A lot of people tell you that if you don’t ask questions, you won’t learn anything. But those are often the same people who are terribly offended when I say something that is just flat wrong.

I have gotten a lot of good information by being wrong. The reason I am able to take strong stands in public is because I have been embarrassed many, many times by finding out I was wrong about something. Now when I go out in public I have to worry a lot less about being made a fool of precisely because I have already been made a fool of a lot.

I got the stupid stuff out and got it corrected.

Research is like military drill. No matter how much you drill, it doesn’t make you ready for combat. You have to SAY things and hear how they sound in public. You have to SAY things and see what others have to say about it.

When I was young, my statements came in three categories:
1) right;
2) wrong and
3) opinion, ie, taste

And you know something. All these decades my statements still come in three categories:

1) right;
2) wrong; and
3) opinion, ie, taste

If you are want for infallibility, this is wrong place. I’m in South Carolina. You’re looking for Rome.

I made a mistake in one point on the Masons. I said I was “invited” to join. No one is “invited” to join. They say we never invite anyone to join but you would be welcome to apply.

This I translated as an invitation, but then, I believe the choice of words is very important to a Mason.