--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best way to win an argument is to…" description: "\"The best way to win an argument is to begin by being right.\" — William Ruckelshaus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/529/william-ruckelshaus-38253_argument_the-best-way-to-win-an-argument-is-to-be_3232852.png" --- # The best way to win an argument is to begin by being right. ![“The best way to win an argument is to begin by being right.” quote by William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/529/william-ruckelshaus-38253_argument_the-best-way-to-win-an-argument-is-to-be_3232852.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/529/william-ruckelshaus-38253_argument_the-best-way-to-win-an-argument-is-to-be_3232852.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/529/william-ruckelshaus-38253_argument_the-best-way-to-win-an-argument-is-to-be_3232852.png) > “The best way to win an argument is to begin by being right.” [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Winning arguments starts with acknowledging truth before persuasion. **In simple terms:** Start with being right, then persuade. Key Takeaway Begin with truth to influence. Themes communication persuasion truth Mood thoughtful strategic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - negotiations - public speaking - conflict resolution - team meetings Key Concepts rhetoric ethical debate Questions to Reflect On - What truth can you acknowledge before debating? - How does humility affect persuasion? A Different Perspective Being right may alienate listeners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Best way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-way/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[F\]or all refutation must begin with some piece of knowledge which the disputants share; from blank doubt, no argument can begin.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/f-or-all-refutation-must-begin-with-some-piece-of-knowledge-which-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“just try to win the argument instead of honestly looking for the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabeel-qureshi/just-try-to-win-the-argument-instead-of-honestly-looking-for-the-truth/) [Nabeel Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabeel-qureshi/) > [Easy is right. Begin right and you are easy. Continue easy and you are right. The right way to go easy is to forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/easy-is-right-begin-right-and-you-are-easy-continue-easy-and-you-are/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [You can begin right now to feel healthy You can begin to feel prosperous. You can begin to feel the love that's surrounding you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/you-can-begin-right-now-to-feel-healthy-you-can-begin-to-feel/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [“Just make an effort and keep going. Start from where you are, even if you are scared and unsure. Take that first step, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbertus-krisnu-prabowo/just-make-an-effort-and-keep-going-start-from-where-you-are-even-if/) [Norbertus Krisnu Prabowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbertus-krisnu-prabowo/) > [Fighting is not the best way to win an argument. 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Easy is right means natural is right, effortlessness is right, egolessness is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/easy-is-right-begin-right-and-you-are-easy-easy-is-right-means/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [It's impossible to win an argument with your mom, and its not worth trying to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-impossible-to-win-an-argument-with-your-mom-and-its-not-worth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't use my period as a way to try to win an argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-use-my-period-as-a-way-to-try-to-win-an-argument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why prove to a man he is wrong? Is that going to make him like you? Why not let him save face? He didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/why-prove-to-a-man-he-is-wrong-is-that-going-to-make-him-like-you-why/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [I can win an argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this, and steer clear of me at parties. Often, as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-can-win-an-argument-on-any-topic-against-any-opponent-people-know/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“People who manage to pull you down to their level win the argument, despite the fact that they permanently reside there and you’re just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/people-who-manage-to-pull-you-down-to-their-level-win-the-argument/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [I argue very well. Ask any of my remaining friends. I can win an argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-argue-very-well-ask-any-of-my-remaining-friends-i-can-win-an/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Never Win Someone with argument but defeat them with Ur Silence. Bcoz people who always want to argue with YOU, can't bear YOUR Silence..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-win-someone-with-argument-but-defeat-them-with-ur-silence-bcoz/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by William Ruckelshaus > [The family is the building block for whatever solidarity there is in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/the-family-is-the-building-block-for-whatever-solidarity-there-is-in/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [You go into a community and they will vote 80 percent to 20 percent in favor of a tougher Clean Air Act, but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/you-go-into-a-community-and-they-will-vote-80-percent-to-20-percent/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [I have no hostility towards men. Some of my best friends are men. I married a man, and my father was a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/i-have-no-hostility-towards-men-some-of-my-best-friends-are-men-i/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [It occurred to me when I was thirteen and wearing white gloves and Mary Janes and going to dancing school, that no one should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/it-occurred-to-me-when-i-was-thirteen-and-wearing-white-gloves-and/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [Industries and businesses that must operate in the marketplace of free choice know that they must change, they must adapt, they must accommodate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/industries-and-businesses-that-must-operate-in-the-marketplace-of/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [Why argue about things you can't prove?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/why-argue-about-things-you-can-t-prove/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [We need to fashion policies with proper incentives to reduce the amount of carbon we are putting in the atmosphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/we-need-to-fashion-policies-with-proper-incentives-to-reduce-the/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [Women's rights in essence is really a movement for freedom, a movement for equality, for the dignity of all women, for those who work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/women-s-rights-in-essence-is-really-a-movement-for-freedom-a-movement/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [Nature provides a free lunch, but only if we control our appetites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/nature-provides-a-free-lunch-but-only-if-we-control-our-appetites/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [It's relatively easy to generate a lot of enthusiasm for Puget Sound in the short term. 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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... 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