--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is probably not a good idea to ask…" description: "\"It is probably not a good idea to ask someone to expound a position they do not accept and do not feel they even fully understand.\" — Allen W. Wood" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/allen-w-wood-2748_accepting_it-is-probably-not-a-good-idea-to-ask-so_2083776.jpg" --- # It is probably not a good idea to ask someone to expound a… ![“It is probably not a good idea to ask someone to expound a position they do not accept and do not feel they even fully understand.” quote by Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/allen-w-wood-2748_accepting_it-is-probably-not-a-good-idea-to-ask-so_2083776.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/allen-w-wood-2748_accepting_it-is-probably-not-a-good-idea-to-ask-so_2083776.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/allen-w-wood-2748_accepting_it-is-probably-not-a-good-idea-to-ask-so_2083776.jpg) > “It is probably not a good idea to ask someone to expound a position they do not accept and do not feel they even fully understand.” [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Asking someone to defend a view they reject leads to shallow, unconvincing arguments. **In simple terms:** Don't ask opponents to argue against their own beliefs. Key Takeaway Seek genuine dialogue. Themes communication argumentation integrity Mood thoughtful critical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - debates - policy discussions - teaching - negotiations Key Concepts epistemic humility dialogue Questions to Reflect On - How can you encourage honest discourse? - What risks arise from forcing a stance? A Different Perspective People may feel coerced or insincere, reducing trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept/) [Accept Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-feel-957313/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Ask Expound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-expound-4082696/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Idea Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-ask-1487228/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Position Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position-accept-1129972/) ## Related quotes > [When you take a position, you have to accept responsibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/when-you-take-a-position-you-have-to-accept-responsibilities/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [I have never had a governmental position, and I will never accept such a position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/i-have-never-had-a-governmental-position-and-i-will-never-accept-such/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [After 'Socha Na Tha' flopped, nobody wanted to work with me. I became very bitter and angry. So now when the industry and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhay-deol/after-socha-na-tha-flopped-nobody-wanted-to-work-with-me-i-became/) [Abhay Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhay-deol/) > [“Are you sure this is a good idea?’ I ask. ‘No,’ says Amber. ‘Let’s do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-macleod/are-you-sure-this-is-a-good-idea-i-ask-no-says-amber-let-s-do-it/) [Doug MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-macleod/) > [The idea that you can ask one question and it makes the point - well, that wasn't how psychology was done at the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/the-idea-that-you-can-ask-one-question-and-it-makes-the-point-well/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Note to self: It’s a good idea to ask, “What am I not doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/note-to-self-it-s-a-good-idea-to-ask-what-am-i-not-doing/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [It's not that anything has changed about me, and, it's a cliche, but I think that as you get older, you learn to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-froggatt/it-s-not-that-anything-has-changed-about-me-and-it-s-a-cliche-but-i/) [Joanne Froggatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-froggatt/) > [“The point of it all is to love friends completely and utterly, at their best and worst, and to love more than just the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-earl/the-point-of-it-all-is-to-love-friends-completely-and-utterly-at/) [Esther Earl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-earl/) > [Always accept and feel comfortable with your flaws, that way no one can ever use them against you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-accept-and-feel-comfortable-with-your-flaws-that-way-no-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The lesson of this life is not for me to touch you again. It is to accept who I am now and not feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/the-lesson-of-this-life-is-not-for-me-to-touch-you-again-it-is-to/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [If you cant accept me for who I am, Feel very free to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-cant-accept-me-for-who-i-am-feel-very-free-to-go/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Root Dear one, It is totally conceivable to accept something Yet still feel unable to ever recover from it For acceptance, my love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-evangelou/the-root-dear-one-it-is-totally-conceivable-to-accept-something-yet/) [Christine Evangelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-evangelou/) > [“Nobody in this building asked to be born. You didn’t ask to be you, bro. I didn’t ask to be me. I didn’t ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mccartney/nobody-in-this-building-asked-to-be-born-you-didn-t-ask-to-be-you-bro/) [Brandon McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mccartney/) > [“And if your mind tears, do not fear that, either. Depression takes a layer of skin off – so accept that you feel more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/and-if-your-mind-tears-do-not-fear-that-either-depression-takes-a/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [What’s the point of opening yourself up to your friends if they don’t notice you in your vulnerable state? The point of it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-earl/what-s-the-point-of-opening-yourself-up-to-your-friends-if-they-don-t/) [Esther Earl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-earl/) ## More by Allen W. Wood > [For the utilitarian, there is a fact of the matter about the good (the general happiness, or whatever conception of the good the utilitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/for-the-utilitarian-there-is-a-fact-of-the-matter-about-the-good-the/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [No theory about our bodies as mere objects of observation and calculation (as distinct from partners in communicative interaction, assumed to be free) can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/no-theory-about-our-bodies-as-mere-objects-of-observation-and/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Kantian