Marcus Aurelius on Reverence and Rhetorology

"Accustom yourself not to be disregarding of what someone else has to say: as far as possible enter into the mind of the speaker."

(Describing his adoptive father): "[He was] constant and fair in his friendships; tolerant of frank opposition to his views, and delighted to be shown a better way; god-fearing, but not superstitious."


That last line is key:

1. Believing in Someone transcendent, so your ears don't get clogged with the idea that you're the best thing on the planet; remembering that your fallibility requires you to listen even to the lowliest of human beings and by listening, learn.

2. At the same time not buying into strains of superstitious belief—keeping in mind the fallibility of all humans, all books, all thoughts.