Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say, "You're wrong.”

If you can’t be sure of being right even 55% of the time, why should you tell other people they are wrong?

You can tell people they are wrong by a look or an intonation or a gesture just as eloquently as you can in words - and if you tell them they are wrong, do you make them want to agree with you? Never!

For you have struck a direct blow at their intelligence, judgment, pride and self-respect. That will make them want to strike back. But it will never make them want to change their minds.

You may then hurl at them all the logic of a Plato or an Immanuel Kant, but you will not alter their opinions, for you have hurt their feelings. Never begin by announcing "I am going to prove so-and-so to you.” That’s bad.

That’s tantamount to saying: “I’m smarter than you are, I’m going to tell you a thing or two and make you change your mind.” It's just you vs his ego. You can't beat a person's ego.

Galileo- “You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself.”

Socrates – “One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing.”

If a person makes a statement that you think is wrong - yes, even that you know is wrong - isn’t it better to begin by saying: “Well, now, look, I thought otherwise, but I may be wrong. I frequently am. And if I am wrong, I want to be put right.

Let’s examine the facts. There’s magic, positive magic, in such phrases as:

"I may be wrong. I frequently am. Let’s examine the facts.”

Nobody in the heavens above or on earth beneath or in the waters under the earth will ever object to your saying: "I may be wrong. Let’s examine the facts.”

You will never get into trouble by admitting that you may be wrong. That will stop all argument and inspire your opponent to be just as fair and open and broad-minded as you are. It will make him want to admit that he, too, may be wrong.

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