George Eliot Quotes

Rhetoric is the counterpart of logic; since both are conversant with subjects of such a nature as it is the business of all to have a certain knowledge of, and which belong to no distinct science. Wherefore all men in some way participate of both; since all, to a certain extent, attempt, as well to sift, as to maintain an argument; as well to defend themselves, as to impeach.

Convincing yourself doesn't win an argument.

Whoever in debate quotes authority uses not intellect, but memory.

That's the beauty of argument, if you argue correctly, you're never wrong.

Good argument is intended to persuade another.

Though we cannot out-vote them we will out-argue them.

I enjoy a good reasoned argument. I love the power of logic.

Argument is to me the air I breathe.

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

I preferred the weapons of dialectic to all the other teachings of philosophy, and armed with these, I chose the conflicts of disputation rather than the trophies of war.

Arguments, like children, should be like the subject that begets them.

I love arguing. I always say that I'll never win a physical battle, but I can always win a mental battle. I mean, not really, because I never really argue with anyone.

I am bound to furnish my antagonists with arguments, but not with comprehension.

Use your logick, and then your rhetorick. Rhetorick without logick, is like a tree with leaves and blossoms, but no root; yet I confess more are taken with rhetorick than logick, because they are catched with a free expression, when they understand not reason. Logick must be natural, or it is worth nothing at all: Your rhetorick figures may be learned.

Neither irony nor sarcasm is argument.

As if reasoning were any kind of writing or talking which tends to convince people that some doctrine or measure is true and right.

There is no learned man but will confess be hath much profited by reading controversies,--his senses awakened, his judgment sharpened, and the truth which he holds firmly established. If then it be profitable for him to read, why should it not at least be tolerable and free for his adversary to write? In logic they teach that contraries laid together, more evidently appear; it follows then, that all controversy being permitted, falsehood will appear more false, and truth the more true; which must needs conduce much to the general confirmation of an implicit truth.

My father could argue two sides of a Möbius Strip.

SOCRATES: Perhaps we may be wrong; if so, you in your wisdom should convince us that we are mistaken in preferring justice to injustice. THRASYMACHUS: And how am I to convince you, he said, if you are not already convinced by what I have just said; what more can I do for you? Would you have me put the proof bodily into your souls?

By the very act of arguing, you awake the patient's reason; and once it is awake, who can foresee the result?

Oratory is the power of beating down your adversary's arguments and putting better in their place.

If the reason I give is a good one, you will act upon it. If it is a bad one I cannot make it better by piling epithet upon epithet. There is no logic in abuse; there is no argument in an epithet.

It would be awesome to be so impressive that we could sway people to our way of thinking just by declaiming our thoughts, but probably most of us lack such gravitas. Luckily, there's something even better: evidence, logic, and argument.

Neither irony or sarcasm is argument.

He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.