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Who said this?

HeraldSHeraldS Registered User regular
edited November 2011 in Help / Advice Forum
"Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience."

Who said this? I could swear it was an Air Force general or something but I can't find confirmation one way or the other.

It was not Mark Twain. His was, "Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

HeraldS on

Posts

  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    You need to work on your Google-Fu.

    It's Bob Smith.

  • HeraldSHeraldS Registered User regular
    Nice. How'd you turn that up? And are we talking the Bob Smith that founded AA, or someone else?

  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    No idea. I Googled the quote and a few selections down he was referred to as the originator of it in several places. I also saw it in German a few times, so he may be from there?

  • FiggyFiggy Fighter of the night man Champion of the sunRegistered User regular
    I wouldn't be so quick to attribute it. I'm not seeing any particularly reputable sites that are listing "Bob Smith" as the originator.

    In fact, I'm seeing more John Guerrero claims than Bob Smith.

    XBL : Figment3 · SteamID : Figment
  • NylonathetepNylonathetep Registered User regular
    It's best not to argue ... cuz... you know.

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  • SmasherSmasher Starting to get dizzy Registered User regular
    It's probably one of those quotes that some unknown person came up with, but then started being attributed to random famous people.

  • ToxTox I kill threads they/themRegistered User regular
    Smasher wrote:
    It's probably one of those quotes that some unknown person came up with, but then started being attributed to random famous people.

    No that was Lincoln.

    Discord Lifeboat | Dilige, et quod vis fac
  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    Figgy wrote:
    I wouldn't be so quick to attribute it. I'm not seeing any particularly reputable sites that are listing "Bob Smith" as the originator.

    In fact, I'm seeing more John Guerrero claims than Bob Smith.

    I didn't see any Guerrero till I specifically used his name in conjunction. I imagine Smasher is right though.

  • Eat it You Nasty Pig.Eat it You Nasty Pig. tell homeland security 'we are the bomb'Registered User regular
    I've also seen it attributed to Twain.

    hold your head high soldier, it ain't over yet
    that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
  • spool32spool32 Contrary Library Registered User, Transition Team regular
    "It's best not to argue with an idiot, because this is the wrong forum for it." -ceres

  • FiggyFiggy Fighter of the night man Champion of the sunRegistered User regular
    Eat it You Nasty Pig. wrote:
    I've also seen it attributed to Twain.

    Twain's is a bit different: Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.

    XBL : Figment3 · SteamID : Figment
  • FantasmaFantasma Registered User regular
    Actually, Mark Twain borrowed the above quote from Immanuel Kant, a German Philosopher.

    "Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."



    Hear my warnings, unbelievers. We have raised altars in this land so that we may sacrifice you to our gods. There is no hope in opposing the inevitable. Put down your arms, unbelievers, and bow before the forces of Chaos!
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