Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everybody gets busy on the proof.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- People prefer proving they are right over admitting they need to change their minds.
- In plain terms
- Most people would rather defend their views than change them.
- What can you take from it?
- Expect resistance when challenging established beliefs.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why is changing your mind hard?
- When should you prove vs reconsider?
Another view
Sometimes defending a position is reasonable if new evidence is weak.
More from John Kenneth Galbraith
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