---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: His argument is as thin as the…"
description: "\"His argument is as thin as the homeopathic soup that was made by oiling the shadow of a pigeon that had been starved to death.\" — Abraham Lincoln"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/abraham-lincoln-88_argument_his-argument-is-as-thin-as-the-homeopath_1433022.png"
---

#  His argument is as thin as the homeopathic soup that was…

![“His argument is as thin as the homeopathic soup that was made by oiling the shadow of a pigeon that had been starved to death.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/abraham-lincoln-88_argument_his-argument-is-as-thin-as-the-homeopath_1433022.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/abraham-lincoln-88_argument_his-argument-is-as-thin-as-the-homeopath_1433022.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/abraham-lincoln-88_argument_his-argument-is-as-thin-as-the-homeopath_1433022.png)

> “His argument is as thin as the homeopathic soup that was made by oiling the shadow of a pigeon that had been starved to death.”

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The metaphor suggests an argument lacking substance, as flimsy as a nonsensical concoction.

**In simple terms:** Argument is weak and insubstantial.

Key Takeaway

Strengthen evidence and clarity.

Themes

argumentation logic clarity

Mood

skeptical critical

Type

analytical philosophical

When to use this quote

- debates
- legal briefs
- academic papers
- political speeches

Key Concepts

critical thinking rhetoric skepticism

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you make your points more concrete?
- What evidence supports your claim?

A Different Perspective

May be hyperbolic, not literal critique.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Argument Homeopathic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument-homeopathic-5107094/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Homeopathic Soup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homeopathic-soup-5107095/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Pigeon Starved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pigeon-starved-5107096/) [Pigeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pigeons/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Soup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soup/) [Starved Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starved-death-482559/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [ The two biggest hits (by Machito)... were about that enduring Cuban song topic-food: 'Sopa de pichn' \[pigeon soup\] and 'Paella'. If you think that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-sublette/the-two-biggest-hits-by-machito-were-about-that-enduring-cuban-song/)

[Ned Sublette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-sublette/)

> [I didn't know the inner me was hungry," I said to Art. "That's because it already starved to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/i-didn-t-know-the-inner-me-was-hungry-i-said-to-art-that-s-because-it/)

[Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/)

> [“Now we will live!” This is what the hungry little boy liked to say, as he toddled along the quiet roadside, or through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/now-we-will-live-this-is-what-the-hungry-little-boy-liked-to-say-as/)

[Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/)

> [“Europeans had thought only of enriching themselves as the local population starved to death.58”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frankopan/europeans-had-thought-only-of-enriching-themselves-as-the-local/)

[Peter Frankopan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frankopan/)

> [All travellers who had preceded me into the Barren Grounds had relied on the abundant game, and in consequence suffered dreadful hardships; in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-thompson-seton/all-travellers-who-had-preceded-me-into-the-barren-grounds-had-relied/)

[Ernest Thompson Seton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-thompson-seton/)

> [“...kneel down, kneel down- kneel round her every one of you, and mark my words. I say she starved to death. I never knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/kneel-down-kneel-down-kneel-round-her-every-one-of-you-and-mark-my/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [“She lifted the girl's shirt, showing her ribs and the pointy bumps of her spine. They were like the bones of some animal who'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-goldman-koss/she-lifted-the-girl-s-shirt-showing-her-ribs-and-the-pointy-bumps-of/)

[Amy Goldman Koss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-goldman-koss/)

> [If we heard that somebody starved to death in Sweden or Switzerland, we would be shocked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/if-we-heard-that-somebody-starved-to-death-in-sweden-or-switzerland/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [“People are utterly starved to death. For what? Food; not milk, but for some meat, and some strong meat. They need it; they need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wright-follette/people-are-utterly-starved-to-death-for-what-food-not-milk-but-for/)

[John Wright Follette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wright-follette/)

> [Those who are acquainted with the literature of India will remember a beautiful old story about this extreme charity, how a whole family, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/those-who-are-acquainted-with-the-literature-of-india-will-remember-a/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [“If those birds hadn't been so stupid, so incapable of learning that human beings were dangerous, the first settlers would almost certainly have starved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-those-birds-hadn-t-been-so-stupid-so-incapable-of-learning-that/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

> [But when the good people do know, as they certainly do, that three million persons (at the least estimate) were starved to death in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-paterson/but-when-the-good-people-do-know-as-they-certainly-do-that-three/)

[Isabel Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-paterson/)

> [“I might have starved to death. I would be mud-slick, stuffed to the guts with cold and hopelessness, and my body might know it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-kent/i-might-have-starved-to-death-i-would-be-mud-slick-stuffed-to-the/)

[Hannah Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-kent/)

> [I love the pigeons. I just raise them, period, and feed them. Pigeons go away, and they always come back. You get a touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/i-love-the-pigeons-i-just-raise-them-period-and-feed-them-pigeons-go/)

[George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/)

> [I get really nervous if pigeons are flying around before shows. I can't stand them after one once flew in through my bathroom window…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-horan/i-get-really-nervous-if-pigeons-are-flying-around-before-shows-i-can/)

[Niall Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-horan/)

## More by Abraham Lincoln

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

[Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

## More Argument quotes

> [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/)

[Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/)

[Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/)

> [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/)

[Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/)

> [One argument goes that recessions are good for female artists because when money flies out the window, women are allowed in the house. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/one-argument-goes-that-recessions-are-good-for-female-artists-because/)

[Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/)

> [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/)

[Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/)

> [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [If in the middle of an argument I suddenly fall silent it does not mean you have won... No it means you should probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/if-in-the-middle-of-an-argument-i-suddenly-fall-silent-it-does-not/)

[Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/)

> [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/)

[Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/)

> [“The motive behind my arguments have always been to come at truth. I am not interested in conquering anyone with my ideologies or seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-evans/the-motive-behind-my-arguments-have-always-been-to-come-at-truth-i-am/)

[Crystal Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-evans/)

> [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/)

[John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/)

[Browse all 3,479 Argument quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "His argument is as thin as the homeopathic soup that was made by oiling the shadow of a pigeon that had been starved to death.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Abraham Lincoln"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/his-argument-is-as-thin-as-the-homeopathic-soup-that-was-made-by/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Argument"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/his-argument-is-as-thin-as-the-homeopathic-soup-that-was-made-by/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/abraham-lincoln-88_argument_his-argument-is-as-thin-as-the-homeopath_1433022.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/abraham-lincoln-88_argument_his-argument-is-as-thin-as-the-homeopath_1433022.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/abraham-lincoln-88_argument_his-argument-is-as-thin-as-the-homeopath_1433022.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“His argument is as thin as the homeopathic soup that was made by oiling the shadow of a pigeon that had been…” — Abraham Lincoln",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Abraham Lincoln",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "His argument is as thin as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/his-argument-is-as-thin-as-the-homeopathic-soup-that-was-made-by/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/his-argument-is-as-thin-as-the-homeopathic-soup-that-was-made-by/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
