Rules of Life, The, 4th Edition

RULE 34

Learn to ask questions

Look, you may not like the answers but if you ask questions then at least you’ll know. Most of the world’s problems can be laid firmly at the feet of assumptions. If we assume (no, I’m not going to do that dreadful ‘It makes an ass out of u and me’ stuff^*) then, in effect, we think we know but we don’t. We assume that our bit of faulty information is a fact and things go on getting worse. We assume that other people like our plan but they don’t and it all goes pear-shaped. Better to ask questions right from the start and know what’s what.

Questions help clarify the situation. Questions put people on the spot, which means they have to think – and thinking is always a good thing for everybody about everything. Questions ...