There's a big difference between trying to be true and trying to be right. You can "be" the latter while failing to be the former, and that's not good -- reality doesn't care that you won a debate if you're just objectively wrong about something.

It's tough to be humble though, because you have to admit you were wrong when what you thought was right doesn't turn out to be true. Folks who work in hard science and engineering end up taking their licks at some point even if they're really good.