--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In arguing too, the parson own'd his…" description: "\"In arguing too, the parson own'd his skill, For e'en though vanquish'd he could argue still; While words of learned length and thundering sound Amaz'd ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_arguing_in-arguing-too-the-parson-own-d-his-skil_1441584.png" --- # In arguing too, the parson own'd his skill, For e'en… ![“In arguing too, the parson own'd his skill, For e'en though vanquish'd he could argue still; While words of learned length and thundering sound Amaz'd the gazing rustics rang'd around; And still they gaz'd, and still the wonder grew That one small head could carry all he knew.” quote by Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_arguing_in-arguing-too-the-parson-own-d-his-skil_1441584.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_arguing_in-arguing-too-the-parson-own-d-his-skil_1441584.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_arguing_in-arguing-too-the-parson-own-d-his-skil_1441584.png) > “In arguing too, the parson own'd his skill, For e'en though vanquish'd he could argue still; While words of learned length and thundering sound Amaz'd the gazing rustics rang'd around; And still they gaz'd, and still the wonder grew That one small head could carry all he knew.” [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A learned speaker impresses simple folk with his knowledge, even when defeated, showing the power of eloquence. **In simple terms:** Eloquent speakers awe audiences despite setbacks. Key Takeaway Value clear, persuasive communication. Themes communication knowledge influence humility education Mood admiring thoughtful critical Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - public debates - teaching - leadership - media presentations Key Concepts rhetoric public speaking social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does style affect perception of truth? - When does persuasion become manipulation? A Different Perspective Even great eloquence can mask lack of substance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, that one small head could carry all he knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/and-still-they-gazed-and-still-the-wonder-grew-that-one-small-head/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Oh when I was in love with you, Then I was clean and brave, And miles around the wonder grew How well did I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman/oh-when-i-was-in-love-with-you-then-i-was-clean-and-brave-and-miles/) [A. E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman/) > [All my life I used to wonder what I would become when I grew up. Then, about seven years ago, I realized that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-my-life-i-used-to-wonder-what-i-would-become-when-i-grew-up-then/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How do you plan to keep me here during the day? An unblooded Forbearer shouldn't be sohard to vanquish."Vanquished by her? Amusing. "I'll send…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/how-do-you-plan-to-keep-me-here-during-the-day-an-unblooded-forbearer-2/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [If you follow nature you will not be able to vanquish the tragic in any real degree in your art... We must free ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-mondrian/if-you-follow-nature-you-will-not-be-able-to-vanquish-the-tragic-in/) [Piet Mondrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-mondrian/) > [The fundamental religion of most of mankind is the faith that God has revealed Himself to us and not to the barbarians. Our tribe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-fundamental-religion-of-most-of-mankind-is-the-faith-that-god-has/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [It is for real that injustice and oppression will not have the last word. There was a time when Hitler looked like he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/it-is-for-real-that-injustice-and-oppression-will-not-have-the-last/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [A smile remains the most inexpensiv gift I can bestow on anyone and yet its powers can vanquish kingdoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/a-smile-remains-the-most-inexpensiv-gift-i-can-bestow-on-anyone-and/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [We are redeemed one man at a time. There is no family pass ticket or park hopping pass to life. One ticket - one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-are-redeemed-one-man-at-a-time-there-is-no-family-pass-ticket-or/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [I shall possess this woman; I shall steal her from the husband who profanes her: I will even dare ravish her from the God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-choderlos-de-laclos/i-shall-possess-this-woman-i-shall-steal-her-from-the-husband-who/) [Pierre Choderlos de Laclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-choderlos-de-laclos/) > [Patience is a conquering virtue. The learned say that, if it not desert you, It vanquishes what force can never reach; Why answer back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/patience-is-a-conquering-virtue-the-learned-say-that-if-it-not-desert/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [My greatest desire is that the hope that has overcome fear in my country will help vanquish it around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva/my-greatest-desire-is-that-the-hope-that-has-overcome-fear-in-my/) [Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva/) > [It is written that the last enemy to be vanquished is death. We should begin early in life to vanquish this enemy by obliterating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/it-is-written-that-the-last-enemy-to-be-vanquished-is-death-we-should/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [It is courage that vanquishes in war, and not good weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/it-is-courage-that-vanquishes-in-war-and-not-good-weapons/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [People may talk about the equality of the sexes! They are not equal. The silent smile of a sensible, loving woman will vanquish ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/people-may-talk-about-the-equality-of-the-sexes-they-are-not-equal/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## More by Oliver Goldsmith > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [How happy he who crowns in shades like these, A youth of labour with an age of ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/how-happy-he-who-crowns-in-shades-like-these-a-youth-of-labour-with/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [One man is born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and the other with a wooden ladle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/one-man-is-born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-his-mouth-and-the-other-with-a/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/he-cast-off-his-friends-as-a-huntsman-his-pack-for-he-knew-when-he/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Even children follow'd with endearing wile, And pluck'd his gown, to share the good man's smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/even-children-follow-d-with-endearing-wile-and-pluck-d-his-gown-to/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [The premises being thus settled, I proceed to observe that the concatenation of self-existence, proceeding in a reciprocal duplicate ratio, naturally produces a problematical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-premises-being-thus-settled-i-proceed-to-observe-that-the/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, and fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/truth-from-his-lips-prevailed-with-double-sway-and-fools-who-came-to/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [To what fortuitous occurrence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/to-what-fortuitous-occurrence-do-we-not-owe-every-pleasure-and/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Every acknowledgment of gratitude is a circumstance of humiliation; and some are found to submit to frequent mortifications of this kind, proclaiming what obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/every-acknowledgment-of-gratitude-is-a-circumstance-of-humiliation/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [ \[T\]here are depths of thousands of miles which are hidden from our inquiry. The only tidings we have from those unfathomable regions are by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/t-here-are-depths-of-thousands-of-miles-which-are-hidden-from-our/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Like the bee, we should make our industry our amusement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/like-the-bee-we-should-make-our-industry-our-amusement/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Age, that lessens the enjoyment of life, increases our desire of living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/age-that-lessens-the-enjoyment-of-life-increases-our-desire-of-living/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And every care resign: And we shall never, never part, My life-my all that's mine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/thus-let-me-hold-thee-to-my-heart-and-every-care-resign-and-we-shall/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Here lies David Garrick, describe me who can, An abridgment of all that was pleasant in man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/here-lies-david-garrick-describe-me-who-can-an-abridgment-of-all-that/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) [Explore all 375 Oliver Goldsmith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) ## 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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In arguing too, the parson own'd his skill, For e'en though vanquish'd he could argue still; While words of learned length and thundering sound Amaz'd the gazing rustics rang'd around; And still they gaz'd, and still the wonder grew That one small head could carry all he knew.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oliver Goldsmith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/in-arguing-too-the-parson-own-d-his-skill-for-e-en-though-vanquish-d/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arguing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/in-arguing-too-the-parson-own-d-his-skill-for-e-en-though-vanquish-d/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_arguing_in-arguing-too-the-parson-own-d-his-skil_1441584.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_arguing_in-arguing-too-the-parson-own-d-his-skil_1441584.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/oliver-goldsmith-772_arguing_in-arguing-too-the-parson-own-d-his-skil_1441584.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In arguing too, the parson own'd his skill, For e'en though vanquish'd he could argue still; While words of…” — Oliver Goldsmith", "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": "Oliver Goldsmith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In arguing too, the parson own'd...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/in-arguing-too-the-parson-own-d-his-skill-for-e-en-though-vanquish-d/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/in-arguing-too-the-parson-own-d-his-skill-for-e-en-though-vanquish-d/#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 } } ] } ```