The best of us must sometimes eat our words.

The line uses the idiom “eat our words” to acknowledge that even capable, principled people sometimes have to retract statements, admit error, or revise firm opinions in light of new evidence. By saying “the best of us,” it frames this not as hypocrisy but as a normal feature of intellectual honesty and growth: being admirable includes the willingness to be corrected. The quote’s appeal lies in its mix of humility and realism—confidence is valuable, but so is the capacity to change one’s mind publicly and without self-destruction. It can also be read as a gentle warning against overconfidence and categorical pronouncements.