"The need to be right is the sign of a vulgar mind"

Albert Camus recommends that the desire to always be right is a characteristic of a shallow and inferior mind. The quote suggests that people who strive to show themselves right at all times generally lack the capability to consider alternative point of views and engage in meaningful discussions. These individuals carry an inflated sense of self-importance and feel the requirement to assert their viewpoints, irrespective of their precision or validity. A genuinely open-minded person would want to explore new ideas and embrace the possibility of being wrong. Therefore, the quote intends to advise us that the requirement to be right can hinder development and intellectual development, and that humbleness is an important component for intellectual interest and self-improvement.