CALMNESS IN ARGUMENT

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 28, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 50.

CALMNESS IN ARGUMENT.

BANISH utterly out of all conversation, and especially out of all learned and intellectual conference, everything that tends to provoke passion, or raise a fire in the blood. Let no sharp language, no noisy exclamation, no sarcasms or biting jests, be heard among you, no perverse or invidious consequences to be drawn from each other's opinions, and imputed to the person; let there be no willful perversion of another's meaning, no sudden seizure of a lapsed syllable to play upon it, nor any absurd construction of an innocent mistake. Suffer not your tongue to insult a modest opponent who begins to yield; let there be no crowing or triumph, even when there is evident victory on your side. All these things are enemies to friendship, and the ruin of free conversation. The impartial search of truth requires all calmness and serenity, all temper and candor. Mutual instruction can never be obtained in the midst of passion, pride, and clamor.—Selected.