Michel de Montaigne
“"When any one contradicts me, he raises my attention, not my anger."”
Michel de Montaigne, Essais, Book III, Chapter VIII — "Of the Art of Conference" (1588) — tr. Charles Cotton, 1685–86 (public domain)
Documented source
Attribution
Michel de Montaigne
Source
Michel de Montaigne, Essais, Book III, Chapter VIII — "Of the Art of Conference" (1588) — tr. Charles Cotton, 1685–86 (public domain)
In full
“"When any one contradicts me, he raises my attention, not my anger."”
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About this line
It comes from Montaigne's essay on the art of conversation, added in 1588. Much of that essay is a complaint: his contemporaries argued badly, shouting over each other, pulling rank, treating a concession as a defeat. His counter-proposal is here. Being contradicted is the most useful thing that can happen in a discussion, because the person disagreeing with you is the only one teaching you anything.
Why we carry this line
I'd never heard of him. The words sounded like they were written last week, so I looked him up and found the 1500s. Then I stayed to learn how to say his name, because I do that. Ask the question instead of letting the anger drive. It's great advice.
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