--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd much rather have 15 people arguing…" description: "\"I'd much rather have 15 people arguing about something than 15 people splitting into two camps, each side convinced it's right and not talking to the o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/linus-torvalds-1512_arguing_i-d-much-rather-have-15-people-arguing-a_444254.jpg" --- # I'd much rather have 15 people arguing about something… ![“I'd much rather have 15 people arguing about something than 15 people splitting into two camps, each side convinced it's right and not talking to the other.” quote by Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/linus-torvalds-1512_arguing_i-d-much-rather-have-15-people-arguing-a_444254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/linus-torvalds-1512_arguing_i-d-much-rather-have-15-people-arguing-a_444254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/linus-torvalds-1512_arguing_i-d-much-rather-have-15-people-arguing-a_444254.jpg) > “I'd much rather have 15 people arguing about something than 15 people splitting into two camps, each side convinced it's right and not talking to the other.” [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages open debate over polarized camps, fostering dialogue and shared understanding. **In simple terms:** Prefer debate to division. Key Takeaway Seek diverse viewpoints. Themes collaboration dialogue conflict resolution open source teamwork Mood thoughtful constructive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - software development meetings - community forums - team brainstorming - policy discussions Key Concepts polarization group dynamics communication critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure all voices are heard? - What structures prevent arguments from stalling? A Different Perspective Debate can become echo chambers without facilitation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [15 People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/15-people-1088662/) [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Arguing 15](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing-15-3889614/) [Camps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camps/) [Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convinced/) [Not talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-talking/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-arguing-665309/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Splitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/splitting/) [Splitting Camps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/splitting-camps-3889615/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [Some people make that decision at 15 and some people make it at 50, and most people never make it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/some-people-make-that-decision-at-15-and-some-people-make-it-at-50/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [There are so many people who are arguing or fighting over issues which don't have much relevance. We must all realise it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalpana-chawla/there-are-so-many-people-who-are-arguing-or-fighting-over-issues-2/) [Kalpana Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalpana-chawla/) > [When two people are arguing about who loves the other person most, the one who first gives up, wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-two-people-are-arguing-about-who-loves-the-other-person-most-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All religious wars are about people arguing over who has the biggest invisible friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/all-religious-wars-are-about-people-arguing-over-who-has-the-biggest/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [Republican candidates had to appeal to their base, which is by and large elderly white people arguing with empty chairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/republican-candidates-had-to-appeal-to-their-base-which-is-by-and/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [If two people are arguing & one person says, You know what... Just sit back & enjoy. Trust me that argument is about to get awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/if-two-people-are-arguing-one-person-says-you-know-what-just-sit-back/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Without agreement you just have people arguing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/without-agreement-you-just-have-people-arguing/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [All in the Family' was such a mean-spirited show. There was no humanity there - just a bunch of people arguing about the issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demond-wilson/all-in-the-family-was-such-a-mean-spirited-show-there-was-no-humanity/) [Demond Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demond-wilson/) > [If you listen to two people who are arguing about something, and they each of them have passionate faith that they're right, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/if-you-listen-to-two-people-who-are-arguing-about-something-and-they/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“There are so many people who are arguing or fighting over issues which don’t have much relevance. We must all realise it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalpana-chawla/there-are-so-many-people-who-are-arguing-or-fighting-over-issues/) [Kalpana Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalpana-chawla/) > [People are always arguing: New York or L.A.? They're both great places, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-casablancas/people-are-always-arguing-new-york-or-l-a-they-re-both-great-places/) [Julian Casablancas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-casablancas/) > [My mom, she was unbelievable. She ran the whole town. She was like the mayor. There would be 15 people eating at our lunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-costa/my-mom-she-was-unbelievable-she-ran-the-whole-town-she-was-like-the/) [Francisco Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-costa/) > [I wanted to tell my story because I believe that if I can inspire or motivate even 10 or 15 people to start losing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-kapoor/i-wanted-to-tell-my-story-because-i-believe-that-if-i-can-inspire-or/) [Arjun Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-kapoor/) > [I