If you were trying to convey to another your philosophy of psychology on such issues as the problem of knowledge, the nature of good and evil, theories of child development, and the sort of life man ought to live, would your answers be preconditioned or well thought out?  What is it that keeps us from expressing our deepest thoughts and presenting our sentiments to another for critical evaluation?

Since none of us as adults wants to be on the receiving end of angry criticism, and we're all preconditioned since early childhood on how to respond to others, would a parent not be well advised to condition their children well in advance how to receive critical evaluation of their thoughts without fear of condemnation or harshness?  In other words, be patient and gentle with your children as they're learning and growing.  Never assume they're farther along than they are, and try to explain everything about the great big world around them.  Remember the adult brain doesn't fully develop until one reaches around 22 years of age.

We all need correction once in a while, but we're so turned off by it.  And it's not usually because we're unwilling to change, it's that we don't like the attitude of the one offering the criticism, so we shut it out.  Protecting ourselves from change is a great danger.  Every day in every way, like it or not, we are changing into a who and a what... different from yesterday.  We all need critical evaluation once in a while in order to grow.  I love the famous inscription at the temple of Delphi that says “Know Thyself,”  to which I always add, “Know thyself at thine own risk.” Output or input of reason plagued by anger results in nothing less than tragedy.