'I beseech ye in the bowels of Christ, think that ye may be mistaken.' I should like to have that written over the portals of every church, every school, and every courthouse, and, may I say, of every legislative body in the United States. I should like to have every court begin, 'I beseech ye in the bowels of Christ, I think we may be mistaken.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Religious and legal institutions should openly acknowledge human fallibility. Recognizing we may be wrong fosters humility and prevents dogma.
- In plain terms
- Churches and courts should admit they might be mistaken.
- What can you take from it?
- Institutional humility reduces harm from rigid dogma.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Where do you need to admit you could be wrong?
- How does certainty harm public discourse?
Another view
Excessive humility might undermine necessary confidence in authority.
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