'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.

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

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

Where we desire to be informed 'tis good to contest with men
above ourselves; but to confirm and establish read more

Where we desire to be informed 'tis good to contest with men
above ourselves; but to confirm and establish our opinions, 'tis
best to argue with judgments below our own, that the frequent
spoils and victories over their reasons may settle in ourselves
an esteem and confirmed opinion of our own.

You punch me, I punch back. I do not believe it's good for ones self-respect to be a punching bag.

You punch me, I punch back. I do not believe it's good for ones self-respect to be a punching bag.

The purely agitation attitude is not good enough for a detailed consideration of a subject.

The purely agitation attitude is not good enough for a detailed consideration of a subject.

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

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

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.

Any fact is better established by two or three good testimonies than by a thousand arguments.

Any fact is better established by two or three good testimonies than by a thousand arguments.

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

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