The virtue of doubt

Doubt isn't often listed as a virtue, but I think that it's something that all translators need. Because nobody is perfect, it's important to ask yourself: "is this the right word in the right phrase in the right sentence?" Of course, if a translator plans well and has a full understanding of the document that they're working on, the answer to that question should almost always be yes. Still, I think that the doubt one needs to notice a mistake and the patience one needs to figure out how to correct it are indispensable for good translation.