• Facts, especially generalized facts, should not be considered true until adequately checked and verified, preferably by many people.
• STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN whenever contradictions are encountered that indicate wrong or fuzzy facts or flawed reasoning.
• Mindsets often put blinders on our thinking and obstruct problem solving.
• Accurate communication by means of the written or spoken word is not easy. We must be alert to the many ways that wrong messages are being sent or received because of improper use of language or semantic confusion.
• Rational thought processes can go astray because of wrong or fuzzy facts or premises, overgeneralization, jumping to conclusions, and illogical or circular reasoning.
• Many people or groups try to influence our opinions and actions by card-stacking facts, making emotional appeals not founded on facts, as well as using subliminal messages and other techniques described in this book.
• History teaches us to be "tolerant" of contrary opinions. There is usually some truth in an opposing viewpoint. Our task is to find points of agreement and use them constructively to solve social and political problems cooperatively.

From Clear Thinking  by Hy Ruchlis; Prometheus 1990 ISBN 0-87975-594-6