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About this quote

What does it mean?
Arguments break productive dialogue by turning it into conflict.
In plain terms
Fighting stops good talking.
What can you take from it?
Discussion is better than argument for understanding.

Where it applies

  • meetings
  • relationships
  • negotiation

Putting it to work

  • conflict resolution
  • team building
  • mediation

Questions to consider

  • How do you handle disagreements?
  • Is debate productive?

Another view

Sometimes arguments are necessary for truth.

More from Gilbert Keith Chesterton

  1. Never invoke the gods unless you really want them to appear. It annoys them very much.

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  2. Without education, we are in a horrible and deadly danger of taking educated people seriously.

    Permalink to quote #191
  3. I've searched all the parks in all the cities And found no statues of committees.

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