In arguing too, the parson owned his skill, For e'en though vanquished, he could argue still; While words of learned length, and thundering sound Amazed the gazing rustics ranged around; And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, That one small head could carry all he knew.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The parson is skilled at arguing and can keep talking even when he loses. The villagers are amazed by his long, loud words and wonder how much knowledge fits in his head.
- In plain terms
- He keeps arguing even when he loses, and the villagers are amazed by his big words.
- What can you take from it?
- Skilled speakers can impress others with words even without winning an argument.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does winning an argument require being the most vocal?
- How much does word choice influence perceived intelligence?
Another view
Being good at arguing does not mean you are right or knowledgeable.
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