--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s as though anyone who argues clearly…" description: "\"“It’s as though anyone who argues clearly can’t be trusted—that’s the opposite of what reasonable people ought to think. That attitude is common even a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/neal-stephenson-362_god-knows_it-s-as-though-anyone-who-argues-clearly_1198769.jpg" --- # It’s as though anyone who argues clearly can’t be… ![“It’s as though anyone who argues clearly can’t be trusted—that’s the opposite of what reasonable people ought to think. That attitude is common even among faculty here, and I’m just at a loss to understand. I can’t talk like a mongoloid pig-sticker on a three-day drunk just so I’ll sound like one…” quote by Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/neal-stephenson-362_god-knows_it-s-as-though-anyone-who-argues-clearly_1198769.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/neal-stephenson-362_god-knows_it-s-as-though-anyone-who-argues-clearly_1198769.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/neal-stephenson-362_god-knows_it-s-as-though-anyone-who-argues-clearly_1198769.jpg) > ““It’s as though anyone who argues clearly can’t be trusted—that’s the opposite of what reasonable people ought to think. That attitude is common even among faculty here, and I’m just at a loss to understand. I can’t talk like a mongoloid pig-sticker on a three-day drunk just so I’ll sound like one of the boys. God knows I can’t support any position, only the right position. If it’s not right, the words won’t make it so. That’s the value of clear language.” This”” [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Clear language is essential for honest discourse; vague speech erodes trust. **In simple terms:** Speak clearly to be trusted. Key Takeaway Prioritize clarity in communication. Themes communication truth clarity Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - debates - academic writing - media reporting Key Concepts rhetoric critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How does clarity affect persuasion? - When is ambiguity acceptable? A Different Perspective Complex ideas may require nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns, as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-great-enemy-of-clear-language-is-insincerity-when-there-is-a-gap/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Precise language is not the problem. Clear language is the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/precise-language-is-not-the-problem-clear-language-is-the-problem/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [On the other hand, in a society whose communication component is becoming more prominent day by day, both as a reality and as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-lyotard/on-the-other-hand-in-a-society-whose-communication-component-is/) [Jean-Francois Lyotard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-lyotard/) > [The greatest enemy of clear language is insincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-greatest-enemy-of-clear-language-is-insincerity/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The great enemy of clear language is insincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-great-enemy-of-clear-language-is-insincerity/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Clear language engenders clear thought, and clear thought is the most important benefit of education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mitchell/clear-language-engenders-clear-thought-and-clear-thought-is-the-most/) [Richard Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mitchell/) > [We are at a time in history where everyone with any insight of the climate crisis that threatens our civilisation - and the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/we-are-at-a-time-in-history-where-everyone-with-any-insight-of-the/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [The real problem in speech is not precise language. The problem is clear language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-real-problem-in-speech-is-not-precise-language-the-problem-is/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“talking about clear minds writing in clear language—the predictions of Saint Augustine, Sir Francis Bacon, Newton, Einstein, the list goes on and on, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/talking-about-clear-minds-writing-in-clear-language-the-predictions/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“Since the humanities are not problem-oriented, Lou Burnard argues that their methodologies cannot be formalized.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-terras/since-the-humanities-are-not-problem-oriented-lou-burnard-argues-that/) [Melissa Terras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-terras/) > [I think the media argues all the time with itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/i-think-the-media-argues-all-the-time-with-itself/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [Reason argues the case, but fact may determine the judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/reason-argues-the-case-but-fact-may-determine-the-judgment/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“An argument must have opposition if it is to prove itself, my son,” she said. “One who argues truly learns the depth of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/an-argument-must-have-opposition-if-it-is-to-prove-itself-my-son-she/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [A wit should no more be sincere, than a woman constant; one argues a decay of parts, as to other of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/a-wit-should-no-more-be-sincere-than-a-woman-constant-one-argues-a/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [When an arguer argues dispassionately he thinks only of the argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/when-an-arguer-argues-dispassionately-he-thinks-only-of-the-argument/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## More by Neal Stephenson > [“I study dead languages for a living,” I said. “That’s why you hired me. Why should I be up to speed on your line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-study-dead-languages-for-a-living-i-said-that-s-why-you-hired-me/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Other people - store clerks, burger flippers, software engineers, the whole vocabulary of meaningless jobs that make up Life in America - other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/other-people-store-clerks-burger-flippers-software-engineers-the/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“It is what you don’t expect,” he’d said, “that most needs looking for.” “Do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/it-is-what-you-don-t-expect-he-d-said-that-most-needs-looking-for-do/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“...the insects here see you as a big slab of animated but not very well defended food. The ability to move, far from being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-insects-here-see-you-as-a-big-slab-of-animated-but-not-very-well/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“There was no way that these guys were going to let a bleeding, barefoot woman simply wander off alone into the streets. Two of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/there-was-no-way-that-these-guys-were-going-to-let-a-bleeding/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Space and Time! Two minor omissions that no one is likely to notice," grumbled Newton.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/space-and-time-two-minor-omissions-that-no-one-is-likely-to-notice/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [See, the world is full of things more powerful than us. But if you know how to catch a ride, you can go places,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/see-the-world-is-full-of-things-more-powerful-than-us-but-if-you-know/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Hey,” Shaftoe says, “if we surrender to you, you’ll kill us. Right?” “Yes.” “If you guys surrender to us, we won’t kill you. Promise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/hey-shaftoe-says-if-we-surrender-to-you-you-ll-kill-us-right-yes-if/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“My men think you are dead now, and won’t waste balls on you,” Jack said. “In fact I have let you live, but for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/my-men-think-you-are-dead-now-and-won-t-waste-balls-on-you-jack-said/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“You’ve probably heard the expression that the Industry feeds off of biomass, like a whale straining krill from the ocean.