Never do I argue with a man with a desire to hear him say…
“Never do I argue with a man with a desire to hear him say what is wrong, or to expose him and win victory over him. Whenever I face an opponent in debate I silently pray - O Lord, help him so that truth may flow from his heart and on his tongue, and so that if truth is on my side, he may follow me; and if truth be on his side, I may follow him.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Encourages praying for opponents' truth, valuing honesty over winning in debate.
In simple terms: Pray for truth, not victory.
Key Takeaway
Seek truth, not triumph.
Themes
humility
truth
debate
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
ethical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- courtroom
- political debate
- personal conflict
- public speaking
Key Concepts
Islamic ethics
oral persuasion
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you foster honesty in adversarial settings?
- What does true victory look like?
A Different Perspective
May be idealistic in hostile or manipulative contexts.