---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many a good argument is ruined by some…"
description: "\"“Many a good argument is ruined by some fool who knows what he is talking about.”\" — Marshall McLuhan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/marshall-mcluhan-641_argument_many-a-good-argument-is-ruined-by-some-f_1203575.png"
---

#  Many a good argument is ruined by some fool who knows what…

![“Many a good argument is ruined by some fool who knows what he is talking about.” quote by Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/marshall-mcluhan-641_argument_many-a-good-argument-is-ruined-by-some-f_1203575.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/marshall-mcluhan-641_argument_many-a-good-argument-is-ruined-by-some-f_1203575.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/marshall-mcluhan-641_argument_many-a-good-argument-is-ruined-by-some-f_1203575.png)

> ““Many a good argument is ruined by some fool who knows what he is talking about.””

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Arguments falter when a knowledgeable fool disrupts logical discourse.

**In simple terms:** Foolishness can ruin good arguments.

Key Takeaway

Guard against uninformed interference.

Themes

communication logic argumentation media

Mood

analytical cautious

Type

philosophical media studies

When to use this quote

- debates
- public discourse
- education

Key Concepts

critical thinking information overload

Questions to Reflect On

- How to maintain argument integrity?
- Who decides what is 'foolish'?

A Different Perspective

Even experts can be misled by noise.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/)

## Related quotes

> [You can make a very good argument that society would be much worse off if you let 10 rapists and murderers free rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/you-can-make-a-very-good-argument-that-society-would-be-much-worse/)

[Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/)

> [“to do only if you don’t have a good argument. This is also a good way to keep people at one another’s throats constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-carson/to-do-only-if-you-don-t-have-a-good-argument-this-is-also-a-good-way/)

[Ben Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-carson/)

> [In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/in-science-it-often-happens-that-scientists-say-you-know-that-s-a/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [The core of science is not a mathematical modeling--it is intellectual honesty. It is a willingness to have our certainties about the world constrained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-core-of-science-is-not-a-mathematical-modeling-it-is-intellectual/)

[Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/)

> [In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken', and then they would actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-carl-sagan/in-science-it-often-happens-that-scientists-say-you-know-that-s-a-3/)

[Dr Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-carl-sagan/)

> [However good an argument in philosophy may happen to be, it is generally not good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berlinski/however-good-an-argument-in-philosophy-may-happen-to-be-it-is/)

[David Berlinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berlinski/)

> [In science it often happens that scientists say, "You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken..."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/in-science-it-often-happens-that-scientists-say-you-know-that-s-a-2/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [“People rid the room of argument until they have no one left — except people who agree with them. It is understandable. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bono/people-rid-the-room-of-argument-until-they-have-no-one-left-except/)

[Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bono/)

> [If you want a good argument against democracy, spend five minutes with a voter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-you-want-a-good-argument-against-democracy-spend-five-minutes-with/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [Although everyone fights, few people know how to have a good argument, an argument that clears the air and makes it less likely a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-viscott/although-everyone-fights-few-people-know-how-to-have-a-good-argument/)

[David Viscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-viscott/)

> [The Banh Mi sandwich is really the only good argument for colonialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/the-banh-mi-sandwich-is-really-the-only-good-argument-for-colonialism/)

[Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/)

> [We cannot be so scared that our ideas or opinions will not survive being tested. If you are afraid of being wrong, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hurd/we-cannot-be-so-scared-that-our-ideas-or-opinions-will-not-survive/)

[Will Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hurd/)

> [Argument Is Bad, But Discussion Is Good, Because, ARGUMENT Is To Find Out WHO IS RIGHT and DISCUSSION Is To Find Out WHAT IS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/argument-is-bad-but-discussion-is-good-because-argument-is-to-find/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [“Every once in awhile, have a really good argument with yourself. I mean really get pissed off. Take both sides. Then look in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-hochberg/every-once-in-awhile-have-a-really-good-argument-with-yourself-i-mean/)

[Art Hochberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-hochberg/)

> [I love a good argument and sometimes I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut if I think someone is wrong... I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-love-a-good-argument-and-sometimes-i-have-a-hard-time-keeping-my/)

[Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/)