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/you-ve-probably-heard-the-expression-that-the-industry-feeds-off-of/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. He’s got esprit up to here. Right now, he is preparing to carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-deliverator-belongs-to-an-elite-order-a-hallowed-subcategory-he-s/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Interesting things happen along borders - transitions - not in the middle where everything is the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/interesting-things-happen-along-borders-transitions-not-in-the-middle/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“and people could only make sense of complicated matters through stories. Likewise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/and-people-could-only-make-sense-of-complicated-matters-through/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Van Eck phreaking,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/van-eck-phreaking/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“When the Deliverator puts the hammer down, shit happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/when-the-deliverator-puts-the-hammer-down-shit-happens/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) [Explore all 633 Neal Stephenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## More God knows quotes > [People often take me wrong I didn't feel bad I just smile beause onely god knows what is in person heart :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/musfirah/people-often-take-me-wrong-i-didn-t-feel-bad-i-just-smile-beause/) [Musfirah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/musfirah/) > [Single Truth Behind EveryHEART-ACHELOVE Hurts WhenGOD Knows¦You Deserves SomeoneElse ¦.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinku-razoria/single-truth-behind-everyheart-achelove-hurts-whengod-knows-you/) [Tinku Razoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinku-razoria/) > [Life is like riding on a bus. God is the driver and I am the passenger. Have faith God knows which route to take.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefroy-hanson/life-is-like-riding-on-a-bus-god-is-the-driver-and-i-am-the-passenger/) [Jefroy Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefroy-hanson/) > [If God knows me I will never forget him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trunxbeats/if-god-knows-me-i-will-never-forget-him/) Trunxbeats > [I care more about what God knows than what man says.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/i-care-more-about-what-god-knows-than-what-man-says/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [God alone knows how great it is. All I hope is that it is not too late. I am very much afraid that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/god-alone-knows-how-great-it-is-all-i-hope-is-that-it-is-not-too-late/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“You think my feelings toward you apathetic? You think you bore me?” “Don’t I?” He shook his head slowly, continuing toward her, stalking her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/you-think-my-feelings-toward-you-apathetic-you-think-you-bore-me-don/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [...God does not possess a private knowledge of Himself and a separate knowledge of all the creatures in common. The universal Cause, by knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/god-does-not-possess-a-private-knowledge-of-himself-and-a-separate/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [ Does God know he \[exists\]?" "Of course he does. Otherwise, you could not have asked the question, and I could not have answered. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/does-god-know-he-exists-of-course-he-does-otherwise-you-could-not/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [God knows we are subtle creatures who are more than able to use candour to avoid acknowledging our deceptions of others and ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/god-knows-we-are-subtle-creatures-who-are-more-than-able-to-use/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [“The last days before graduation are bad enough, God knows--out of the womb you go, ready or not. The halls rang with the laughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-savage/the-last-days-before-graduation-are-bad-enough-god-knows-out-of-the/) [Elizabeth Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-savage/) > [“Women are odd. I really mean that. A woman doesn't know the effect she has on a man. Any woman affects every man with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gash/women-are-odd-i-really-mean-that-a-woman-doesn-t-know-the-effect-she/) [Jonathan Gash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gash/) > [“There’s strength in observing one’s miniaturization. That you are insignificant and prone to, and God knows, dumb about a lot. Because doesn’t smallness prime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/durga-chew-bose/there-s-strength-in-observing-one-s-miniaturization-that-you-are/) [Durga Chew-Bose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/durga-chew-bose/) > [God knows what is best for us, and He will lead us to where we need to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mild-z-de-asis/god-knows-what-is-best-for-us-and-he-will-lead-us-to-where-we-need-to/) [Mild'z De Asis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mild-z-de-asis/) > [“Poor Chameli. Born an anomaly and abandoned at birth. God knows what she must have gone through as a child. How many times must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faiqa-mansab/poor-chameli-born-an-anomaly-and-abandoned-at-birth-god-knows-what/) [Faiqa Mansab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faiqa-mansab/) Browse all 1,124 God knows quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It’s as though anyone who argues clearly can’t be trusted—that’s the opposite of what reasonable people ought to think. That attitude is common even among faculty here, and I’m just at a loss to understand. I can’t talk like a mongoloid pig-sticker on a three-day drunk just so I’ll sound like one of the boys. God knows I can’t support any position, only the right position. If it’s not right, the words won’t make it so. That’s the value of clear language.” This”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neal Stephenson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/it-s-as-though-anyone-who-argues-clearly-can-t-be-trusted-that-s-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God knows" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/it-s-as-though-anyone-who-argues-clearly-can-t-be-trusted-that-s-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/neal-stephenson-362_god-knows_it-s-as-though-anyone-who-argues-clearly_1198769.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/neal-stephenson-362_god-knows_it-s-as-though-anyone-who-argues-clearly_1198769.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eab/neal-stephenson-362_god-knows_it-s-as-though-anyone-who-argues-clearly_1198769.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It’s as though anyone who argues clearly can’t be trusted—that’s the opposite of what reasonable people…” — Neal Stephenson", "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": "Neal Stephenson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It’s as though anyone who argues...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/it-s-as-though-anyone-who-argues-clearly-can-t-be-trusted-that-s-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/it-s-as-though-anyone-who-argues-clearly-can-t-be-trusted-that-s-the/#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 } } ] } ```