Quoting experts isn’t the same as making an argument. Leonardo da Vinci once said:

“Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory.”

That’s not anti-expert. It’s pro-thinking.

Relying on authority can shut down conversations … especially if the other person doesn’t trust your source. But when you speak from your own understanding, people listen. Ideas land. Dialogue grows.

So before name-dropping your favorite expert, pause. Can you explain the “why” in your own words?

Make it a great day, dear reader, and use your own words.