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.
Arguments out of a pretty mouth are unanswerable.
The long term versus the short term argument is one used by losers.
Wise men argue cases, fools decide them.
We must not contradict, but instruct him that contradicts us; for a madman is not cured by another running mad also.
Quarrels often arise in marriages when the bridal gifts are excessive.
— 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.
It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them.
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
I tell you Wellington is a bad general, the English are bad soldiers; we will settle this matter by lunch time.
Behind every argument is someone's ignorance.
Arguments are like fire-arms which a man may keep at home but should not carry about with him.
We are not won by arguments that we can analyze, but by tone and temper; by the manner, which is the man himself.
A man lives by believing something: not by debating and arguing about many things.
People generally quarrel because they cannot argue.
Neither irony or sarcasm is argument.
When you have no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff.
It is the briefest yet wisest maxim which tells us to meddle not.
Men's arguments often prove nothing but their wishes.
There's nothing I like less than bad arguments for a view that I hold dear.
Fear not those who argue but those who dodge.
Any fact is better established by two or three good testimonies than by a thousand arguments.
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.
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.
I had a lovers quarrel with the world.
Never contend with one that is foolish, proud, positive, testy, or with a superior, or a clown, in matter of argument.
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.
Soft words are hard arguments.
Most quarrels amplify a misunderstanding.
There is no arguing with him, for if his pistol misses fire, he knocks you down with the butt end of it.
The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the right.
Hear one side and you will be in the dark. Hear both and all will be clear.
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.
No matter what side of the argument you are on, you always find people on your side that you wish were on the other.
But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast, for gentle ways are best, and keep aloof from sharp contentions.
— Homer
The sounder your argument, the more satisfaction you get out of it.
Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause.
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.
It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle it without debate.
The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress.
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.
You punch me, I punch back. I do not believe it's good for ones self-respect to be a punching bag.
The argument of the strongest is always the best.
When all are wrong, everyone is right.
Quarrels would not last so long if the fault lay only on one side.
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.
When you argue with your inferiors, you convince them of only one thing: they are as clever as you.
There is no good in arguing with the inevitable. The only argument available with an east wind is to put on your overcoat.
Debate is the death of conversation.
The difficult part in an argument is not to defend one's opinion, but rather to know it.
He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.
The purely agitation attitude is not good enough for a detailed consideration of a subject.
One often contradicts an opinion when what is uncongenial is really the tone in which it was conveyed.
True disputants are like true sportsman: their whole delight is in the pursuit.
When much dispute has past, we find our tenets just the same as last.
In argument similes are like songs in love; they describe much, but prove nothing.
Soft words win hard hearts.
— Proverb
Two dogs strive for a bone and the third one runs off with it.
— Proverb
Use soft words and hard arguments.
It takes two to quarrel, but only one to end it.
Whenever you argue with another wiser than yourself in order that others may admire your wisdom, they will discover your ignorance.
— 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.
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
In a false quarrel there is no true valor.
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.
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, as usually managed, is the worst sort of conversation, as in books it is generally the worst sort of reading.
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.
When two quarrel, both are in the wrong.
There is no point in arguing about matters of taste.
There are usually two sides to every argument but no end.
People who know the least always argue the most.
If you argue with a woman and win, you lose.
An argument is like a country road, you never know where it is going to lead.
A lot of good arguments are spoiled by some fool who knows what he is talking about.
A sure way of getting the last word in an argument is to say you right.
A long dispute means that both parties are wrong
— Voltaire
Men argue, nature acts.
— Voltaire
Weakness on both sides is, the motto of all quarrels.
— Voltaire
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.
Never argue at the dinner table, for the one who is not hungry always gets the best of the argument.
How beggarly appear arguments before a defiant deed!
Arguments are to be avoided; they are always vulgar and often convincing.
I dislike arguments of any kind. They are always vulgar, and often convincing.