[September 2, 2026] If people are not listening to you, then stop talking to them. As far as advice goes on making you a better person, that is one to take to heart. If you stop talking to them, and start watching and listening to them, they will tell you what they’re up to. But if you have something to say, then say what you think, carefully.
If people are listening, talk to them. Pull back from those who do not listen, because if you don’t then you are devaluing what you have to say by offering to an audience that does nothing but reject it. That’s a good guideline to life itself in general. Don’t underestimate the power of truth.
There’s nothing more powerful than the truth. Now, in order to speak what you might regard as the truth, you have to let go of the outcome. You have to think, “All right, I’m going to say what I think, I’m going to say what I think, stupid as I am, biased as I am, ignorant as I am, I’m going to say what I think. I’m going to state what I think as clearly as I can and I’m going to live with the consequences, no matter what they are.”
The reason you think that is because it’s an element of faith; the idea is that nothing brings a better world into being than the stated truth. There might be a price to pay for that, but that’s fine. You’re going to pay a price for everything you do and everything you don’t do. You don’t get to choose to not pay a price, you get to choose which poison you’re going to take. That’s it.
So, if you’re going to stand up for something, stand up for the truth. Doing so will shape you because people will respond and object to tell you why you’re a fool, and a biased moron, and why you’re ignorant. And then, if you listen to them, you’ll be just that much less like that the next time you say something. If you do that for five years, you’ll be so tough and articulate and able to communicate and withstand pressure, that you won’t even recognize yourself. Then, you’ll be a force to contend with.
It’s not safe to speak. And it never will be. But the other thing you’ve got to keep in mind is that it’s even less safe not to speak. It’s a balance of risks. Do you want to pay a price for being who you are, and stating your mode of being in the world, or do you want to pay the price for being a surf; one that’s enslaved yourself? That’s a major price that unfolds over decades and you’ll be a miserable worm at the end of about 20 years: no self-respect, no power, no ability to voice your opinions, nothing left but resentment because everyone’s against you.
Say what you think, carefully. Pay attention to your words. The price is a price you want to pay, if you;re willing to believe that truth is the cornerstone of society and in the most real sense, if you’re willing to take that leap, then tell the truth and see what happens. Nothing better could possibly happen to you. There’ll be ups and downs, and pushbacks, and it’ll be controversial. But it doesn’t matter. The truth is what redeems the world from hell and that’s the truth, and we’ve seen hell over the last hundred years.
Wake up. Tell the truth. Or, at least don’t lie. If that’s a start and you’ve got to understand that’s a risk.
NOTE: Much of this article was taken from several lectures by Prof. Jordan Peterson.
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“There is only one duty, only one safe course, and that is to try to be right and not to fear to do or say what you believe to be right.” – Winston Churchill ….
This article by Gen. Satterfield is a reminder that we should stop talking to people who have already decided not to listen. Watching and listening first tells us far more than arguing ever will. When someone is actually paying attention, that is the time to speak our thoughts with care. Telling the truth means letting go of the outcome and saying what we believe even if we are biased or do not know everything. The pushback we receive will make us tougher and more precise if we keep listening and improving. It is never completely safe to speak, yet staying silent for years leaves a person full of quiet resentment and no self-respect. Every path in life has a price, so it is wiser to pay the price that comes with honesty. Paying close attention to our own words treats truth as the foundation it really is. History has already shown what happens when people stop telling the truth. The simple starting point is to stop lying. Then we can work up the courage to say what we really think.
Nailed it, Winston. 👀
Hi Everyone (again):
I am impressed by these ideas from Dr. Jordan Peterson and the way that Gen. Satterfield lays them out for us. Maybe Gen. S could update his book “55 Rules for a Good Life” and publish it based on a series of these. I know that he put together a few more “rules” but it’s been a while. Please, sir, put out more “rules” for us to read and make comment on. Love it all.