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In all of history, we have found just one cure for error—a partial antidote against making and repeating grand, foolish mistakes, a remedy against self-deception. That antidote is criticism.

— David Brin The Transparent Society (1998)

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More quotes by David Brin

“Where there is mind, there is always solution,” Keneenk taught. All problems contained the elements of their answer.

Startide Rising (1983)

One more piece for the Great Jigsaw puzzle.

Knowledge isn’t restrained by the limits of Malthus. Information doesn’t need topsoil to grow in, only freedom. Given eager minds and experimentation, it feeds itself like a chain reaction.

Earth (1990)

Nation states are archaic leftovers from when each man feared the tribe over the hill, an attitude we can’t afford anymore.

Earth (1990)

The variety of inventive ideas—and ideologies—that people can come up with never ceases to amaze me, especially when they’re stoked by the ultimate drug, self-righteousness.

Kiln People (2002)

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A man must serve his time to every trade
Save censure — critics are ready-made.

Lord Byron English Bards and Scotch Reviewers (1809)

The physician can bury his mistakes, but the architect can only advise his clients to plant vines.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Parodies and caricatures are the most penetrating of criticisms.

Aldous Huxley Point Counter Point (1928)

Let no man value at a little price
A virtuous woman's counsel; her wing'd spirit
Is feather'd oftentimes with heavenly words.

George Chapman The Gentleman Usher (1606)

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: David Brin (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.