--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never make the mistake of arguing with…" description: "\"I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.\" — Edward Gibbon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/edward-gibbon-710_arguing_i-never-make-the-mistake-of-arguing-with_407160.png" --- # I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose… ![“I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/edward-gibbon-710_arguing_i-never-make-the-mistake-of-arguing-with_407160.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/edward-gibbon-710_arguing_i-never-make-the-mistake-of-arguing-with_407160.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/edward-gibbon-710_arguing_i-never-make-the-mistake-of-arguing-with_407160.png) > “I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.” [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoid wasting energy on arguments with people you don't respect. **In simple terms:** Don't argue with those you disrespect. Key Takeaway Choose battles wisely. Themes respect communication boundaries Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - online debates - workplace discussions Key Concepts civility ego social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When have you ignored a disrespectful opinion? - What could you gain by listening? A Different Perspective Respect may be subjective; you might miss learning opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [If you spend all your time arguing with people who are nuts, you'll be exhausted and the nuts will still be nuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-spend-all-your-time-arguing-with-people-who-are-nuts-you-ll-be/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Arguing against people who control the terms of debate is a hard task, and in a way exponents of diversity have achieved a tremendous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-west/arguing-against-people-who-control-the-terms-of-debate-is-a-hard-task/) [Ed West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-west/) > [No one trusts me any more. I spent half the movie Maigret (1988) (TV) arguing with people and I was accused of causing big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-harris/no-one-trusts-me-any-more-i-spent-half-the-movie-maigret-1988-tv/) [Richard Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-harris/) > [I work with musicians whose opinions I respect and if they don't like something they don't hold back. They'll say, 'That really sucks' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-work-with-musicians-whose-opinions-i-respect-and-if-they-don-t-like/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Me and my brother get along super well. We're, like, best friends. So we'll stay up until, like, five just talking because we get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-eilish/me-and-my-brother-get-along-super-well-we-re-like-best-friends-so-we/) [Billie Eilish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-eilish/) > [As all human beings are, in my view, creatures of God's design, we must respect all other human beings. That does not mean I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stockwell-day/as-all-human-beings-are-in-my-view-creatures-of-god-s-design-we-must/) [Stockwell Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stockwell-day/) > [But that's the beauty of being in the public eye - people are always going to have opinions and I respect that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-sebastian/but-that-s-the-beauty-of-being-in-the-public-eye-people-are-always/) [Guy Sebastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-sebastian/) > [In the end, I do have a group of friends and teachers whose opinions I respect, and so I guess I just have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/in-the-end-i-do-have-a-group-of-friends-and-teachers-whose-opinions-i/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [Which is more stubborn, the love or the two arguing people caught within it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/which-is-more-stubborn-the-love-or-the-two-arguing-people-caught/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Arguing with people is like reading your e-mail at 4 in the morning. There is absolutely no good that can come of it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/arguing-with-people-is-like-reading-your-e-mail-at-4-in-the-morning/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [Instead of focusing on arguing with people who say no, it might be easier to get near the people who like to say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/instead-of-focusing-on-arguing-with-people-who-say-no-it-might-be/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“It was always disconcerting to discover that you shared opinions with someone you had no respect for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-cypess/it-was-always-disconcerting-to-discover-that-you-shared-opinions-with/) [Leah Cypess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-cypess/) > [Just be true to yourself, and listen as much as one is able to to other people whose opinions you respect and look up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/just-be-true-to-yourself-and-listen-as-much-as-one-is-able-to-to/) [Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/) > [“It was useless arguing with people like her. They had stereotyped minds that ran along grooves of stock response and the commonplace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-rendell/it-was-useless-arguing-with-people-like-her-they-had-stereotyped/) [Ruth Rendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-rendell/) > [God is an idea that people believe in and I spend time arguing with people that subscribe to that idea(man made idea).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/god-is-an-idea-that-people-believe-in-and-i-spend-time-arguing-with/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## More by Edward Gibbon > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [A heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-heart-to-resolve-a-head-to-contrive-and-a-hand-to-execute/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [ \[In\] the national and religious conflict of the \[Byzantine and Saracen\] empires, peace was without confidence, and war without mercy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/in-the-national-and-religious-conflict-of-the-byzantine-and-saracen/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of Mahomet; each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/instead-of-a-perpetual-and-perfect-measure-of-the-divine-will-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Constantinople was the principal seat and fortress of Arianism; and, in a long interval of forty years, the faith of the princes and prelates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/constantinople-was-the-principal-seat-and-fortress-of-arianism-and-in/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [It is the common calamity of old age to lose whatever might have rendered it desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-is-the-common-calamity-of-old-age-to-lose-whatever-might-have/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-a-man-were-called-to-fix-the-period-in-the-history-of-the-world/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If all the barbarian conquerors had been annihilated in the same hour, their total destruction would not have restored the empire of the West:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/if-all-the-barbarian-conquerors-had-been-annihilated-in-the-same-hour/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [But the desire of obtaining the advantages, and of escaping the burthens, of political society, is a perpetual and inexhaustible source of discord; nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/but-the-desire-of-obtaining-the-advantages-and-of-escaping-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [ \[Every\] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/every-hour-of-delay-abates-the-fame-and-force-of-the-invader-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The science of the church is neglected for the study of geometry, and they lose sight of Heaven while they are employed in measuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-science-of-the-church-is-neglected-for-the-study-of-geometry-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The progress of despotism tends to disappoint its own purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-progress-of-despotism-tends-to-disappoint-its-own-purpose/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [From the paths of blood (and such is the history of nations) I cannot refuse to turn aside to gather some flowers of science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/from-the-paths-of-blood-and-such-is-the-history-of-nations-i-cannot/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does not proceed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/a-nation-of-slaves-is-always-prepared-to-applaud-the-clemency-of/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) [Explore all 399 Edward Gibbon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## 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": "I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Gibbon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/i-never-make-the-mistake-of-arguing-with-people-for-whose-opinions-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arguing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/i-never-make-the-mistake-of-arguing-with-people-for-whose-opinions-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/edward-gibbon-710_arguing_i-never-make-the-mistake-of-arguing-with_407160.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/edward-gibbon-710_arguing_i-never-make-the-mistake-of-arguing-with_407160.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/edward-gibbon-710_arguing_i-never-make-the-mistake-of-arguing-with_407160.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.” — Edward Gibbon", "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": "Edward Gibbon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never make the mistake of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/i-never-make-the-mistake-of-arguing-with-people-for-whose-opinions-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/i-never-make-the-mistake-of-arguing-with-people-for-whose-opinions-i/#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 } } ] } ```