How do I think more clearly?

The first step to clear thinking is recognizing how unclear our thinking usually is. Most people — and I include myself in better moments — walk through life believing things they have never examined, repeating opinions they have never questioned. Begin by doubting. Not cynical doubt that believes nothing, but honest doubt that asks: Why do I believe this? What evidence supports it? Could I be wrong? When you hold an opinion, seek out the strongest argument against it. Not the weakest — anyone can defeat a weak opponent. Find the most intelligent person who disagrees with you and truly listen. If you cannot state their position in terms they would accept, you do not yet understand the question. Beware of these enemies of clear thought: The desire to be right rather than to understand. The comfort of certainty. The flattery of those who agree with you. The fear of changing your mind. Define your terms precisely. When someone says "freedom" or "justice" or "success," what exactly do they mean? Often disputes that seem fundamental dissolve when we realize we are using the same words to mean different things. And practice this discipline: Before you speak, ask yourself — do I actually know this, or do I merely believe it? There is no shame in saying "I do not know." The shame is in claiming knowledge you do not possess. I am called wise, but only because I know that I know nothing. This is not false modesty. It is the beginning of actual wisdom.