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For to err in opinion, though it be not the part of wise men, is at least human.
Plutarch
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Making mistakes in judgment is a natural human trait, even if it may not reflect wisdom.

This quote by Plutarch highlights the inevitability of making errors in our opinions and judgments. While wise individuals strive to avoid mistakes, the acknowledgment that being wrong is a fundamentally human experience serves as a reminder of our fallibility and the importance of humility in our judgments.

Themes

ErrorOpinionHumanityWisdomFallibility

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about decision-making, I could use this quote to emphasize the importance of accepting human errors.

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Sometimes small incidents, rather than glorious exploits, give us the best evidence of character. So, as portrait painters are more exact in doing the face, where the character is revealed, than the rest of the body, I must be allowed to give my more particular attention to the marks of the souls of men.
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