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 (1835–1902) British Victorian Novelist, Essayist, Critic
He who wants to persuade should put his trust not in the right argument, but in the right word. The power of sound has always been greater than the power of sense.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
I dislike arguments of any kind. They are always vulgar, and often convincing.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
In an argument the best weapon to hold is your tongue.
—Indian Proverb
Note how good you feel after you have encouraged someone else. No other argument is necessary to suggest that never miss the opportunity to give encouragement.
—George Burton Adams (1851–1925) American Historian
I’ve put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant, and that’s the only way of insuring one’s mortality.
—James Joyce (1882–1941) Irish Novelist, Poet
The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a discussion.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
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
It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in an argument.
—William Gibbs McAdoo (1863–1941) American Politician, Lawyer
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
Men’s arguments often prove nothing but their wishes.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Arguments are like fire-arms which a man may keep at home but should not carry about with him.
—Samuel Butler (1835–1902) British Victorian Novelist, Essayist, Critic
The more humble a man is before God, the more he will be exalted; the more humble he is before man, the more he will get rode roughshod.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
An ounce of facts is worth a ton of arguments.
—Indian Proverb
Sometimes when you’re arguing with a fool, he’s doing the same thing.
—Unknown
The irrationality of a thing is no argument against its existence, rather a condition of it.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
A husband & wife in Montana make it a point not to argue over anything not worth arguing about. Of course, this leads to some dandy fights over whether or not a subject is worthwhile.
—Indian Proverb
Facts are God’s arguments; we should be careful never to misunderstand or pervert them.
—Tryon Edwards (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
Nay, if he take you in hand, sir, with an argument, He’ll bray you in a mortar.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
When you let someone else win an argument, often you both end up winners.
—Richard Carlson (1912–77) American Actor, Director, Screenwriter
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
Nothing is as frustrating as arguing with someone who knows what he’s talking about.
—Sam Ewing (1949–2018) American Writer, Humorist
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 formula of the argument is simple and familiar: to dispose of a problem all that is necessary is to deny that it exists.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
There’s nothing I like less than bad arguments for a view I hold dear.
—Daniel C. Dennett (b.1942) American Philosopher, Atheist, Author
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
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
Arguments only confirm people in their own opinions.
—Booth Tarkington (1869–1946) American Novelist, Dramatist
The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
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