If I were to deliver up my whole self to the arbitrament of special pleaders, today I might be argued into an atheist, and tomorrow into a pickpocket.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Arguments are like fire-arms which a man may keep at home but should not carry about with him.
—Samuel Butler
He that blows the coals in quarrels that he has nothing to do with, has no right to complain if the sparks fly in his face.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
One often contradicts an opinion when what is uncongenial is really the tone in which it was conveyed.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
I tell you Wellington is a bad general, the English are bad soldiers; we will settle this matter by lunch time.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Weak arguments are often thrust b fore my path; but although they are most unsubstantial, it is not easy to destroy them. There is not a more difficult feat known than to cut through a cushion with a sword.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
Quarrels would not last so long if the fault lay only on one side.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Neither irony or sarcasm is argument.
—Samuel Butler
When worthy men fall out, only one of them may be faulty at first; but if the strife continue long, both commonly become guilty.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Rebuke with soft words and hard arguments.
—Common Proverb
The purely agitation attitude is not good enough for a detailed consideration of a subject.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
The argument of the strongest is always the best.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
There is no good in arguing with the inevitable. The only argument available with an east wind is to put on your overcoat.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
A long dispute means that both parties are wrong.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Never argue at the dinner table, for the one who is not hungry always gets the best of the argument.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
The soundest argument will produce no more conviction in an empty head than the most superficial declamation; a feather and a guinea fall with equal velocity in a vacuum.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
An association of men who will not quarrel with one another is a thing which has never yet existed, from the greatest confederacy of nations down to a town meeting or a vestry.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
I will name you the degrees. The first, the Retort Courteous; the second, the Quip Modest; the third, the Reply Churlish; the fourth, the Reproof Valiant; the fifth, the Countercheck Quarrelsome; the sixth, the Lie with Circumstance; the seventh, the Lie Direct.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
It is the briefest yet wisest maxim which tells us to “meddle not”.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
People generally quarrel because they cannot argue.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Argument, as usually managed, is the worst sort of conversation, as in books it is generally the worst sort of reading.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
When a thing is said to be not worth refuting you may be sure that either it is flagrantly stupid—in which case all comment is superfluous—or it is something formidable, the very crux of the problem.
—Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936) Spanish Educator, Philosopher, Author
Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes error a fault, and truth discourtesy.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
Men’s arguments often prove nothing but their wishes.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Never contend with one that is foolish, proud, positive, testy, or with a superior, or a clown, in matter of argument.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Soft words are hard arguments.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
We are not won by arguments that we can analyze, but by tone and temper; by the manner, which is the man himself.
—Samuel Butler
It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them.
—Pierre Beaumarchais (1732–99) French Inventor, Diplomat, Musician, Fugitive, Revolutionary
Skepticism, as I said, is not intellectual only; it is moral also; a chronic atrophy and disease of the whole soul. A man lives by believing something; not by debating and arguing about many things. A sad case for him when all that he can manage to believe is something he can button in his pocket, and with one or the other organ eat and digest! Lower than that he will not get.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
There’s nothing I like less than bad arguments for a view I hold dear.
—Daniel C. Dennett (b.1942) American Philosopher, Atheist, Author
It is an excellent rule to be observed in all discussions, that men should give soft words and hard arguments; that they should not so much strive to silence or vex, as to convince their opponents.
—John Wilkins (1614–72) English Anglican Clergyman, Author, Administrator
When a man argues for victory and not for truth, he is sure of just one ally, that is the devil.—Not the defeat of the intellect, but the acceptance of the heart is the only true object in fighting with the sword of the spirit.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
When you have no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Wise men argue cases, fools decide them.
—Anacharsis (fl. 6th century BCE) Scythian Prince
Concerning God, freewill and destiny: Of all that earth has been or yet may be, all that vain men imagine or believe, or hope can paint or suffering may achieve, we descanted.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
Nothing is more certain than that much of the force as well as grace of arguments, as well as of instructions, depends on their conciseness.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
When much dispute has past, we find our tenets just the same as last.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Prejudices are rarely overcome by argument; not being founded in reason they cannot be destroyed by logic.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
Men argue, nature acts.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
The sounder your argument, the more satisfaction you get out of it.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
Myself when young did eagerly frequent doctor and saint, and heard great argument about it and about: but evermore came out by the same door as in I went.
—Omar Khayyam (1048–1123) Persian Mathematician
If you argue with a woman and win, you lose.
—Unknown
Argument, again, is the death of conversation, if carried on in a spirit of hostility.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
An argument is like a country road, you never know where it is going to lead.
—Unknown
The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents that he understands their arguments, and sympathises with their just feelings.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
Most quarrels amplify a misunderstanding.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
An evil soul producing holy witness
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,
A goodly apple rotten at the heart.
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Testimony is like an arrow shot from a long bow; its force depends on the strength of the hand that draws it.—But argument is like an arrow from a cross bow, which has equal force if drawn by a child or a man.
—Robert Boyle (1627–91) Anglo-Irish Philosopher, Writer