Quotes About Debate

I am broadly concerned about the slow death of free speech, but particularly in universities and also with regards to the climate change debate.

we must go where the argument carries us, as a vessel runs before the wind.

You take the words in the sense which is most damaging to the argument.

The comprehensive mind is always dialectical.

My opinion is: Truth must be absolute and that you Mr. Protagoras, are absolutely in error. Since this is indeed my opinion, then you must concede that it is true according to your philosophy.

But I don't think we shall quarrel about a word - the subject of our inquiry is too important for that.

You wouldn't know him if I told you the name. HIPPIAS: But I know right now he's an ignoramus.

I can't refute you, Socrates, Agathon said, so I dare say you're right. No, said Socrates, it's the truth you can't refute, my dear Agathon. Socrates is a pushover.

But I speak in this vehement manner, as I must frankly confess to you, because I want to hear from you the opposite side; and I would ask you to show not only the superiority which justice has over injustice, but what effect they have on the possessor of them which makes the one to be a good and the other an evil to him.

I am one of those who are very willing to be refuted if I say anything which is not true, and very willing to refute anyone else who says what is not true, and quite as ready to be refuted as to refute; for I hold that this is the greater gain of the two, just as the gain is greater of being cured of a very great evil than of curing another.

Arguments, like men, are often pretenders.

If a person does not attend to the meaning of terms as they are commonly used in argument, he may be involved even in greater paradoxes

A rhetorician is capable of speaking effectively against all comers, whatever the issue, and can consequently be more persuasive in front of crowds about… anything he likes.

Then, when the rhetorician is more persuasive than the physician, the ignorant is more persuasive with the ignorant than he who has knowledge?—is not that the inference?

for the uneducated, when they engage in argument about anything, give no thought to the truth about the subject of discussion but are only eager that those present will accept the position they have set forth.

In the course of the argument Socrates remarks that the controversial nature of morals and religion arises out of the difficulty of verifying them.

There have been times, Socrates, when I have been driven in my perplexity to take refuge with Protagoras; not that I agree with him at all.

LACHES: True. SOCRATES: And now on the contrary we are saying that the foolish endurance, which was before held in dishonour, is courage. LACHES: Very true. SOCRATES: And are we right in saying so? LACHES: Indeed, Socrates, I am sure that we are not right.

GORGIAS: Yes. SOCRATES: Do you mean that you will teach him to gain the ears of the multitude on any subject, and this not by instruction but by persuasion? GORGIAS: Quite so.

SOCRATES: Then hear me, Gorgias, for I am quite sure that if there ever was a man who entered on the discussion of a matter from a pure love of knowing the truth, I am such a one, and I should say the same of you. GORGIAS: What is coming, Socrates?

Ogni problema ha tre soluzioni: la mia soluzione, la tua soluzione, e la soluzione giusta.

No man has wit enough to reason with a fool, Zin.

I love arguing with you, Claire. You always surprise me. And occasionally, you even make sense.

Must we argue word choice? Now?