Living and LearningI made it a rule to forbear all direct contradictions to the sentiments of others, and all positive assertion of my own I even forbade myself the use of every word or expression in the language that imported a fixed opinion, such as ``certainly'', '`undoubtedly'', etc I adopted instead of them ``I conceive'', '`I apprehend'', or '`I imagine'' a thing to be so or so; or ``so it appears to me at present'' When another asserted something that I thought an error, I denied myself the pleasure of contradicting him abruptly, and of showing him immediately some absurdity in his proposition In answering I began by observing that in certain cases or circumstances his opinion would be right but in the present case there appeared or semed to me some difference, etc I soon found the advantage of this change in my manner; the conversations I engaged in went on more pleasantly The modest way in which I proposed my opinions procured them a readier reception and less contradiction I had less mortification when I was found to be in the wrong, and I more easily prevailed with others to give up their mistakes and join with me when I happened to be in the right
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