Mexico, Feedback, Receiving Feedback

Never Doubt a Mother’s Word

The psychologist Rogelio Díaz-Guerrero studied beliefs he called historic-sociocultural premises. They include “Un hijo debe siempre obedecer a sus padres” (A son must always obey his parents) and “Nunca se debe dudar de la palabra de una madre” (One must never doubt a mother’s word).

In 1952, he gave a questionnaire to 473 students. According to an article in Cuadernos Fronterizos, a journal of the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez, “entre el 83 y el 92% respondió afirmativamente a tres de esas preguntas” (between 83 and 92 percent answered yes to three of those questions). The article does not say which three questions these were.

The Answer to Sister Filotea

When Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz answered the letter of “Sor Filotea de la Cruz” in 1691, she began with an apology: “No mi voluntad, mi poca salud y mi justo temor han suspendido tantos días mi respuesta” (Not my will, but my poor health and my just fear have held back my answer for so many days). She then wondered how such favor could come to a simple nun.

Later in the letter, she explained herself. “Fue tan vehemente y poderosa la inclinación a las letras” (So vehement and powerful was the inclination to letters), she wrote, and she called it “este natural impulso que Dios puso en mí” (this natural impulse that God put in me).

Javier Has to Decide

In May 2026, Diego Lainez spoke publicly after coach Javier Aguirre left him out of Mexico’s squad for the World Cup. El Universal quoted him: “Javier tiene que tomar decisiones y cuenta con muchas opciones” (Javier has to make decisions and has many options). He added: “Javier siempre ha sido muy respetuoso conmigo” (Javier has always been very respectful toward me).

Do Not Grumble

Article 11 of the Law of Discipline of the Mexican Army, Air Force and National Guard reads: “El militar se abstendrá de murmurar con motivo de las disposiciones superiores o de las obligaciones” (A soldier shall refrain from grumbling about the orders of superiors or about duties). Article 3 names the bases of military discipline: “la obediencia, y un alto concepto del honor” (obedience and a high concept of honor).

Article 14 sets a limit. It forbids a soldier to give orders whose execution would be a crime.

Obeyed and Not Complied With

Spanish colonial law gave officials a way to stop a royal order for a time. A royal declaration of 1509 says such orders “primero deben ser obedecidas y no cumplidas, y después consultadas” (must first be obeyed and not complied with, and then consulted on). The Recopilación of 1567 uses a similar formula: “que la tal carta sea obedecida y no cumplida.”

Between 1571 and 1574, the authorities of Mexico City, doctors included, applied the formula obedézcase pero no se cumpla, “let it be obeyed but not carried out,” in a dispute over medical practice. A study of the case sums it up: “obedecieron pero no cumplieron” (they obeyed but did not comply).