Senator Douglas holds, we know, that a man may rightfully be wiser today than he was yesterday - that he may rightfully | change when he finds himself wrong. But can we, for that reason, run ahead, and infer that he will make any particular change, of which he, himself, has given no intimation?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Acknowledging past errors does not guarantee future changes without explicit indication.
- In plain terms
- Just because someone admits they were wrong before doesn't mean they will change now.
- What can you take from it?
- Do not assume future action based solely on past willingness to change.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What evidence proves someone will change?
- Should past actions predict future ones?
Another view
It is sometimes reasonable to infer future behavior from past patterns.
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