Listening to others, especially those with whom we disagree, tests our own ideas and beliefs. It forces us to recognize, with humility, that we don't have a monopoly on the truth.
Janet Yellen
New York University Commencement 2014, 2014
Video starts at 8:43 — the moment this quote was spoken
The Story Behind This Quote
Yellen identified careful listening as her second essential tool for intellectual growth. She acknowledged that technology gives us unprecedented access to diverse perspectives, but also enables us to filter our information environment down to only the voices we find agreeable. As the head of the Federal Reserve — an institution where decisions are made through deliberation among governors with very different economic philosophies — Yellen spoke from deep personal experience. The willingness to genuinely engage with opposing viewpoints wasn't just a nice ideal for her; it was a daily professional practice that shaped monetary policy affecting billions of lives.