The less I assume, the less I conclude. The less I conclude, the less I talk. The less I talk, the more I listen. And the more I listen, the more I learn.

But then I turn on MSNBC and read my twitter feed to witness the frightful fits of United States politics, and I begin to assume again, and to conclude again, and to talk again …

… and I go from dumb to dumb.

—

*In general*, though, I can say, with relief, that the older I get, the quieter I am.