'Twas blow for blow, disputing inch by inch,
For one would not retreat, nor t'other flinch.

'Twas blow for blow, disputing inch by inch,
For one would not retreat, nor t'other flinch.

Nay, if he take you in hand, sir, with an argument,
He'll bray you in a mortar.

Nay, if he take you in hand, sir, with an argument,
He'll bray you in a mortar.

The sounder your argument, the more satisfaction you get out of it.

The sounder your argument, the more satisfaction you get out of it.

It is more noble by silence to avoid an injury than by argument to overcome it.

It is more noble by silence to avoid an injury than by argument to overcome it.

And there begins a lang digression
About the lords o' the creation.

And there begins a lang digression
About the lords o' the creation.

I find you want me to furnish you with argument and intellects
too. No, sir, these, I protest you, read more

I find you want me to furnish you with argument and intellects
too. No, sir, these, I protest you, are too hard for me.

The daughter of debate
That still discord doth sow.

The daughter of debate
That still discord doth sow.

When a thing is said to be not worth refuting you may be sure that either it is flagrantly stupid read more

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.

It takes two to quarrel, but only one to end it.

It takes two to quarrel, but only one to end it.