Argument Quote by Irving Kaufman
“The trial lawyer does what Socrates was executed for: making the worse argument appear the stronger.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Trial Lawyer by Irving Kaufman, 1995
A lawyer's skill is to make an inferior position seem convincing, echoing Socrates' fate for challenging prevailing views.
In simple terms: Lawyers can make weak arguments seem strong.
Key Takeaway
Beware of persuasive tactics that mask truth.
Themes
ethics
persuasion
law
justice
truth
Mood
cautious
critical
skeptical
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- courtroom debates
- political campaigns
- media analysis
- advertising pitches
Key Concepts
rhetoric
skepticism
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate the strength of an argument?
- When might a compelling argument be misleading?
A Different Perspective
Even strong arguments can be deceptive if not scrutinized.
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![“I have been shaped by the experiences of the people who are closest to me, by the things I've learned from [my wife] Martha, by my hopes and my concerns for my children, Philip and Laura, by the experiences of members of my family, who are getting older, by my sister's experiences as a trial…” quote by Samuel Alito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c11/samuel-alito-11708_children_i-have-been-shaped-by-the-experiences-of_1845151.jpg)
