinions, each widely held, the truth generally lies on a large ellipse with those two points as the foci.
Aug 262021
One does not defeat nonsense by refuting it.