--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot have a rational discussion…" description: "\"You cannot have a rational discussion with a man who prefers shooting you to being convinced by you.\" — Karl Popper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/karl-popper-2167_convinced_you-cannot-have-a-rational-discussion-wi_3108569.jpg" --- # You cannot have a rational discussion with a man who… ![“You cannot have a rational discussion with a man who prefers shooting you to being convinced by you.” quote by Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/karl-popper-2167_convinced_you-cannot-have-a-rational-discussion-wi_3108569.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/karl-popper-2167_convinced_you-cannot-have-a-rational-discussion-wi_3108569.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/karl-popper-2167_convinced_you-cannot-have-a-rational-discussion-wi_3108569.jpg) > “You cannot have a rational discussion with a man who prefers shooting you to being convinced by you.” [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that rational debate is impossible with individuals who favor violence over persuasion. **In simple terms:** Violence blocks rational dialogue. Key Takeaway Promote non‑violent, evidence‑based discourse. Themes communication rationality violence politics conflict Mood concerned analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - education - mediated negotiations - conflict resolution - public policy Key Concepts logic ethics dialogue cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How can we engage those who resort to force? - What strategies reduce reliance on intimidation? A Different Perspective Some may never be swayed by reason alone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convinced/) [Discussion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussion/) [Discussion Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussion-man-5419519/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Prefers Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefers-shooting-5419517/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Rational Discussion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-discussion-1605943/) [Shooting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting/) [Shooting Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shooting-convinced-5419518/) ## Related quotes > [If the Humanists wish to be champions of reason, they should consider the following: just as they would not admit mystics into their camp,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/if-the-humanists-wish-to-be-champions-of-reason-they-should-consider/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Disruption never helps your cause. ... It just looks like you're afraid to have rational discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/disruption-never-helps-your-cause-it-just-looks-like-you-re-afraid-to/) [Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/) > [As an engineer, I learned that a long time ago: you don't want to get into a rational discussion about irrational subjects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-khan/as-an-engineer-i-learned-that-a-long-time-ago-you-don-t-want-to-get/) [Shahid Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-khan/) > [Darwinism removed the whole idea of God as the creator from the sphere of rational discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/darwinism-removed-the-whole-idea-of-god-as-the-creator-from-the/) [Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/) > [I've learned over the years that 'rational discussion' accomplishes almost nothing in politics, particularly with people better educated than average.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cummings/i-ve-learned-over-the-years-that-rational-discussion-accomplishes/) [Dominic Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cummings/) > [Rational discussion is useful only when there is a significant base of shared assumptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/rational-discussion-is-useful-only-when-there-is-a-significant-base/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Thus science must begin with myths, and with the criticism of myths; neither with the collection of observations, nor with the invention of experiments,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/thus-science-must-begin-with-myths-and-with-the-criticism-of-myths/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [The dissemination of the individual's opinions on matters of public interest is for us, in the historic words of the Declaration of Independence, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall-harlan-ii/the-dissemination-of-the-individual-s-opinions-on-matters-of-public/) [John Marshall Harlan II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall-harlan-ii/) > [There are two famous labyrinths where our reason very often goes astray. One concerns the great question of the free and the necessary, above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/there-are-two-famous-labyrinths-where-our-reason-very-often-goes/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [There needs to be some regime that is overseeing access to broadband to make sure we have openess; otherwise, there is a risk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-needs-to-be-some-regime-that-is-overseeing-access-to-broadband/) [Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/) > [ \[Kathleen Blackshear\] just said, "Have you thought of looking at this?" and so on and so on and so on. And it was a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-mackenzie/kathleen-blackshear-just-said-have-you-thought-of-looking-at-this-and/) [Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-mackenzie/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The "family" has clearly emerged anew in the late 1970s as a central subject for discussion, debate, research and writing in bothscholarly and popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/the-family-has-clearly-emerged-anew-in-the-late-1970s-as-a-central/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [To prevent discussion of any other explanations of human origins is hardly what I would expect from open-minded educators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/to-prevent-discussion-of-any-other-explanations-of-human-origins-is/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) ## More by Karl Popper > [Science is not a system of certain, or -established, statements; nor is it a system which steadily advances towards a state of finality... