This reflection explores the author's relationship with the philosophical work of Jan Patočka, specifically focusing on his post-war writings and texts from the 1980s. The author acknowledges that Patočka's influence on his own intellectual development during his early studies was significantly more profound than he had realized or admitted for many decades. The text describes a unique methodological approach to other thinkers, characterized by critical vigilance rather than docility. Instead of passive learning, the author actively seeks out flaws and weaknesses in others' arguments as a means of self-defense and to strengthen his own philosophical positions. When encountering ideas that cannot be easily refuted, he opts for selective adaptation and creative appropriation, reworking these concepts within his own framework. This process allows him to integrate valuable insights without surrendering his autonomy to any intellectual authority. The reflection provides an insightful look into the methodology of critical reading and the formation of an independent philosophical stance through a polemical dialogue with a major mentor.