January 25

On Argument

Reason is folly with the unreasonable. PP58

Some people like rows—I don’t envy their choice; I’d rather walk ten miles to get out of a dispute than half-a-mile to get into one. PT73

“Satan greatly approves of our railing at each other, but God does not.” (820.392)

“I notice, however, that, while it is true that our gracious Master was very gentle and patient with those who had real difficulties, yet he did not always answer everybody’s cavil. When the difficulty was raised for the sake of questioning and disputing, when it was mere quibbling, when the enquirer were not in earnest, and did not really wish to know the truth, he often declined to answer them. My Master has no desire to be merely victor in a debate: he did not come into the world to fight a battle of logic just for the sake of winning it.” (2413.229)