Argument
There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion.
Argument
Acton, Lord
1834-1902 British Historian
Arguments out of a pretty mouth are unanswerable.
Argument
Addison, Joseph
1672-1719 British Essayist Poet Statesman
The long term versus the short term argument is one used by losers.
Argument
Adler, Larry
American Founder of Fire and All Risk Insurances
Wise men argue cases, fools decide them.
Argument
Anacharsis
600 BC Scythian Philosopher
We must not contradict, but instruct him that contradicts us; for a madman is not cured by another running mad also.
Argument
Antisthenes
388-311 BC Greek Dramatist
Quarrels often arise in marriages when the bridal gifts are excessive.
Argument
Auson
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.
Argument
Bacon, Roger
1214-1294 British Philosopher Scientist
It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them.
Argument
Beaumarchais, Pierre De
1732-1799 French Dramatist
Most of the arguments to which I am party fall somewhat short of being impressive, knowing to the fact that neither I nor my opponent knows what we are talking about
Argument
Benchley, Robert
1889-1945 American Humorist Critic Parodist
I tell you Wellington is a bad general, the English are bad soldiers; we will settle this matter by lunch time.
Argument
Bonaparte, Napoleon
1769-1821 French General Emperor
Behind every argument is someone’s ignorance.
Argument
Brandeis, Louis D.
1856-1941 American Judge
Arguments are like fire-arms which a man may keep at home but should not carry about with him.
Argument
Butler, Samuel
1612-1680 British Poet Satirist
We are not won by arguments that we can analyze, but by tone and temper; by the manner, which is the man himself.
Argument
Butler, Samuel
1612-1680 British Poet Satirist
A man lives by believing something: not by debating and arguing about many things.
Argument
Carlyle, Thomas
1795-1881 Scottish Philosopher Author
People generally quarrel because they cannot argue.
Argument
Chesterton, Gilbert K.
1874-1936 British Author
Neither irony or sarcasm is argument.
Argument
Choate, Rufus
1799-1859 American Lawyer Statesman
When you have no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff.
Argument
Cicero, Marcus T.
c 106-43 BC Great Roman Orator Politician
It is the briefest yet wisest maxim which tells us to meddle not.
Argument
Colton, Charles Caleb
1780-1832 British Sportsman Writer
Men’s arguments often prove nothing but their wishes.
Argument
Colton, Charles Caleb
1780-1832 British Sportsman Writer
There’s nothing I like less than bad arguments for a view that I hold dear.
Argument
Dennett, Daniel
Fear not those who argue but those who dodge.
Argument
Ebner-Eschenbach, Marie
Any fact is better established by two or three good testimonies than by a thousand arguments.
Argument
Emmons, Nathaniel
Those 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.
Argument
Franklin, Benjamin
1706-1790 American Scientist Publisher 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.
Argument
Franklin, Benjamin
1706-1790 American Scientist Publisher Diplomat
I had a lovers quarrel with the world.
Argument
Frost, Robert
1875-1963 American Poet
Never contend with one that is foolish, proud, positive, testy, or with a superior, or a clown, in matter of argument.
Argument
Fuller, Thomas
1608-1661 British Clergyman Author
When good people have a falling out, only one of them may be at fault at first; but if the strife continues long, usually both become guilty.
Argument
Fuller, Thomas
1608-1661 British Clergyman Author
Soft words are hard arguments.
Argument
Fuller, Thomas
1608-1661 British Clergyman Author
Most quarrels amplify a misunderstanding.
Argument
Gide, Andre
1869-1951 French Author
There is no arguing with him, for if his pistol misses fire, he knocks you down with the butt end of it.
Argument
Goldsmith, Oliver
1728-1774 Anglo-Irish Author Poet Playwright
The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the right.
Argument
Hailsham, Lord Quintin Hogg
1907 British Statesman
Hear one side and you will be in the dark. Hear both and all will be clear.
Argument
Haliburton, Thomas C.
1796-1865 Canadian Jurist 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.
Argument
Harris, Sidney J.
1917 American Journalist
No matter what side of the argument you are on, you always find people on your side that you wish were on the other.
Argument
Heifetz, Jascha
1901-1987 Lithuanian Violinist
But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast, for gentle ways are best, and keep aloof from sharp contentions.
Argument
Homer
c 850 – BC Greek Epic Poet
The sounder your argument, the more satisfaction you get out of it.
Argument
Howe, Edgar Watson
1853-1937 American Journalist Author
Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause.
Argument
Hugo, Victor
1802-1885 French Poet Dramatist Novelist
An association of men who will not quarrel with one another is a thing which has never yet existed, from the greatest confederacy of nations down to a town meeting or a vestry.
Argument
Jefferson, Thomas
1743-1826 Third President of the USA
It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle it without debate.
Argument
Joubert, Joseph
1754-1824 French Moralist
The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress.
Argument
Joubert, Joseph
1754-1824 French Moralist
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.
Argument
Khayyam, Omar
1048-1131 Persian Astronomer Poet
You punch me, I punch back. I do not believe it’s good for ones self-respect to be a punching bag.
