--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is easier to argue that something…" description: "\"It is easier to argue that something nobody believes in actually exists than it is to argue that something everybody believes in is unreal.\" — Samuel R..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/samuel-r-delany-2591_arguing_it-is-easier-to-argue-that-something-nob_395668.png" --- # It is easier to argue that something nobody believes in… ![“It is easier to argue that something nobody believes in actually exists than it is to argue that something everybody believes in is unreal.” quote by Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/samuel-r-delany-2591_arguing_it-is-easier-to-argue-that-something-nob_395668.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/samuel-r-delany-2591_arguing_it-is-easier-to-argue-that-something-nob_395668.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/samuel-r-delany-2591_arguing_it-is-easier-to-argue-that-something-nob_395668.png) > “It is easier to argue that something nobody believes in actually exists than it is to argue that something everybody believes in is unreal.” [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It’s easier to argue for the existence of an unaccepted idea than to deny a widely accepted one, exposing bias in belief systems. **In simple terms:** Challenge common beliefs. Key Takeaway Question accepted truths. Themes belief bias logic skepticism social consensus Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - debates - policy making - media narratives Key Concepts philosophy critical thinking epistemology Questions to Reflect On - Why do we accept mainstream ideas without proof? - How can we foster healthy dissent? A Different Perspective Popular ideas resist scrutiny. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argue Believes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argue-believes-3559941/) [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believes Unreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believes-unreal-3559940/) [Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) [Easier Argue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier-argue-3559943/) [Everybody Believes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everybody-believes-244165/) [Exists Argue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exists-argue-3559942/) [Unreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unreal/) ## Related quotes > [ I think what everybody believes and agrees with, and to be frank myself, is that the current approach \[to the drug trade\] is not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/i-think-what-everybody-believes-and-agrees-with-and-to-be-frank/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [Drummers don't write - or at least, that's what everybody believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-williams/drummers-don-t-write-or-at-least-that-s-what-everybody-believes/) [Tony Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-williams/) > [“When everybody uses the same oracle, and everybody believes the oracle, the oracle turns into a sovereign.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/when-everybody-uses-the-same-oracle-and-everybody-believes-the-oracle-2/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [You have seen it: You can put something into the world, and all of a sudden, everybody believes that. Like throwing a fishing rod…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/you-have-seen-it-you-can-put-something-into-the-world-and-all-of-a/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [Everybody believes in innovation until they see it. Then they think, 'Oh, no; that'll never work. It's too different.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/everybody-believes-in-innovation-until-they-see-it-then-they-think-oh/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [You say somebody’s guilty, everybody believes you. You say they’re innocent, nobody cares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/you-say-somebody-s-guilty-everybody-believes-you-you-say-they-re/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [Everybody believes in chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/everybody-believes-in-chance/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [Everybody believes in something and everybody, by virtue of the fact that they believe in something, uses that something to support their own existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/everybody-believes-in-something-and-everybody-by-virtue-of-the-fact/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Everybody believes in psychiatry it's supposed to be for our own good. Let psychiatry prove that anybody has an illness, and I'd concede, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/everybody-believes-in-psychiatry-it-s-supposed-to-be-for-our-own-good/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [I see the merit in religion, and I see the need for faith and hope and sometimes people who are more snide look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/i-see-the-merit-in-religion-and-i-see-the-need-for-faith-and-hope-and/) [Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/) > [“When everybody uses the same oracle, and everybody believes the oracle, the oracle turns into a sovereign. So Waze must think for us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/when-everybody-uses-the-same-oracle-and-everybody-believes-the-oracle/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Dollar bills have absolutely no value except in our collective imagination, but everybody believes in the dollar bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/dollar-bills-have-absolutely-no-value-except-in-our-collective/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Nothing should be taken for granted, even if everybody believes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/nothing-should-be-taken-for-granted-even-if-everybody-believes-it/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [You know, everybody believes in free speech until you start questioning them about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/you-know-everybody-believes-in-free-speech-until-you-start/) [Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/) > [The good news is everybody believes in education, Republican or Democrat, we want great schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-guggenheim/the-good-news-is-everybody-believes-in-education-republican-or/) [Davis Guggenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davis-guggenheim/) ## More by Samuel R. Delany > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [What you are will make you what you will become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/what-you-are-will-make-you-what-you-will-become/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“People probably do hear watches go tic-tok. But I’m sure my childhood clock went tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic…Why”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/people-probably-do-hear-watches-go-tic-tok-but-i-m-sure-my-childhood/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“I wanted to get out, Vyme, to keep going and not be trapped, to be free… only I was cruel. I had the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-wanted-to-get-out-vyme-to-keep-going-and-not-be-trapped-to-be-free/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [A number of things in 'Dhalgren' are just meant to function as mysteries. They're mysteries when the book begins, and they're mysteries when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-number-of-things-in-dhalgren-are-just-meant-to-function-as/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [The pulp hero, though he may be a renegade, is a guy who doesn't feel. Anything. Ever. And for the adolescent male - pummeled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/the-pulp-hero-though-he-may-be-a-renegade-is-a-guy-who-doesn-t-feel/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“they were nice in a useless sort of way, which is, after all, the only way to be truly nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/they-were-nice-in-a-useless-sort-of-way-which-is-after-all-the-only/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [From 1968 on, I was pretty much the black, gay SF writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/from-1968-on-i-was-pretty-much-the-black-gay-sf-writer/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Neurotics, proceed with delusions of grandeur. Napoleon Bonaparte, take the lead. Jesus Christ, bring up the rear. Simulate severe depression. Non-communicative with repressed hostility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/neurotics-proceed-with-delusions-of-grandeur-napoleon-bonaparte-take/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Do you follow the wrestling? Most people think it's illegal, but you can watch it there. Ruby and Python are on display this evening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/do-you-follow-the-wrestling-most-people-think-it-s-illegal-but-you/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Spending practically every minute of your day on pure survival is an absolutely boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/spending-practically-every-minute-of-your-day-on-pure-survival-is-an/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [When what is is congruent to what is supposed, the reaction is functional and the mental processes competent. When what is and what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/when-what-is-is-congruent-to-what-is-supposed-the-reaction-is/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Everyone in a position of authority is hysterical, and everyone else is pretending to be asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/everyone-in-a-position-of-authority-is-hysterical-and-everyone-else/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Since I spent eighteen years of my life as a child, and nine years of that life as a pretty sexually active gay child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/since-i-spent-eighteen-years-of-my-life-as-a-child-and-nine-years-of/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) [Explore all 158 Samuel R. Delany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## 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": "It is easier to argue that something nobody believes in actually exists than it is to argue that something everybody believes in is unreal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel R. 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