may not be able to prevent a million girls or boys from being trafficked, but I can at least help out 10-15 people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richa-chadha/i-may-not-be-able-to-prevent-a-million-girls-or-boys-from-being/) [Richa Chadha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richa-chadha/) > [The only part of an argument that really matters is what we think of the people arguing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-part-of-an-argument-that-really-matters-is-what-we-think-of-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Linus Torvalds > [Once you realize that documentation should be laughed at, peed upon, put on fire, and just ridiculed in general, then, and only then, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/once-you-realize-that-documentation-should-be-laughed-at-peed-upon/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I think, fundamentally, open source does tend to be more stable software. It's the right way to do things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-think-fundamentally-open-source-does-tend-to-be-more-stable/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I used to be interested in Windows NT, but the more I see it, the more it looks like traditional Windows with a stabler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-used-to-be-interested-in-windows-nt-but-the-more-i-see-it-the-more/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I think that freely available software can not only keep up with the evolution of commercial software, but often exceed what you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-think-that-freely-available-software-can-not-only-keep-up-with-the/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Programmers are in the enviable position of not only getting to do what they want to, but because the end result is so important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/programmers-are-in-the-enviable-position-of-not-only-getting-to-do/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [The NIH syndrome (Not Invented Here) is a disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/the-nih-syndrome-not-invented-here-is-a-disease/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [The correct form factor for a laptop is obviously 12" and 2 lbs, and I don't understand why everybody gets that wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/the-correct-form-factor-for-a-laptop-is-obviously-12-and-2-lbs-and-i/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Hmmm, completely a-religious - atheist. I find that people seem to think religion brings morals and appreciation of nature. I actually think it detracts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/hmmm-completely-a-religious-atheist-i-find-that-people-seem-to-think/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [People will realize that software is not a product; you use it to build a product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/people-will-realize-that-software-is-not-a-product-you-use-it-to/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I claim that Mach people (and apparently FreeBSD) are incompetent idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-claim-that-mach-people-and-apparently-freebsd-are-incompetent-idiots/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [There are "extremists" in the free software world, but that's one major reason why I don't call what I do "free software" any more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/there-are-extremists-in-the-free-software-world-but-that-s-one-major/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Real quality means making sure that people are proud of the code they write, that they're involved and taking it personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/real-quality-means-making-sure-that-people-are-proud-of-the-code-they/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I have one very basic rule when it comes to "good ideas". A good idea is not an idea that solves a problem cleanly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-have-one-very-basic-rule-when-it-comes-to-good-ideas-a-good-idea-is/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I've never regretted not making Linux shareware: I really don't like the pay for use binary shareware programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-ve-never-regretted-not-making-linux-shareware-i-really-don-t-like/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Modern PCs are horrible. ACPI is a complete design disaster in every way. But we're kind of stuck with it. If any Intel people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/modern-pcs-are-horrible-acpi-is-a-complete-design-disaster-in-every/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) [Explore all 233 Linus Torvalds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) ## 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd much rather have 15 people arguing about something than 15 people splitting into two camps, each side convinced it's right and not talking to the other.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Linus Torvalds" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-d-much-rather-have-15-people-arguing-about-something-than-15-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arguing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-d-much-rather-have-15-people-arguing-about-something-than-15-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/linus-torvalds-1512_arguing_i-d-much-rather-have-15-people-arguing-a_444254.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/linus-torvalds-1512_arguing_i-d-much-rather-have-15-people-arguing-a_444254.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/linus-torvalds-1512_arguing_i-d-much-rather-have-15-people-arguing-a_444254.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'd much rather have 15 people arguing about something than 15 people splitting into two camps, each side…” — Linus Torvalds", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Linus Torvalds", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'd much rather have 15 people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-d-much-rather-have-15-people-arguing-about-something-than-15-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-d-much-rather-have-15-people-arguing-about-something-than-15-people/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```