This essay was written by Bertrand Russell who was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. In this essay, the writer describes how human beings make a silly error and how can we get rid of those errors. To avoid such silly errors, no superhuman genius is required. A few simple rules will have to take into considerations.

We ourselves must decide that the matter can be settled by observation. He gives a classic example that if Aristotle had counted the teeth of his own wife and only came to a conclusion, he would avoid the mistake of thinking that women had fewer teeth than men. There will be no controversy about these things if he came to a conclusion after an observation.

Many problems are not addressed by observation. When a different perspective is irritating to us, it is a sign of stupid mistakes. whenever we get upset at our own contrary thoughts, we can assume that we are making big mistakes. To indignation at contrary viewpoints means that we are overconfident of ourselves. And this overconfident behavior is indicating some silly mistakes which we are going to be encountered in the near future. 

Another fatal mistake human beings seem to create is a perception of dogmatism. One good way of getting rid of any sort of dogmatism is by making ourselves conscious of views that are different from ours in social circles. Our sense of superiority needs to be very vigilant. Men believe they are superior, women think they are superior but, we must not think ourselves to be superior and supreme. To that, we should strive to realize that mankind is a fleeting event in the life of a tiny planet inside a little universe comer, and there are many other areas in the universe comer which include beings superior to us.

Fear makes another stupid mistake. Indeed, fear is a principal cause of superstition and a significant source of violence. We are on the way to enlightenment if we get rid of it. if we can stop the aforementioned silly mistakes then, we are less likely to be encountered with any sorts of problems.