Advice of Imam Shafi'e

There are four types of people in this world who enter a conversation/discussion:

1. One who knows not, and himself knows he knows not, is a student. Teach that person.

2. One who knows, and others know he knows, is a teacher. Learn from that person.

3. One who knows, and himself knows not that he knows is humble. Encourage him.

4. One who knows not, and himself knows not that he knows not, is stupid. Avoid that person.*

In any dialogue keep this in mind, and you shall be guided to productive discourses.

[* refers to a person who himself thinks he knows, but does not know that he does not know. This is usually due to arrogance mixed with ignorance.]