Thomas Jefferson in a letter to his grandson:
When I hear another express an opinion which is not mine, I say to myself, he has a right to his opinion, as I to mine. Why should I question it. His error does me no injury, and shall I become a Don Quixote, to bring all men by force of argument to one opinion? Be a listener only, keep within yourself, and endeavor to establish with yourself the habit of silence, especially in politics.
Oh, Lord. If only I could learn this.
DBW – funny – I don’t think Jefferson himself learned this!! I mean, sure, he was silent – but more in the terms of being stealthy and SNEAKY!!!
Also remember his comment about John Adams’ opinions. He called them “political heresies”. Heresies? you mean there’s a CORRECT opinion and anything else is HERESY??? Okay, TJ, whatever you say!
You’re right–Jefferson’s advice was more of a do-as-I-say rather than a do-as-I-do situation. For myself, while I can be stealthy and sneaky at times, in politics I tend to bludgeon with a full frontal assault of data, history, and passionate opinion. It stuns them, but rarely convinces. My wife says they probably drive home yelling to their spouse, “My God, who was that guy!” Actually, I have calmed down a lot in my older years, but I still have a long way to go.