Shared by Susie Tanchel, Head of School at JCDS, Boston's Jewish Community Day School. 

“R. Abba stated in the name of Samuel: For three years there was a dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, the former asserting, ‘The halachah (law) is in agreement with our views’ and the latter contending, ‘The halachah is in agreement with our views’. Then a Bat Kol, a heavenly voice came forth, announcing, ‘elu v’elu divrei Elohim chayim hen.”  These and these are the words of the living God, but the halachah is in agreement with the rulings of Beth Hillel’. Wait. Since both are the words of the living God, what was it that entitled Beit Hillel to have the halachah fixed in agreement with their rulings? Because they were kindly and modest, they studied their own rulings and those of Beth Shammai and were even so [humble] as to mention the actions of Beth Shammai before their own…”