Argument Quote by Helen DeWitt
““When a human being develops an argument, when a human being attempts not only to think but to speak with precision, he or she is often made to feel that this is a mark of social inadequacy and that there is something comical about it. The younger the human being, the more humorous it becomes. So that humans whose inclination it is to think and speak in this way become self-conscious from an early age, and a kind of minstrelisation creeps in.””
About This Quote
The quote critiques how society mocks precise, analytical thinking, especially in youth, leading to self‑consciousness and a tendency to trivialize intellectual rigor.
In simple terms: Intellectual rigor is socially stigmatized.
Key Takeaway
Precision in thought is often ridiculed.
Themes
social conformity
intellectualism
self‑consciousness
age dynamics
cultural criticism
Mood
reflective
ironic
critical
Type
observation
critique
philosophical
When to use this quote
- classroom discussions
- academic presentations
- young professionals networking
- online debates
- creative writing workshops
Key Concepts
speech precision
argumentation
social pressure
minstrelisation
Practical Applications
- Designing curricula that value critical thinking
- Creating safe spaces for articulate discourse
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humor affect the willingness to engage in deep reasoning?
- What environments foster confidence in precise expression?
![“[It's] long been known that making fun of oneself is only a way of taking oneself seriously slightly less crude than others. 97” quote by Marcel Benabou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/39d/marcel-benabou-62822_making-fun_it-s-long-been-known-that-making-fun-of_894321.jpg)