ethical theory distinguishes three levels: First, that of a fundamental principle (the categorical imperative, formulated in three main ways in Kant's Groundwork); second,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kantian-ethical-theory-distinguishes-three-levels-first-that-of-a/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Some empirical feelings, such as sympathy, are indispensable parts of certain moral virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/some-empirical-feelings-such-as-sympathy-are-indispensable-parts-of/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [We commit not only theoretical error but also moral wrong in objectifying ourselves or other rational beings, ignoring their capacities for free action and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/we-commit-not-only-theoretical-error-but-also-moral-wrong-in/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Kant certainly was sympathetic with the metaphysical tradition of rational theology that he criticized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kant-certainly-was-sympathetic-with-the-metaphysical-tradition-of/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [That Hegel's theory is derivative from Fichte's does not prevent it from being strikingly original and of independent value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/that-hegel-s-theory-is-derivative-from-fichte-s-does-not-prevent-it/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It is sad to witness the persistence in our society of the racism and xenophobia that seems to be a permanent part of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-sad-to-witness-the-persistence-in-our-society-of-the-racism-and/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It is rational to choose the right means to your ends to develop very elegant abstract formal theories of rational choice, and then turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-rational-to-choose-the-right-means-to-your-ends-to-develop-very/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [We can never prove that we are free or integrate our freedom in any way into our objective conception of the causal order of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/we-can-never-prove-that-we-are-free-or-integrate-our-freedom-in-any/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Kant regards the universalizability test for maxims as focused on a very special sort of situation: one where the agent is tempted to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kant-regards-the-universalizability-test-for-maxims-as-focused-on-a/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [My own view is that Kant's conception of the duality of the good (morality and happiness, the good of our person and the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/my-own-view-is-that-kant-s-conception-of-the-duality-of-the-good/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [It is actually a nice question how far Descartes himself endorses the monological and metaphysically dualistic theory of mind associated with his name and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-is-actually-a-nice-question-how-far-descartes-himself-endorses-the/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [In fact people do not know enough about themselves and what is good for them to form a sufficiently definite conception of the general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/in-fact-people-do-not-know-enough-about-themselves-and-what-is-good/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [Empiricist philosophy always tends to be anti-philosophy (and is often proud of it).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/empiricist-philosophy-always-tends-to-be-anti-philosophy-and-is-often/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) [Explore all 151 Allen W. Wood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) ## More Accept quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-fans-can-accept-a-poor-performance-but-they-won-t-take-it-when/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [“See, I know what they think about me. That I’m some project. And, yeah, I’ll accept their help. But I’m gonna pay my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/see-i-know-what-they-think-about-me-that-i-m-some-project-and-yeah-i/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Things don't go on forever, and the quicker you accept that change is inevitable, the happier you're gonna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/things-don-t-go-on-forever-and-the-quicker-you-accept-that-change-is/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [It's very important to me that people accept me as a transgendered female. But it's ridiculous to a lot of people and I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-arquette/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-people-accept-me-as-a-transgendered/) [Alexis Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-arquette/) > [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [I wish I could just accept that I'm not that good and not be shy about the fact that I'm not that professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-wish-i-could-just-accept-that-i-m-not-that-good-and-not-be-shy/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [I cannot accept being silent in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-cannot-accept-being-silent-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [“I hope there is less stigma and judgment against working moms and childless career women. All should be acceptable positions and society should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chan-heng-chee/i-hope-there-is-less-stigma-and-judgment-against-working-moms-and/) [Chan Heng Chee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chan-heng-chee/) > [“Of course I can accept you for who you are. You are someone I need to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-glasbergen/of-course-i-can-accept-you-for-who-you-are-you-are-someone-i-need-to/) [Randy Glasbergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-glasbergen/) > [I can't be that kind of person others want me to be.I know I can't please everybody for just being me But I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/i-can-t-be-that-kind-of-person-others-want-me-to-be-i-know-i-can-t/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [I don't care who you are,Where you from,As long as you love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mks-vibz/i-don-t-care-who-you-are-where-you-from-as-long-as-you-love-me/) [Mks Vibz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mks-vibz/) [Browse all 2,963 Accept quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is probably not a good idea to ask someone to expound a position they do not accept and do not feel they even fully understand.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Allen W. 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