--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The difficult part in an argument is not…" description: "\"The difficult part in an argument is not to defend one's opinion but rather to know it.\" — Andre Maurois" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/andre-maurois-3217_argument_the-difficult-part-in-an-argument-is-not_1974608.jpg" --- # The difficult part in an argument is not to defend one's… ![“The difficult part in an argument is not to defend one's opinion but rather to know it.” quote by Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/andre-maurois-3217_argument_the-difficult-part-in-an-argument-is-not_1974608.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/andre-maurois-3217_argument_the-difficult-part-in-an-argument-is-not_1974608.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/andre-maurois-3217_argument_the-difficult-part-in-an-argument-is-not_1974608.jpg) > “The difficult part in an argument is not to defend one's opinion but rather to know it.” [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Winning an argument requires understanding the opponent’s view, not merely defending your own. **In simple terms:** Know the other side to argue well. Key Takeaway Seek true understanding before defending. Themes empathy critical thinking dialogue Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - debates - team meetings - negotiations Key Concepts philosophy communication conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - What prevents you from truly listening? - How can you practice empathy in heated discussions? A Different Perspective Understanding may not change entrenched positions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) ## Related quotes > [In a discussion, the difficulty lies, not in being able to defend your opinion, but to know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/in-a-discussion-the-difficulty-lies-not-in-being-able-to-defend-your/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [The next time you find yourself in an argument, rather than defend your position, see if you can see the other point of view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/the-next-time-you-find-yourself-in-an-argument-rather-than-defend/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [Unfortunately, the problem of the free speech argument is that you have to defend people you can't stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/unfortunately-the-problem-of-the-free-speech-argument-is-that-you/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Rhetoric is the counterpart of logic; since both are conversant with subjects of such a nature as it is the business of all to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/rhetoric-is-the-counterpart-of-logic-since-both-are-conversant-with/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [It's easy to defend, in my opinion, when you play one-on-one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/it-s-easy-to-defend-in-my-opinion-when-you-play-one-on-one/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [It is only when someone cannot defend his opinion, and is not interested in believing the truth, that he will attempt to stifle discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-whyte/it-is-only-when-someone-cannot-defend-his-opinion-and-is-not/) [Jamie Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-whyte/) > [What is prejudice? An opinion, which is not based upon reason; a judgment, without having heard the argument; a feeling, without being able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-chapman-catt/what-is-prejudice-an-opinion-which-is-not-based-upon-reason-a/) [Carrie Chapman Catt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-chapman-catt/) > [Accurate knowledge is the basis of correct opinions; the want of it makes the opinions of most people of little value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-simmons/accurate-knowledge-is-the-basis-of-correct-opinions-the-want-of-it/) [Charles Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-simmons/) > [People who reject transcendent authority can no longer persuade one another through rational arguments; everything is reduced to personal opinion. 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It's not even so much about the choice as to where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hastings/the-humanitarian-argument-is-so-selective-i-find-it-difficult-to/) [Michael Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hastings/) > [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/) ## More by Andre Maurois > [Style is the outcome of constraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/style-is-the-outcome-of-constraint/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [To reason with poorly chosen words is like using a pair of scales with inaccurate weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/to-reason-with-poorly-chosen-words-is-like-using-a-pair-of-scales/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [No one can be profoundly original who does not avoid eccentricity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/no-one-can-be-profoundly-original-who-does-not-avoid-eccentricity/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [It is not events and the things one sees and enjoys that produce happiness, but a state of mind which can endow events with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-not-events-and-the-things-one-sees-and-enjoys-that-produce/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [One has very little influence upon one's children. Their characters are what they are and one can do nothing to change them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/one-has-very-little-influence-upon-one-s-children-their-characters/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [The art of growing old is the art of being regarded by the oncoming generations as a support and not as a stumbling-block...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/the-art-of-growing-old-is-the-art-of-being-regarded-by-the-oncoming/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [“O mare dragoste nu este de ajuns pentru a lega de tine fiinta pe care o iubesti, daca nu te pricepi sa umpli viata…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/o-mare-dragoste-nu-este-de-ajuns-pentru-a-lega-de-tine-fiinta-pe-care/) [André Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Sincerity is glass, discretion is diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/sincerity-is-glass-discretion-is-diamond/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [“Old age is far more than white hair, wrinkles, the feeling that it is too late and the game is finished, that the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/old-age-is-far-more-than-white-hair-wrinkles-the-feeling-that-it-is/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [It is often said that in prosperity we have many friends, but that we are usually neglected when things go badly. I disagree. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-have-many-friends-but-that-we/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Modesty and unselfishness - these are the virtues which men praise - and pass by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/modesty-and-unselfishness-these-are-the-virtues-which-men-praise-and/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Inspiration in matters of taste will not come twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/inspiration-in-matters-of-taste-will-not-come-twice/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/the-reading-of-a-fine-book-is-an-uninterrupted-dialogue-in-which-the/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [“Doua fiinte umane ancorate una langa cealalta sunt ca doua corabii leganate de valuri; cocile lor se ciocnesc si gem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/doua-fiinte-umane-ancorate-una-langa-cealalta-sunt-ca-doua-corabii/) [André Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Among the idle rich, boredom is one of the most common causes of unhappiness. People who have difficulty in earning their living may suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/among-the-idle-rich-boredom-is-one-of-the-most-common-causes-of/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) [Explore all 128 Andre Maurois quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) ## 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. 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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. 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