Argument
Koch, Edward
1924 American Politician
The argument of the strongest is always the best.
Argument
La Fontaine, Jean De
1621-1695 French Poet
When all are wrong, everyone is right.
Argument
La Lehaussee
Quarrels would not last so long if the fault lay only on one side.
Argument
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
1613-1680 French Classical Writer
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.
Argument
Landor, Walter Savage
1775-1864 British Poet Essayist
When you argue with your inferiors, you convince them of only one thing: they are as clever as you.
Argument
Layton, Irving
1912 Canadian Poet
There is no good in arguing with the inevitable. The only argument available with an east wind is to put on your overcoat.
Argument
Lowell, James Russell
1819-1891 American Poet Critic Editor
Debate is the death of conversation.
Argument
Ludwig, Emil
1881-1948 German Writer
The difficult part in an argument is not to defend one’s opinion, but rather to know it.
Argument
Maurois, Andre
1885-1967 French Writer
He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.
Argument
Montaigne, Michel Eyquem De
1533-1592 French Philosopher Essayist
The purely agitation attitude is not good enough for a detailed consideration of a subject.
Argument
Nehru, Jawaharlal
1889-1964 Indian Nationalist Statesman
One often contradicts an opinion when what is uncongenial is really the tone in which it was conveyed.
Argument
Nietzsche, Friedrich
1844-1900 German Philosopher
True disputants are like true sportsman: their whole delight is in the pursuit.
Argument
Pope, Alexander
1688-1744 British Poet Critic Translator
When much dispute has past, we find our tenets just the same as last.
Argument
Pope, Alexander
1688-1744 British Poet Critic Translator
In argument similes are like songs in love; they describe much, but prove nothing.
Argument
Prior, Matthew
1664-1721 British Diplomat Poet
Soft words win hard hearts.
Argument
Proverb
Two dogs strive for a bone and the third one runs off with it.
Argument
Proverb
Use soft words and hard arguments.
Argument
Proverb, English
Sayings of British Origin
It takes two to quarrel, but only one to end it.
Argument
Proverb, Spanish
Sayings of Spanish Origin
Whenever you argue with another wiser than yourself in order that others may admire your wisdom, they will discover your ignorance.
Argument
Saadi
It was completely fruitless to quarrel with the world, whereas the quarrel with oneself was occasionally fruitful and always, she had to admit, interesting.
Argument
Sarton, May
1912 American Poet Novelist
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
Argument
Shakespeare, William
1564-1616 British Poet Playwright Actor
In a false quarrel there is no true valor.
Argument
Shakespeare, William
1564-1616 British Poet Playwright Actor
I will name you the degrees. The first, the Retort Courteous; the second, the Quip Modest; the third, the Reply Churlish; the fourth, the Reproof Valiant; the fifth, the Countercheck Quarrelsome; the sixth, the Lie with Circumstance; the seventh, the Lie Direct.
Argument
Shakespeare, William
1564-1616 British Poet Playwright Actor
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.
Argument
Shelley, Percy Bysshe
1792-1822 British Poet
Argument, as usually managed, is the worst sort of conversation, as in books it is generally the worst sort of reading.
Argument
Swift, Jonathan
1667-1745 Anglo-Irish Satirist
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.
Argument
Unamuno, Miguel De
1864-1936 Spanish Philosophical Writer
When two quarrel, both are in the wrong.
Argument
Unknown, Source
There is no point in arguing about matters of taste.
Argument
Unknown, Source
There are usually two sides to every argument but no end.
Argument
Unknown, Source
People who know the least always argue the most.
Argument
Unknown, Source
If you argue with a woman and win, you lose.
Argument
Unknown, Source
An argument is like a country road, you never know where it is going to lead.
Argument
Unknown, Source
A lot of good arguments are spoiled by some fool who knows what he is talking about.
Argument
Unknown, Source
A sure way of getting the last word in an argument is to say you right.
Argument
Unknown, Source
A long dispute means that both parties are wrong
Argument
Voltaire
1694-1778 French Historian Writer
Men argue, nature acts.
Argument
Voltaire
1694-1778 French Historian Writer
Weakness on both sides is, the motto of all quarrels.
Argument
Voltaire
1694-1778 French Historian Writer
Weak arguments are often thrust before my path; but although they are most insubstantial, it is not easy to destroy them. There is not a more difficult feat known than to cut through a cushion with a sword.
Argument
Whately, Richard
1787-1863 British Prelate Writer
Never argue at the dinner table, for the one who is not hungry always gets the best of the argument.
Argument
Whately, Richard
1787-1863 British Prelate Writer
How beggarly appear arguments before a defiant deed!
Argument
Whitman, Walt
1819-1892 American Poet
Arguments are to be avoided; they are always vulgar and often convincing.
Argument
Wilde, Oscar
1856-1900 British Author Wit
I dislike arguments of any kind. They are always vulgar, and often convincing.
Argument
Wilde, Oscar
1856-1900 British Author Wit