looking stupid takes courage, and sometimes it’s easier to just let things slide. It is striking how many situations I am in where I start asking basic questions, feel guilty for slowing the group down, and it turns out that nobody understood what was going on to begin with (often people message me privately saying that they’re relieved I asked), but I was the only one who actually spoke up and asked about it. 

This is a habit. It’s easy to pick up. And it makes you smarter.

– Nabeel S. Qureshi

From his essay: How to Understand Things

Willing to look stupid is another method of staying humble. It’s a form of integrity too. You’re admitting to yourself – I don’t understand this yet.