--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once the decision has been made, close…" description: "\"Once the decision has been made, close your ear even to the best counter argument: sign of a strong character. Thus an occasional will to stupidity.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/friedrich-nietzsche-15_action_once-the-decision-has-been-made-close-yo_66058.jpg" --- # Once the decision has been made, close your ear even to… ![“Once the decision has been made, close your ear even to the best counter argument: sign of a strong character. Thus an occasional will to stupidity.” quote by Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/friedrich-nietzsche-15_action_once-the-decision-has-been-made-close-yo_66058.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/friedrich-nietzsche-15_action_once-the-decision-has-been-made-close-yo_66058.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/friedrich-nietzsche-15_action_once-the-decision-has-been-made-close-yo_66058.jpg) > “Once the decision has been made, close your ear even to the best counter argument: sign of a strong character. Thus an occasional will to stupidity.” [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. After committing to a choice, deliberately ignoring dissenting evidence is portrayed as a sign of resolve, though it can also lead to foolishness. **In simple terms:** Ignoring dissent shows resolve but risks folly. Key Takeaway Blind commitment can be both strength and folly. Themes confidence cognitive bias decision-making hubris self-deception Mood defiant cautious reflective Type aphor advice When to use this quote - making strategic decisions - political negotiations - personal relationships - business leadership Key Concepts confirmation bias overconfidence stubbornness Practical Applications - leadership training - risk assessment workshops Questions to Reflect On - When does confidence become arrogance? - How can one balance conviction with openness to critique? A Different Perspective Such willful blindness may erode critical thinking and lead to poor outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) ## Related quotes > [If we do not counter the argument that most radical nationlists use, which is, 'To protect is to be protectionist,' if we don't counter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/if-we-do-not-counter-the-argument-that-most-radical-nationlists-use/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [“The only way to efficiently battle evil is to copy enough to know how to counter each argument, yet not enough to believe all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/the-only-way-to-efficiently-battle-evil-is-to-copy-enough-to-know-how/) Will Advise > [If you really understand something, you can: 1) explain it using a clear metaphor and 2) explain the strongest counter-argument to the idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-casnocha/if-you-really-understand-something-you-can-1-explain-it-using-a-clear/) [Ben Casnocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-casnocha/) > [“When people have invested their identities into clichés, the only counter argument they have is 'being offended'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/when-people-have-invested-their-identities-into-clich-s-the-only/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [“A sign of strong character, when once the resolution has been taken, to shut the ear even to the best counter-arguments. 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