--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can argue with a philosopher, but you…" description: "\"You can argue with a philosopher, but you can’t argue with a good song. And I think I’ve got a few good songs.\" — Cat Stevens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/cat-stevens-2683_arguing_you-can-argue-with-a-philosopher-but-you_906754.png" --- # You can argue with a philosopher, but you can’t argue with… ![“You can argue with a philosopher, but you can’t argue with a good song. And I think I’ve got a few good songs.” quote by Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/cat-stevens-2683_arguing_you-can-argue-with-a-philosopher-but-you_906754.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/cat-stevens-2683_arguing_you-can-argue-with-a-philosopher-but-you_906754.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/cat-stevens-2683_arguing_you-can-argue-with-a-philosopher-but-you_906754.png) > “You can argue with a philosopher, but you can’t argue with a good song. And I think I’ve got a few good songs.” [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Philosophical claim that while one can debate ideas, the emotional power of a good song is undeniable and persuasive. **In simple terms:** You can argue with ideas, but not with a great song’s feeling. Key Takeaway Let music convey what words cannot. Themes music philosophy emotion communication Mood inspirational thoughtful Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - therapy - education - cultural events Key Concepts aesthetic experience cultural impact psychology of music Questions to Reflect On - What makes a song “good” for you? - How can music bridge disagreements? A Different Perspective Music may be subjective, limiting universal impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-son/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Good songs are what a good band is all about. When you have a good song that stands up to the test of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-kramer/good-songs-are-what-a-good-band-is-all-about-when-you-have-a-good/) [Joey Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-kramer/) > [In music, if somebody makes a good song, you want to be in that category and make the good songs too. It may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabolous/in-music-if-somebody-makes-a-good-song-you-want-to-be-in-that/) Fabolous > [Do good work and let that speak for itself. Don't waste time arguing with someone. Instead, show them in your work. That's easier said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-alexander/do-good-work-and-let-that-speak-for-itself-don-t-waste-time-arguing/) [Megan Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-alexander/) > [I just want to write good songs that people love, which is a tough thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-just-want-to-write-good-songs-that-people-love-which-is-a-tough/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I personally like Ankit Tiwari, Arijit Singh, Neeti Mohan and Benny Dayal. They all are fantastic singers and are providing good songs and music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kk/i-personally-like-ankit-tiwari-arijit-singh-neeti-mohan-and-benny/) KK > [If I knew where the good songs came from, I’d go there more often. It’s a mysterious condition. It’s much like the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/if-i-knew-where-the-good-songs-came-from-i-d-go-there-more-often-it-s/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [It takes a long time to write 10 good songs. Sometimes you have to write 30 to get 10 good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/it-takes-a-long-time-to-write-10-good-songs-sometimes-you-have-to/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [I don't care if it's a Cole Porter song, or George Gershwin, or Lennon/McCartney, or Elton John, or you know, whoever, Bob Dylan. Great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oates/i-don-t-care-if-it-s-a-cole-porter-song-or-george-gershwin-or-lennon/) [John Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oates/) > [I've always had good songs, it's the great songs that are difficult to find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-murray/i-ve-always-had-good-songs-it-s-the-great-songs-that-are-difficult-to/) [Anne Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-murray/) > [I believe that people want to hear good songs and they want to be moved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-smith/i-believe-that-people-want-to-hear-good-songs-and-they-want-to-be/) [Corey Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-smith/) > [We actually have some pretty good songs. But if they come out too serious, then we have to scrap them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-gass/we-actually-have-some-pretty-good-songs-but-if-they-come-out-too/) [Kyle Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-gass/) > [Basically, I listen to voices. If they write good songs and they can sing, I'll probably like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie/basically-i-listen-to-voices-if-they-write-good-songs-and-they-can/) [India Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie/) > [I may have the 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' soundtrack, which I've been told is embarrassing, but come on, there are some good songs on there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floriana-lima/i-may-have-the-twilight-breaking-dawn-soundtrack-which-i-ve-been-told/) Floriana Lima > [The world doesn't need any more pretty good songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/the-world-doesn-t-need-any-more-pretty-good-songs/) [Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/) > [I think there were a couple really good songs on 'Whirlygig.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/i-think-there-were-a-couple-really-good-songs-on-whirlygig/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) ## More by Cat Stevens > [The spiritual quest was always the predominant aspect of my life. It's always been there. But there's also an incredible passion connected to it;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/the-spiritual-quest-was-always-the-predominant-aspect-of-my-life-it-s/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Music is part of God's universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/music-is-part-of-god-s-universe/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Some extremists take elements of the sacred scriptures out of context.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/some-extremists-take-elements-of-the-sacred-scriptures-out-of-context/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Knowledge is a thing you can carry around with you, but you may not apply it. Some knowledge is indiscriminate, and it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/knowledge-is-a-thing-you-can-carry-around-with-you-but-you-may-not/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [A person who steals bread during a famine is not treated as a thief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/a-person-who-steals-bread-during-a-famine-is-not-treated-as-a-thief/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Don't you feel a change a coming From another side of time, Breaking down the walls of silence, Lifting shadows from your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/don-t-you-feel-a-change-a-coming-from-another-side-of-time-breaking/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [I suppose that the media and their portrayal of Islam and the almost tribal separations and divisions of the Muslims are the greatest issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-suppose-that-the-media-and-their-portrayal-of-islam-and-the-almost/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [“You will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/you-will-still-be-here-tomorrow-but-your-dreams-may-not/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [There is a powerful need for people to feel that gust of hope rise up again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/there-is-a-powerful-need-for-people-to-feel-that-gust-of-hope-rise-up/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [And if my mind breaks up In all so many ways I know the meaning of The words, "I love you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/and-if-my-mind-breaks-up-in-all-so-many-ways-i-know-the-meaning-of/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Find a girl, settle down, If you want you can marry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/find-a-girl-settle-down-if-you-want-you-can-marry/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Oh I can't keep it in; I can't keep it in, I've gotta let it out I've got to show the world; world's got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/oh-i-can-t-keep-it-in-i-can-t-keep-it-in-i-ve-gotta-let-it-out-i-ve/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [I never thought I'd be on the same stage as Kiss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-never-thought-i-d-be-on-the-same-stage-as-kiss/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Miles from nowhere. Guess I'll take my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/miles-from-nowhere-guess-i-ll-take-my-time/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Sun is the reason And the world it will bloom 'Cause sun lights the sky And the sun lights the moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/sun-is-the-reason-and-the-world-it-will-bloom-cause-sun-lights-the/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) [Explore all 155 Cat Stevens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) ## More Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [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/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can argue with a philosopher, but you can’t argue with a good song. 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