'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.

When you have no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff.

When you have no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff.

Whatever Sceptic could inquire for,
For every why he had a wherefore.

Whatever Sceptic could inquire for,
For every why he had a wherefore.

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.

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.

I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an
understanding.

I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an
understanding.

If you can't answer a man's arguments, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names.

If you can't answer a man's arguments, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names.

Nothing requires a greater effort of thought than arguments to justify the rule of non-thought.

Nothing requires a greater effort of thought than arguments to justify the rule of non-thought.

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

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