I could tell a long story, but the gist of it is this...
CEO gets a speeding ticket, gets to work, yells at VP.
VP yells at secretary. Secretary yells at receptionist.
Receptionist gets home and yells at son, sends him to bed without dinner.
Son sees cat on the way to bed, kicks cat.
Probably would have been better if CEO went to receptionists house and kicked cat himself... but...
the point is, maybe someone had been kicking his cat all day long?
Sometimes we have to change people's perspective... and no, it's not your job to do that, he should have been professional
If I'm in similar circumstances I say something like "I'm sorry, I must have written it down wrong, I am new at this (depending on the circumstance, you might be able to say the dreaded 'Student Pilot'), would you please repeat the instructions". In his mind, all blame is shifted to me, and it usually diffuses the situation, but if someone were to listen to the recording they'd know where the fault truly rests.
Personally, I'd rather have the right information, and work together, than have an accident because I tried to land on 25L instead of 25R and then file a lawsuit from the hospital, or worse, have my wife file a lawsuit.