Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
The purely agitation attitude is not good enough for a detailed consideration of a subject.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
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
Quarrels often arise in marriages when the bridal gifts are excessive.
—Ausonius (c.309–392 CE) Latin Poet, Rhetorician
Hear one side and you will be in the dark; hear both sides, and all will be clear.
—Thomas Chandler Haliburton (1796–1865) Canadian Author, Humorist, Businessperson, Judge
People generally quarrel because they cannot argue.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
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
There’s nothing I like less than bad arguments for a view I hold dear.
—Daniel C. Dennett (b.1942) American Philosopher, Atheist, Author
Argument, again, is the death of conversation, if carried on in a spirit of hostility.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Whenever you argue with another wiser than yourself in order that others may admire your wisdom, they will discover your ignorance.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
Weakness on both sides is the motto of all quarrels.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them.
—Pierre Beaumarchais (1732–99) French Inventor, Diplomat, Musician, Fugitive, Revolutionary
In argument similes are like songs in love; they describe much, but prove nothing.
—Matthew Prior (1664–1721) English Poet, Diplomat
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
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
It was completely fruitless to quarrel with the world, whereas the quarrel with oneself was occasionally fruitful and always, she had to admit, interesting.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
A lot of good arguments are spoiled by some fool who knows what he is talking about.
—Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936) Spanish Educator, Philosopher, Author
Argument is conclusive… but… it does not remove doubt, so that the mind may rest in the sure knowledge of the truth, unless it finds it by the method of experiment. For if any man who never saw fire proved by satisfactory arguments that fire burns. his hearer’s mind would never be satisfied, nor would he avoid the fire until he put his hand in it that he might learn by experiment what argument taught.
—Roger Bacon (1214–94) English Philosopher, Scientist