--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Arguing with people is like reading your…" description: "\"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 just scratching an itch.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/james-altucher-1597_arguing_arguing-with-people-is-like-reading-your_1597818.png" --- # Arguing with people is like reading your e-mail at 4 in… ![“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 just scratching an itch.” quote by James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/james-altucher-1597_arguing_arguing-with-people-is-like-reading-your_1597818.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/james-altucher-1597_arguing_arguing-with-people-is-like-reading-your_1597818.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/james-altucher-1597_arguing_arguing-with-people-is-like-reading-your_1597818.png) > “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 just scratching an itch.” [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Arguing late at night is futile, likened to an itch that offers no benefit, urging avoidance of pointless conflict. **In simple terms:** Late arguments waste time and energy. Key Takeaway Avoid unnecessary disputes. Themes communication time management conflict avoidance Mood frustrated pragmatic Type advice reflective When to use this quote - nighttime work - email management - relationship counseling Key Concepts productive habits emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - When is a heated discussion productive? - How can you redirect late‑night arguments? A Different Perspective Sometimes conflict is necessary for growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) ## Related quotes > [I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/i-never-make-the-mistake-of-arguing-with-people-for-whose-opinions-i/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [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/) > [“Am I worried that the bad guys from Tron are reading our e-mail?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/am-i-worried-that-the-bad-guys-from-tron-are-reading-our-e-mail/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Somewhere here there’s important information I absolutely need,” Tavius said. “But it’s hard for anyone else to sort out what I should know about.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-t-smith/somewhere-here-there-s-important-information-i-absolutely-need-tavius/) [Phyllis T. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-t-smith/) > [“You wonder if that really constitutes being ‘a coincidence’ but don’t press her on the issue, instead sticking your hand down your pocket to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-kerkhoven/you-wonder-if-that-really-constitutes-being-a-coincidence-but-don-t/) Rudolf Kerkhoven > [In Hollywood, I was used to being on a dirty old sound stage, and the whole crew is just scratching themselves. They don't care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-nabors/in-hollywood-i-was-used-to-being-on-a-dirty-old-sound-stage-and-the/) [Jim Nabors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-nabors/) > [“There was nothing between the man and me - - nothing, not even liking. But because of the memory of some wholeness, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuala-o-faolain/there-was-nothing-between-the-man-and-me-nothing-not-even-liking-but/) [Nuala O'Faolain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuala-o-faolain/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 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/) > [“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/) > [Merlin' was awesome, but the costumes would drive you insane. Every day, you'd get into chain mail and wear 30 pounds of that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macken/merlin-was-awesome-but-the-costumes-would-drive-you-insane-every-day/) [Eoin Macken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macken/) > [Some of the mail I've had has been weird. When I played Guy of Gisborne, a woman crocheted a mini-version of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/some-of-the-mail-i-ve-had-has-been-weird-when-i-played-guy-of/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) ## More by James Altucher > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [Take control of who you report to, what you do, what you create. Or start a business on the side. Deliver some value, any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/take-control-of-who-you-report-to-what-you-do-what-you-create-or/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“oxytocin is the “god hormone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/oxytocin-is-the-god-hormone/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“How do you get past this?” Diversification is everything. You get past “this” by having lots of “that”s.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/how-do-you-get-past-this-diversification-is-everything-you-get-past/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [The best speakers are the ones who have put 10,000 hours into listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/the-best-speakers-are-the-ones-who-have-put-10-000-hours-into/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Someone who is reinventing always has spare time. Part of reinvention is collecting little bits and pieces of time and carving them the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/someone-who-is-reinventing-always-has-spare-time-part-of-reinvention/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [America is a country of fighters. People who fought their way in and then continued fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/america-is-a-country-of-fighters-people-who-fought-their-way-in-and/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [I'm scammed almost every day. Or, if not scammed, at the very least someone tries to scam me. Usually more than once a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/i-m-scammed-almost-every-day-or-if-not-scammed-at-the-very-least/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [Honesty is about the scars. It's about the blemishes. But it's more than just bragging about failure, which could be a form of ego.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/honesty-is-about-the-scars-it-s-about-the-blemishes-but-it-s-more/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [Poker is a charismatic game. People who are larger than life play poker and make their living from playing games and hustling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/poker-is-a-charismatic-game-people-who-are-larger-than-life-play/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [Help is a conversation. If one side talks too much, the other side will get bored. So make sure you help back when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/help-is-a-conversation-if-one-side-talks-too-much-the-other-side-will/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Finally, I started to care more about getting better than about winning. I started to study my losses. I would take my losses to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/finally-i-started-to-care-more-about-getting-better-than-about/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“g) Time it takes to reinvent yourself: five years. Here’s a description of the five years: Year One: You’re flailing and reading everything and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/g-time-it-takes-to-reinvent-yourself-five-years-here-s-a-description/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [I can tell you this: Everything in my life that I am happy about it is the product of a huge mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/i-can-tell-you-this-everything-in-my-life-that-i-am-happy-about-it-is/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [Be honest about mistakes. Even if you are afraid of what people think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/be-honest-about-mistakes-even-if-you-are-afraid-of-what-people-think/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) [Explore all 224 James Altucher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) ## 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": "Arguing with people is like reading your e-mail at 4 in the morning. There is absolutely no good that can come of it. 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