#argument

The more a race is governed by its passions, the less it has acquired the habit of cautious and reasoned argument, the more intense will be its love of music. ↗

— Stendhal

#argument #cautious #governed #habit #intense

Liberals are sometimes defined as people who can't take their own side in an argument. ↗

— Cass Sunstein

#defined #liberals #own #people #side

The media love coarse debate because coarse debate drives ratings and ratings generate profits. Unless the TV producer happens to be William Shakespeare, an argument is more interesting than a soliloquy - and there will never be a shortage of people willing to argue on TV. ↗

— John Sununu

#argument #because #coarse #debate #drives

I never lost an argument and my parents assumed I would be a lawyer. They cast me in that role. ↗

— Jared Harris

#assumed #cast #i #lawyer #lost

No matter what side of an argument you're on, you always find some people on your side that wish you were on the other side. ↗

— Jascha Heifetz

#argument #find #matter #other #people

It was an argument of rare power and eloquence. ↗

— William Henry Moody

#eloquence #power #rare

Being snappy is a symptom of an argument we forgot to have some way back. ↗

— Alain de Botton

#arguments #snappiness #anger

Argument cannot be answered with insults. Kindness is strength; anger blows out the lamp of the mind. ↗

— Robert Green Ingersoll

#argument #debate #kindness #reason #anger

Most people are not prepared to have their minds changed," he said. "And I think they know in their hearts that other people are just the same, and one of the reasons people become angry when they argue is that they realize just that, as they trot out their excuses." "Excuses, eh?" Well, if this ain't cynicism, what is?" Erens snorted. "Yes, excuses," he said, with what Erens thought might just have been a trace of bitterness. "I strongly suspect the things people believe in are usually just what they instinctively feel is right; the excuses, the justifications, the things you're supposed to argue about, come later. They're the least important part of the belief. That's why you can destroy them, win an argument, prove the other person wrong, and still they believe what they did in the first place." He looked at Erens. "You've attacked the wrong thing. ↗

— Iain M. Banks

#belief #erens #excuses #instinct #justifications

I'll tell you what's wrong!" he roared, "I'm trying to quit smoking!" Then he strode angrily to the truck, leaving her standing there. She blinked her eyes, and slowly a smile stretched her lips. She strolled to the truck and got in. "So, are you homicidal or merely as irritable as a wounded buffalo?" "About halfway in between," he said through clenched teeth. "Anything I can do to help?" His eyes were narrow and intense. "It isn't just the cigarettes. Take off your panties and lock your legs around me, and I'll show you. ↗

— Linda Howard

#cigarettes #quit-smoking #tension #family