Difference-of-opinion Quote by Leo Tolstoy
““And since no difference is less easily overcome than the difference of opinion about semi-abstract questions, they never agreed in any opinion, and had long, indeed, been accustomed to jeer without anger, each at the other’s incorrigible aberrations.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy, 1869
People often argue over abstract ideas without hostility, showing that intellectual disagreements can be detached from personal animosity.
In simple terms: Debates can be civil despite deep differences.
Separate ideas from personal attacks.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic debates
- online forums
- team meetings
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you keep discussions constructive?
- When does disagreement become personal?
Even civil debates can mask underlying tensions.