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.

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 always admired Mrs. Grote's saying that politics and theology
were the only two really great subjects.

I always admired Mrs. Grote's saying that politics and theology
were the only two really great subjects.

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

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

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.

Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.

Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.

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.

The daughter of debate
That still discord doth sow.

The daughter of debate
That still discord doth sow.

The noble Lord (Stanley) was the Prince Rupert to the
Parliamentary army--his valour did not always serve his own read more

The noble Lord (Stanley) was the Prince Rupert to the
Parliamentary army--his valour did not always serve his own
cause.