For they are yet ear-kissing arguments.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The only thing worse than being on the wrong side of an argument is being in the middle.
—Indian Proverb
Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year—and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
When a man uses profanity to support an argument, it indicates that either the man or the argument is weak—probably both.
—Indian Proverb
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
In an argument the best weapon to hold is your tongue.
—Indian Proverb
No mistake is so commonly made by clever people as that of assuming a cause to be bad because the arguments of its supporters are, to a great extent, nonsensical
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
A knock-down argument; ’tis but a word and a blow.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
His conduct still right with his argument wrong.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
When you have no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
It is impossible to win an argument with an ignorant man
—Indian Proverb
Men’s arguments often prove nothing but their wishes.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
The argument is at an end.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
I find you want me to furnish you with argument and intellects too. No, sir, these, I protest you, are too hard for me.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Never argue; repeat your assertion.
—Robert Owen (1771–1858) British Social Reformer, Philosopher
Nothing requires a greater effort of thought than arguments to justify the rule of non-thought.
—Milan Kundera (b.1929) Czech Novelist
There’s nothing I like less than bad arguments for a view I hold dear.
—Daniel C. Dennett (b.1942) American Philosopher, Atheist, Author
The most important thing in an argument, next to being right, is to leave an escape hatch for your opponent, so that he can gracefully swing over to your side without too much apparent loss of face.
—Sydney J. Harris (1917–86) American Essayist, Drama Critic
The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a discussion.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
The weaker the argument, the stronger the words.
—Unknown
The only people who really listen to an argument are the neighbours.
—Indian Proverb
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
In arguing one should meet serious pleading with humor, and humor with serious pleading.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Even if the committee carried the message in the exact words with no words missing, but left out the persuasion of gesture, the supplicating tone, and the beseeching looks which inform the words and give them life, where then were the power of the arguments and whom would it convince
—Joan of Arc (c.1412–31) French National Heroine
The moment we want to believe something, we suddenly see all the arguments for it, and become blind to the arguments against it.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an understanding.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
It is always easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
Nor knowest thou what argument
Thy life to thy neighbor’s creed has lent.
All are needed by each one;
Nothing is fair or good alone.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician