Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Writing down arguments forces clarity and exposes flaws that might be missed in casual conversation.
In plain terms
Writing arguments reveals weaknesses that talking might hide.
What can you take from it?
Document your reasoning to improve the quality of your thought process.

Where it applies

  • debates
  • policy making
  • academic research

Putting it to work

  • write memos
  • draft proposals
  • review written work

Questions to consider

  • What argument have you made that looked weaker when written down?
  • How does writing change how you think?

Another view

Writing can be time-consuming compared to immediate verbal discussions.

More from Hyman G. Rickover

  1. It is said that a wise man who stands firm is a statesman, and a foolish man who stands firm is a catastrophe.

    Permalink to quote #10
  2. The Quakers have an excellent approach to thinking through difficult problems, where a number of intelligent and responsible people must work together. They me…

    Permalink to quote #12
  3. Some of the ideas I try to get across to the people who work for me are the following:

    Permalink to quote #9

Related quotes

  1. I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.

    Joan DidionJoan Didion quote #3
  2. I have one word to say upon the subject of profound writers, who are grown very numerous of late; and I know very well the judicious world is resolved to list …

    Jonathan SwiftJonathan Swift quote #3
  3. Oh, rather give me commentators plain, Who with no deep researches vex the brain; Who from the dark and doubtful love to run, And hold their glimmering tapers …

    George CrabbeGeorge Crabbe quote #5