Reasoning will never make a man correct an ill opinion, which by reasoning he never acquired
Love of flattery, in most men, proceeds from the mean opinion they have of themselves; in women, from the contrary.
I remember it was with extreme difficulty that I could bring my master to understand the meaning of the word opinion, or how a point could be disputable; because reason taught us to affirm or deny only where we are certain; and beyond our knowledge we cannot do either.
That was excellently observed’, say I, when I read a passage in an author, where his opinion agrees with mine. When we differ, there I pronounce him to be mistaken.
Quotations are best brought in to confirm some opinion controverted.
Argument is the worst sort of conversation.
The latter part of a man's life is taken up in curing the follies, prejudices, and false opinions he had contracted in the former.