Argument Quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley
“When a thing is said to be not worth refuting you may be sure that either it is flagrantly stupid - in which case all comment is superfluous - or it is something formidable, the very crux of the problem.”
About This Quote
He argues that something dismissed as unworthy to refute is either absurd or a core, formidable problem.
In simple terms: Dismissed ideas are either silly or central.
Key Takeaway
Examine seemingly trivial claims critically.
Themes
critical thinking
argumentation
philosophy
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
intellectual
When to use this quote
- debates
- academic research
- media analysis
Key Concepts
refutation
stupidity
formidable problem
Questions to Reflect On
- When do you decide to engage with a claim?
- How do you differentiate absurdity from depth?
A Different Perspective
Not all dismissed ideas are worth deep analysis.
![“If somebody comes up and says, "[Barack] Obama was born in Kenya," the story becomes, "Will Obama succeed in refuting this charge and then can we make these villains making the charge look like reprobates?" No examination of the allegation or examination of the issues.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/abd/rush-limbaugh-28_allegation_if-somebody-comes-up-and-says-barack-oba_2991510.jpg)
![“A presumption becomes a self-refuting assertion". ~R. Alan Woods [2012]” quote by R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5b2/r-alan-woods-1455_assertions_a-presumption-becomes-a-self-refuting-as_1929262.jpg)
