Arguments are like fire-arms which a man may keep at home but should not carry about with him.
—Samuel Butler
How beggarly appear arguments before a defiant deed!
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
I dislike arguments of any kind. They are always vulgar, and often convincing.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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
Prejudices are rarely overcome by argument; not being founded in reason they cannot be destroyed by logic.
—Tryon Edwards (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
Soft words win hard hearts.
—Common Proverb
The difficult part in an argument is not to defend one’s opinion, but rather to know it.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
There is no arguing with him, for if his pistol misses fire, he knocks you down with the butt end of it.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Quarrels would not last so long if the fault lay only on one side.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
There’s nothing I like less than bad arguments for a view I hold dear.
—Daniel C. Dennett (b.1942) American Philosopher, Atheist, Author
Behind every argument is someone’s ignorance.
—Louis Brandeis (1856–1941) American Jurist
Arguments out of a pretty mouth are unanswerable.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Two dogs strive for a bone and the third one runs off with it.
—Common Proverb
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
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
Quarrels often arise in marriages when the bridal gifts are excessive.
—Ausonius (c.309–392 CE) Latin Poet, Rhetorician
I had a lover’s quarrel with the world.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
When you have no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
In the course of my observation, the disputing, contradicting and confuting people are generally unfortunate in their affairs. They get victory sometimes, but they never get good will, which would be of more use to them.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
If you argue with a woman and win, you lose.
—Unknown
But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast, for gentle ways are best, and keep aloof from sharp contentions.
—Homer (751–651 BCE) Ancient Greek Poet
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
Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes error a fault, and truth discourtesy.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
In argument similes are like songs in love; they describe much, but prove nothing.
—Matthew Prior (1664–1721) English Poet, Diplomat
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
Men argue, nature acts.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Wise men argue cases, fools decide them.
—Anacharsis (fl. 6th century BCE) Scythian Prince
Heat and animosity, contest and conflict, may sharpen the wits, although they rarely do; they never strengthen the understanding, clear the perspicacity, guide the judgment, or improve the heart.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
People generally quarrel because they cannot argue.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
The purely agitation attitude is not good enough for a detailed consideration of a subject.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
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