Strong opinions reflect and instill confidence and also provide clear guidance about the direction that people should go. But, since those opinions are weakly held, they don’t stand as barriers to change when better information comes along. This ability to feel, express, and act on strong beliefs without clinging to them irrationally [is] a state of mind that [communicates] “Don’t dither; you can always change your mind later.”

The PEOPLE WE CONSIDER WISE have the courage to act on their beliefs and convictions at the same time they have the humility to realize they might be wrong and must be prepared to change their beliefs and actions when better information comes along.

—John Meacham, developmental psychologist, on what he calls the attitude of wisdom