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-not-a-system-of-certain-or-established-statements-nor-is/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [“As indicated by our example, methodological nominalism is nowadays fairly generally accepted in the natural sciences. The problems of the social sciences, on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/as-indicated-by-our-example-methodological-nominalism-is-nowadays/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Science is perhaps the only human activity in which errors are systematically criticized and, in time, corrected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-perhaps-the-only-human-activity-in-which-errors-are/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [A system is empirical or scientific only if it is capable of being tested by experience. These considerations suggest that not the verifiability but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/a-system-is-empirical-or-scientific-only-if-it-is-capable-of-being/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Bold ideas, unjustified anticipations, and speculative thought, are our only means for interpreting nature: our only organon, our only instrument, for grasping her. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/bold-ideas-unjustified-anticipations-and-speculative-thought-are-our/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [ \[The aim of science is\] to explain what so far has taken to be an explicans, such as a law of nature. The task… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/the-aim-of-science-is-to-explain-what-so-far-has-taken-to-be-an/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [There can be no ultimate statements science: there can be no statements in science which can not be tested, and therefore none which cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/there-can-be-no-ultimate-statements-science-there-can-be-no/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Evolution is not a fact. Evolution doesn't even qualify as a theory or as a hypothesis. It is a metaphysical research program, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/evolution-is-not-a-fact-evolution-doesn-t-even-qualify-as-a-theory-or/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [I am opposed to looking upon logic as a kind of game. ... One might think that it is a matter of choice or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/i-am-opposed-to-looking-upon-logic-as-a-kind-of-game-one-might-think/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [The history of science, like the history of all human ideas, is a history of irresponsible dreams, of obstinacy, and of error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/the-history-of-science-like-the-history-of-all-human-ideas-is-a/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Good tests kill flawed theories; we remain alive to guess again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/good-tests-kill-flawed-theories-we-remain-alive-to-guess-again/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [There is no pure, disinterested, theory-free observation,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/there-is-no-pure-disinterested-theory-free-observation/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [We have the right not to tolerate the intolerant. We should tolerate even them whenever we can do so without running a great risk;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/we-have-the-right-not-to-tolerate-the-intolerant-we-should-tolerate/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [Better our hypotheses die for our errors than ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/better-our-hypotheses-die-for-our-errors-than-ourselves/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [“Every time we proceed to explain some conjectural law or theory by a new conjectural theory of a higher degree of universality, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/every-time-we-proceed-to-explain-some-conjectural-law-or-theory-by-a/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) [Explore all 181 Karl Popper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) ## More Convinced quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. 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Therefore do not take lightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/be-convinced-that-to-be-happy-means-to-be-free-and-that-to-be-free/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [I'm convinced I will be cleared of all these charges that were unfairly leveled against me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-estrada/i-m-convinced-i-will-be-cleared-of-all-these-charges-that-were/) [Joseph Estrada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-estrada/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm convinced the fall of Aleppo will not end the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federica-mogherini/i-m-convinced-the-fall-of-aleppo-will-not-end-the-war/) [Federica Mogherini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federica-mogherini/) > [The male dares to be different to the degree that he accepts his passivity and his desire to be female, his fagginess. The farthest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/the-male-dares-to-be-different-to-the-degree-that-he-accepts-his/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [I cannot be convinced that great artists are moralists. Art is first appearances, then meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-cannot-be-convinced-that-great-artists-are-moralists-art-is-first/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [In high school I had sex with girls quite a few times. They were straight women who I convinced to jump in the sack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-de-rossi/in-high-school-i-had-sex-with-girls-quite-a-few-times-they-were/) [Portia de Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-de-rossi/) > [Adults look upon a child as something empty that is to be filled through their own efforts, as something inert and helpless for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/adults-look-upon-a-child-as-something-empty-that-is-to-be-filled/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [ The fact that an Englishman has an Argentinian as an idol is very rare. I keep watching my \[title-winning\] goal against QPR and every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-aguero/the-fact-that-an-englishman-has-an-argentinian-as-an-idol-is-very/) [Sergio Aguero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-aguero/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [I'm not convinced that the world is in any worse shape than it ever was. 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