“Our main talent lies in knowing how to adapt ourselves to a variety of customs. To keep ourselves bound by the bonds of necessity to one single way of life is to be, but not to live. Souls are most beautiful when they show most variety and flexibility.” I cannot improve on this thought.
We should aim for this dexterity at all times, to see the good in differences and to learn from the people long ignored. By all means voice your best ideas, but pay close attention to how your words strike others’ ears.
The best ideas are almost never the domain of one person or school of thought. They benefit from bouncing around and being refined by open minded people eager to build on them. I would much rather be led by a questioning person expressing doubts and no pride in ownership than someone bursting with thoughts, some good, some bad, determined to do whatever he perceives as right.