(f) ANOTHER ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF A PROPER ATTITUDE OF MIND IS CAUTION.—Always realize the possibility of error both in another and in yourself. Be on your guard against intentional or unintentional deception. As Bacon said, "Read not to contradict and to confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider."[[3]] The author you are reading may have made a mistake, or may be trying to mislead you. "When we think of the difficulty of finding the way, when we are most desirous to go right, how easy to mislead those whom we wish to go wrong!" Be, therefore, always suspicious of your author, and subject all his statements to the test of your own intelligence.[[4]]
(g) STUDY WITH AN OPEN MIND, AND WITH NO PRECONCEIVED IDEAS.—Cultivate the scientific attitude of mind, which means, first to formulate clearly a problem, then to get together all the pertinent facts, and then to draw the logical conclusions. Be ready to accept gladly any logical conclusion from the facts, even if unpalatable. Truth is, or should be, the sole object of study.[[5]]
(h) BE MODEST INTELLECTUALLY, YET SELF-RELIANT. TRAIN YOURSELF TO LOVE CORRECTION.—Remember these sayings from wise men:
"Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge;
But he that hateth reproof is brutish."
—Proverbs.
"Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth correction;
But he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured."
—Proverbs.
"The beginning of wisdom is the knowledge of one's faults."
—Epicurus.
"He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck
Shall suddenly be broken, and that without remedy."
—Proverbs.
"Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee;
Reprove a wise man and he will love thee."
—Proverbs.
"Be not wise in thine own eyes."—Proverbs.