In argument similes are like songs in love; they describe much, but prove nothing.
—Matthew Prior (1664–1721) English Poet, Diplomat
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
The sounder your argument, the more satisfaction you get out of it.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
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) British Clergyman, Natural Philosopher
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
When two quarrel, both are in the wrong.
—Unknown
How beggarly appear arguments before a defiant deed!
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist
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 a false quarrel there is no true valor.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
Fear not those who argue but those who dodge.
—Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916) Austrian Novelist
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
People generally quarrel because they cannot argue.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Quarrels would not last so long if the fault lay only on one side.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Men argue, nature acts.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
The most agreeable thing in life is worthy accomplishment. It is not possible that the idle tramp is as contented as the farmers along the road who own their own farms, and whose credit is good at the bank in town. When the tramps get together at night, they abuse the farmers, but do not get as much satisfaction out of it as do the farmers who abuse the tramps. The sounder your argument, the more satisfaction you get out of it.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
Weakness on both sides is the motto of all quarrels.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Arguments are to be avoided; they are always vulgar and often convincing.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
If you argue with a woman and win, you lose.
—Unknown
It takes two to quarrel, but only one to end it.
—Spanish Proverb
Men’s arguments often prove nothing but their wishes.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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
I had a lover’s quarrel with the world.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes error a fault, and truth discourtesy.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
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
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
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
The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the right.
—Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone (1907–2001) British Lawyer, Politician
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