Argument Quote by James E. Talmage
““The man who cannot listen to an argument which opposes his views either has a weak position or is a weak defender of it. No opinion that cannot stand discussion or criticism is worth holding. And it has been wisely said that the man who knows only half of any question is worse off than the man who knows nothing of it. He is not only one sided, but his partisanship soon turns him into an intolerant and a fanatic. In general it is true that nothing which cannot stand up under discussion and criticism is worth defending.””
About This Quote
Source Theocratic Lecture: The Gospel Principles, 1915
Ideas must survive scrutiny; only those that hold up under criticism are worth defending.
In simple terms: Ideas need testing.
Key Takeaway
Seek evidence, welcome critique.
Themes
critical thinking
dialogue
intellectual humility
Mood
inquisitive
analytical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic research
- policy making
- personal belief formation
- public discourse
Key Concepts
philosophy
epistemology
debate
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs have you defended without testing?
- How can constructive criticism improve your views?
A Different Perspective
Rigid adherence can stifle innovation.
![“Here they [the Jaredites] became a flourishing nation; but, giving way in time to internal dissensions, they divided into factions, which warred with one another until the people were totally destroyed (p. 15).” quote by James E. Talmage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/844/james-e-talmage-19634_destruction_here-they-the-jaredites-became-a-flouris_648482.jpg)
