Expect To Change Your Opinions

April 7th, 2026

There are two things that must be rooted out in human beings — arrogant opinion and mistrust. Arrogant opinion expects that there is nothing further needed, and mistrust assumes that under the torrent of circumstance there can be no happiness.

- Epictetus in Discourses, 3.14.8

With time and experience, we begin to understand the arrogance of our opinions. Time puts our opinions to the true test. The test of time reveals the absolute truth.

I enjoyed this message from our author.

Honor what you do not know, and then set that against the knowledge you actually have.

Rant

Social media and its consumption do not grant us wisdom. The algorithms create echo chambers in our feeds. True wisdom arises from questioning and humility, not from the "certainty, mistrust, and arrogance" that dominate our online interactions.

Conclusion

Philosophy encourages us to challenge our understanding. Question our references and our logic. Stay humble and be willing to change our opinions.