Argument Quotes

Arguments are to be avoided: they are always vulgar and often convincing.

Those whose cause is just will never lack good arguments.

The partisan when he is engaged in a dispute, cares nothing about the rights of the question, but is anxious only to convince his hearers of his own assertions.

If Natur has gifted a man with powers of argeyment, a man has a right to make the best of 'em, and has not a right to stand on false delicacy, and deny that he is so gifted; for that is a turning of his back on Natur, a flouting of her, a slighting of her precious caskets, and a proving of one's self to be a swine that isn't worth her scattering pearls before.

Our whole educational system, from the elementary schools to the universities, is increasingly turning out people who have never heard enough conflicting arguments to develop the skills and discipline required to produce a coherent analysis, based on logic and evidence. The implications of having so many people so incapable of confronting opposing arguments with anything besides ad hominem responses reach far.

There is nothing like instances to grow hair on a bald-headed argument.

Those who are right do not argue. Those who argue are not right.

The important thing isn't the soundness or otherwise of the argument, but for it to make you think.

Part of the reason that our politics seems so tough right now and facts and science and argument does not seem to be winning the day all the time is because we're hardwired not to always think clearly when we're scared. And the country's scared.

When an objection cannot be made formidable, there is some policy in trying to make it frightful; and to substitute the yell and the war-whoop, in the place of reason, argument and good order.

When I hear another express an opinion which is not mine, I say to myself, he has a right to his opinion, as I to mine. Why should I question it? His error does me no injury, and shall I become a Don Quixote, to bring all men by force of argument to one opinion? ...Be a listener only, keep within yourself, and endeavor to establish with yourself the habit of silence, especially in politics.

You can not have an argument with a fully conscious person.

Arguing is a game that two can play at. But it is a strange game in that neither opponent ever wins.

Weakness on both sides is, as we know, the motto of all quarrels.

The object of Parliament is to substitute argument for fisticuffs.

I've come loaded with statistics, for I've noticed that a man can't prove anything without statistics. No man can.

not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of . . . but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independent stand we are compelled to take.

Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause.

If you can't answer a man's arguments, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names.

Before receiving your instruction, I must tell you what happened to me one day. I had just had a closet built at the end of my garden. I heard a mole arguing with a cockchafer; 'Here's a fine structure,' said the mole, 'it must have been a very powerful mole who did this work.' 'You're joking,' said the cockchafer; 'it's a cockchafer full of genius who is the architect of this building.' From that moment I resolved never to argue.

Always be willing to look at both sides of the argument. Understanding the other side is the best way to strengthen your own.

Don't wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.

More words ain't good for anything in the world only to bring on more argument.

Those who, in debate, appeal to their qualifications, argue from memory, not from understanding.

Waste not thy time in windy argument but let the matter drop.

By the very act of arguing, you awake the patient's reason; and once it is awake, who can foresee the result?

What can you do against the lunatic who is more intelligent than yourself, who gives your arguments a fair hearing and then simply persists in his lunacy?

A man never tells you anything until you contradict him.

The strongest argument for socialism is that it sounds good. The strongest argument against socialism is that it doesn't work. But those who live by words will always have a soft spot in their hearts for socialism because it sounds so good.

In argument similes are like songs in love; they describe much, but prove nothing.

A man in the wrong may more easily be convinced than one half right.