Hidden Assumption

This quote has been hanging up in the basement of the College of Visual Arts (Western Building) for years. There will be some major construction down there over the summer, and I want to make sure I don't forget this:

Keep in mind the one assumption you should always make; namely that you and others don't understand each other. Assume that others interpret what you say differently from the way you do, and that they mean something different from what you think they mean. Until you've gone through a rigorous process of information gathering and assumption challenging, it's wise to assume that even if the words sound familiar, you’re speaking two different languages.

- Naomi Karten