## More by Marshall McLuhan

> [Even mud gives the illusion of depth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/even-mud-gives-the-illusion-of-depth/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [Language always preserves a play or figure/ground relation between experience, and perception and its replay in expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/language-always-preserves-a-play-or-figure-ground-relation-between/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [Electronic man has no physical body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/electronic-man-has-no-physical-body/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [I am curious to know what would happen if art were suddenly seen for what it is, namely, exact information of how to rearrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/i-am-curious-to-know-what-would-happen-if-art-were-suddenly-seen-for/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [With the arrival of electric technology, man has extended, or set outside himself, a live model of the central nervous system itself. To the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/with-the-arrival-of-electric-technology-man-has-extended-or-set/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [“The constant broadcast and reception of ghostly images via radio and television, according to this notion, had weakened the sense, particularly among youth, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-constant-broadcast-and-reception-of-ghostly-images-via-radio-and/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [Every innovation scraps its immediate predecessor and retrieves still older figures – it causes floods of antiques or nostalgic art forms and stimulates the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/every-innovation-scraps-its-immediate-predecessor-and-retrieves-still/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [The family circle has widened. The worldpool of information fathered by the electric media--movies, Telstar, flight--far surpassesany possible influence mom and dad can now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-family-circle-has-widened-the-worldpool-of-information-fathered/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [Like primitive, we now live in a global village of our own making, a simultaneous happening. It doesn't necessarily mean harmony and peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/like-primitive-we-now-live-in-a-global-village-of-our-own-making-a/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [Professionalism is environmental. Amateurism is anti-environmental. Professionalism merges the individual into patterns of total environment. Amateurism seeks the development of the total awareness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/professionalism-is-environmental-amateurism-is-anti-environmental/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [The visual power of the phonetic alphabet is the translate other languages into itself is part of its power to invade right hemisphere (oral)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-visual-power-of-the-phonetic-alphabet-is-the-translate-other/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [New media may at first appear as mere codes of transmission for older achievement and established patterns of thought. But nobody could make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/new-media-may-at-first-appear-as-mere-codes-of-transmission-for-older/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [Youth instinctively understand the present environment - the electric drama. It lives mythically and in depth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/youth-instinctively-understand-the-present-environment-the-electric/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [Our motor car is our supreme form of privacy when we are away from home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/our-motor-car-is-our-supreme-form-of-privacy-when-we-are-away-from/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

> [The scientist rigorously defends his right to be ignorant of almost everything except his specialty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-scientist-rigorously-defends-his-right-to-be-ignorant-of-almost/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

[Explore all 433 Marshall McLuhan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

## More Argument quotes

> [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/)

[Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/)

[Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/)

> [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/)

> [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/)

[Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/)

> [One argument goes that recessions are good for female artists because when money flies out the window, women are allowed in the house. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/one-argument-goes-that-recessions-are-good-for-female-artists-because/)

[Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/)

> [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/)

[Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/)

> [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [If in the middle of an argument I suddenly fall silent it does not mean you have won... No it means you should probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/if-in-the-middle-of-an-argument-i-suddenly-fall-silent-it-does-not/)

[Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/)

> [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/)

[Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/)

> [“The motive behind my arguments have always been to come at truth. I am not interested in conquering anyone with my ideologies or seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-evans/the-motive-behind-my-arguments-have-always-been-to-come-at-truth-i-am/)

[Crystal Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-evans/)

> [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/)

[John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/)

[Browse all 3,479 Argument quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Many a good argument is ruined by some fool who knows what he is talking about.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Marshall McLuhan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/many-a-good-argument-is-ruined-by-some-fool-who-knows-what-he-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Argument"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/many-a-good-argument-is-ruined-by-some-fool-who-knows-what-he-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/marshall-mcluhan-641_argument_many-a-good-argument-is-ruined-by-some-f_1203575.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/marshall-mcluhan-641_argument_many-a-good-argument-is-ruined-by-some-f_1203575.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/marshall-mcluhan-641_argument_many-a-good-argument-is-ruined-by-some-f_1203575.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Many a good argument is ruined by some fool who knows what he is talking about.” — Marshall McLuhan",
                "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": "Marshall McLuhan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Many a good argument is ruined...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/many-a-good-argument-is-ruined-by-some-fool-who-knows-what-he-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/many-a-good-argument-is-ruined-by-some-fool-who-knows-what-he-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
