---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Without argument the species would parish."
description: "\"Without argument the species would parish.\" — Gerry Spence"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/gerry-spence-9080_argument_without-argument-the-species-would-paris_2724326.jpg"
---

#  Without argument the species would parish.

![“Without argument the species would parish.” quote by Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/gerry-spence-9080_argument_without-argument-the-species-would-paris_2724326.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/gerry-spence-9080_argument_without-argument-the-species-would-paris_2724326.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/gerry-spence-9080_argument_without-argument-the-species-would-paris_2724326.jpg)

> “Without argument the species would parish.”

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

## About This Quote

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

Argument is essential for truth; without it, ideas decay and stagnate.

**In simple terms:** Arguments keep ideas alive.

Key Takeaway

Encourage healthy debate.

Themes

truth logic communication

Mood

thoughtful inquisitive

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- academic discourse
- legal proceedings
- team meetings
- public policy

Key Concepts

critical thinking dialectic

Questions to Reflect On

- When does argument become conflict?
- How can we foster respectful disagreement?

A Different Perspective

Debate can become hostile, hindering collaboration.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Argument Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument-species-2907116/) [Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parish/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [Species Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species-parish-2907117/)

## Related quotes

> [If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-the-preaching-of-our-ministers-and-the-practice-of-our/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [We had the support of the Democratic sheriff of my parish which was the popular Democratic Sheriff of my parish, Harry Lee who was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/we-had-the-support-of-the-democratic-sheriff-of-my-parish-which-was/)

[David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/)

> [I just wanted to be an ordinary parish priest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/i-just-wanted-to-be-an-ordinary-parish-priest/)

[Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/)

> [The pastor of a parish will typically have no education in the chant or in music, and he will hire the first music director…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-morris/the-pastor-of-a-parish-will-typically-have-no-education-in-the-chant/)

[Richard Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-morris/)

> [“He was stunning,incredible,unlike anything she had ever seen before.Around her,the crowd noise dissipated to a dull hum,but she barely noticed.Her gaze was slowly traveling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wright/he-was-stunning-incredible-unlike-anything-she-had-ever-seen-before/)

[Laura Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wright/)

> [There is not a single crowned head in Europe whose talents or merit would entitle him to be elected a vestryman by the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-not-a-single-crowned-head-in-europe-whose-talents-or-merit/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [I applied for funding to embark on an overseas field trip in Iceland, and spent six weeks there happily holed up in the national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-kent/i-applied-for-funding-to-embark-on-an-overseas-field-trip-in-iceland/)

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

> [I think in particular of our need to speak to the hearts of young people, who, despite their constant exposure to messages contrary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/i-think-in-particular-of-our-need-to-speak-to-the-hearts-of-young/)

[Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/)

> [I don't miss the ministry, because I'm completely engaged in it. In terms of parish ministry, I miss the intimacy with a group of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-brown-taylor/i-don-t-miss-the-ministry-because-i-m-completely-engaged-in-it-in/)

[Barbara Brown Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-brown-taylor/)

> [The unique and indivisible existence of the Lord glorious in heaven, is not multiplied, but is rendered present by the sacrament in the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/the-unique-and-indivisible-existence-of-the-lord-glorious-in-heaven/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [Every art is a church without communicants, presided over by a parish of the respectable. An artist is born kneeling; he fights to stand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hortense-calisher/every-art-is-a-church-without-communicants-presided-over-by-a-parish/)

[Hortense Calisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hortense-calisher/)

> [Once in my childhood I had been eager to learn Irish; I thought to get leave to take lessons from an old Scripture-reader who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gregory/once-in-my-childhood-i-had-been-eager-to-learn-irish-i-thought-to-get/)

[Lady Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gregory/)

> [All the stories of the Bible that I know came to me first from my grandfather's lips... He would see stories in everything. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/all-the-stories-of-the-bible-that-i-know-came-to-me-first-from-my/)

[Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/)

> [My life is a tsunami of inspirations. Number one is that I really do just love my BBQ. I mean it's the sustenance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/my-life-is-a-tsunami-of-inspirations-number-one-is-that-i-really-do/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

> [The parish of Selborne, by taking in so much of the forest, is a vast district.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-white/the-parish-of-selborne-by-taking-in-so-much-of-the-forest-is-a-vast/)

[Gilbert White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-white/)

## More by Gerry Spence

> [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [Each of us has been endowed with the perfect power to be free. Slavery is a state of mind that fails to acknowledge the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/each-of-us-has-been-endowed-with-the-perfect-power-to-be-free-slavery/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [When you are faced with prejudice, logic and justice are impotent. Still, we may have an obligation to argue directly into the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/when-you-are-faced-with-prejudice-logic-and-justice-are-impotent/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [Under any religion, the preestablished impersonal code transcends the right of the individual to explore, experience, and marvel at the mysteries of his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/under-any-religion-the-preestablished-impersonal-code-transcends-the/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [The new and most powerful union of all will be a union of one one man, one woman, one worker with special skills, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-new-and-most-powerful-union-of-all-will-be-a-union-of-one-one-man/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [Once slavery in America was not seen as radical. It became, instead, a revolutionary idea that slaves should be freed. When we have lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/once-slavery-in-america-was-not-seen-as-radical-it-became-instead-a/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [Love is how we feel toward those who show us that which is lovable about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/love-is-how-we-feel-toward-those-who-show-us-that-which-is-lovable/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [ Government \[is\] operated by deeply embedded, hopelessly entangled bureaus where nothing is accomplished because the function of the bureau is to intercept every living… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/government-is-operated-by-deeply-embedded-hopelessly-entangled/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [What the insurance companies have done is to reverse the business so that the public at large insures the insurance companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/what-the-insurance-companies-have-done-is-to-reverse-the-business-so/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [A new fascism promises security from the terror of crime. All that is required is that we take away the criminals' rights - which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/a-new-fascism-promises-security-from-the-terror-of-crime-all-that-is/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [Nearly every day on the television set the hero cop breaks into the bad guy's house and beats a confession out of him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/nearly-every-day-on-the-television-set-the-hero-cop-breaks-into-the/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [Our prejudices - we all have them - are part of our personality structure. The problem is that our prejudices may lie lurking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/our-prejudices-we-all-have-them-are-part-of-our-personality-structure/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [Prejudice locks the mind. Nothing can enter. Nothing true can escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/prejudice-locks-the-mind-nothing-can-enter-nothing-true-can-escape/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [Our willingness to openly reveal our feelings in our argument nearly always builds our credibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/our-willingness-to-openly-reveal-our-feelings-in-our-argument-nearly/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

> [. . . in America, we have achieved the Orwellian prediction - enslaved, the people have been programmed to love their bondage and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/in-america-we-have-achieved-the-orwellian-prediction-enslaved-the/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

[Explore all 75 Gerry Spence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

## 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": "Without argument the species would parish.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gerry Spence"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/without-argument-the-species-would-parish/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Argument"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/without-argument-the-species-would-parish/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/gerry-spence-9080_argument_without-argument-the-species-would-paris_2724326.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/gerry-spence-9080_argument_without-argument-the-species-would-paris_2724326.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/860/gerry-spence-9080_argument_without-argument-the-species-would-paris_2724326.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Without argument the species would parish.” — Gerry Spence",
                "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": "Gerry Spence",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Without argument the species would parish.",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/without-argument-the-species-would-parish/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/without-argument-the-species-would-parish/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
