He'd undertake to prove, by force
Of argument, a man's no horse.
He'd prove a buzzard is read more

He'd undertake to prove, by force
Of argument, a man's no horse.
He'd prove a buzzard is no fowl,
And that a Lord may be an owl,
A calf an Alderman, a goose a Justice,
And rooks, Committee-men or Trustees.

The best argument is that which seems merely an explanation.

The best argument is that which seems merely an explanation.

Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes
Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.

Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes
Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.

"For your own good" is a persuasive argument that will eventually make a man agree to his own destruction.

"For your own good" is a persuasive argument that will eventually make a man agree to his own destruction.

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 is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in an argument.

It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in an argument.

In arguing, too, the parson own'd his skill,
For even though vanquished he could argue still.

In arguing, too, the parson own'd his skill,
For even though vanquished he could argue still.

The brilliant chief, irregularly great,
Frank, haughty, rash--the Rupert of debate.

The brilliant chief, irregularly great,
Frank, haughty, rash--the Rupert of debate.

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

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