On Argument, Strife, Contention and Peaceableness

                


   Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house 
   full of sacrifices with strife.     Prov 17:1 




   Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do 
   in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.    
                                                   Prov 25:8




   He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to 
   him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.    Prov 26:17 
 
         


         
   He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his 
   home. 
                                                             Goethe 
   
   
   
   
   Who seeks a quarrel, finds it near at hand. 

                                                Italian Proverb 
                                                                    
   
   
   
   He who sows discord will reap regret. 

                                               Arabian Proverb 
   
   
   
   
   Anger is as a stone cast into a wasp's nest. 

                                                Indian Proverb     





   If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with 
   all men.    Rom 12:18 




   And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto 
   all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those 
   that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them 
   repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;     2 Tim 2:24-25 




   Wranglers are never in the wrong.




   Contradiction should awaken attention, not passion.




  As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a 
   contentious man to kindle strife.

                                            Prov. 26:21




   In too much disputing, truth is lost.




   Great disputing repels truth.




   Beware of entrance into a quarrel.

                          W. S. Landor



   Two canot fall out if one does not choose.




   A quarrelsome man never lacks words.




   A good man will as soon run into fire as a quarrel.




   When two quarrel both are in the wrong.




  The second blow makes the fray.





  When one will not, two cannot quarrel.

                             Spanish proverb




   Old quarrels and old charges are best left alone.  Raise no 
   unsavory odors.  If evil will die, let it die.




   It takes two to make a quarrel.




  Be not the first to make a quarrel, nor the last to make it up. 




   It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool 
   will be quarreling. 

                                                    Prov. 20:3




   Weakness on both sides is, as we know, the trait of all 
   quarrels.
                                                 Voltaire




   It is as hard a thing to maintain a sound understanding, a 
   tender conscience, a lively, gracious, heavenly spirit, and an 
   upright life in the midst of contention, as to keep your candle 
   lighted in the heavest storms.

                                                       Baxter






   Never contend with one that is foolish, proud, positive, testy, 
   or with a superior, or a clown, in matter of argument. 

                                                     Fuller





   When two discourse, if the anger of one rises, he is the wise 
   man who lets the contest fall.

                                                   Plutarch




   I never love those salamanders that are never well but when 
   they are in the fire of contention. -- I will rather suffer a 
   thousand wrongs than to offer one. -- I have always found that 
   to strive with a superior is injurious;  with an equal, 
   doubtful;  with an inferior, sordid and base;  with any, full 
   of unquietness.
   
                                               Joseph Hall




   The more quietly and peaceably we all get on, the better -- the 
   better for ourselves -- the better for our neighbors.  In nine 
   cases out of ten the wisest policy is, if a man cheats you, 
   quit dealing with him; if he is abusive, quit his company; if 
   he slanders you, take care to live so that nobody will believe 
   him: no matter who he is, or how he misuses you, the wisest way 
   is generally to let him alone;  for there is nothing better 
   than this cool, calm, quiet way of dealing with the wrongs we 
   meet with.

   Peace is the proper result of the Christian temper.  It is the 
   great kindness which our religion doth us, that it brings us to 
   a settledness of mind, and a consistency within ourselves.

                                                    Bp. Patrick