From St. Augustine’s De Trinitate, written at the beginning of the 5th century, as translated by Edmund Hill…

Accordingly, dear reader, whenever you are as certain about something as I am, go forward with me; whenever you stick equally fast, stick with me; whenever you notice that you have gone wrong, come back to me; or that I have, call me back to you…

But if the person who complains that he has not understood this book has never been able to understand anyone else’s painstaking and penetrating investigations of such subjects, he should set about improving himself with serious study, instead of trying to silence me with querulous abuse.

On the other hand, if anyone reads this work and says “I understand what is being said, but it is not true”, he is at liberty to affirm his own conviction as much as he likes and refute mine if he can. If he succeeds in doing so charitably and truthfully, and also takes the trouble to let me know…, then that will be the choicest plum that can fall from these labors of mine.

What he said.