Some of the most polished ideas are discovered through healthy, honest debate, so if you don't argue with yourself every once in a while, other people will gladly point out if, in any sense, you missed a spot.

The only sort of pride that may serve a man well on that rarest occasion is his hatred of being wrong. It keeps his mouth shut, his ears open, and his research extensive. And yet this is also the deadliest because when he is in fact proven wrong, he absolutely refuses to acknowledge it. It then keeps his mouth open, his ears shut, and his research inexistent.

It is never ridicule, but a compliment, that knocks a philosopher off his feet. He is already positioned for every possible counter-attack, counter-argument, and retort...only to find a big bear hug coming his way.

There's more to logic than identifying logical fallacies.

It's not about whether or not someone is a bigot, but whether or not the argument which that someone is arguing is worth being a bigot about.

Our enemies are quite good for relentlessly keeping us sharp and on our toes. This especially goes for sincere philosophers. They use their enemies to challenge their arguments so that they can know the weak points in their own reasoning and how to argue for and strengthen their position. There are just none like one's enemies to always look for his mistakes and do it harder than anyone else.

It is difficult to be emphatic when no one is emphatic on the other side.

True disputants are like true sportsmen; their whole delight is in the pursuit.

Arguments out of a pretty mouth are unanswerable.

I have won every argument I ever had with myself.

I dislike arguments of any kind. They are always vulgar, and often convincing.

He who strikes the first blow admits he's lost the argument.

Religious contention is the devil's harvest.

Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause.

Use soft words in hard arguments.

Somebody has to have the last word. If not, every argument could be opposed by another and we d never be done with it.

When an argument is over, how many weighty reasons does a man recollect which his heat and violence made him utterly forget?

There is nothing that a New-Englander so nearly worships as an argument.

Anyone who thinks there aren't two sides to every argument is probably in one.

Arguments only confirm people in their own opinions.