Anyone know that quote (thinking about debating with conservatives)?

[Michael_UK]

I wondered whether anyone knew a quote I was thinking of when I was discussing politics with a bushbot. It's something along the lines of "the best are unsure of themselves, whereas the ignorant are so certain". It might be either Russell or Einstein.

Thanks

[annabanana]

1. Is this the one?

"The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity" -Yeats

[Michael_UK]

2. Thanks

I think that's it. That does make sense.

[Demit]

4. Incredible poem in its entirety--"The Second Coming":

"Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in the sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"


So much to quote in that, these days.

[Minnesota Libra]

3. Oh you mean the one about "I won't have a battle.........

....of the wits with an unarmed person" :rofl:

That's about the only one I can think of that applies.:applause:

[Arkansas Granny]

5. That is one of my all time favorites.

[izzie]

8. I like that.

I always recalled that to do a good debate the teacher said you have to know a lot about both sides of the problem. Course one does have to face the fact that we have a hard time getting to the subject as we are so busy killing off the messenger with the Bush team. Sounds like the fights I used to have solving a problem with my ex husband. We never got to one problem but I sure learned that he hated the way I said some words or my English was bad. It is a hard hill to get over and I do not think the Dem. can win with killing off the message debates.

[varkam]

6. Check my sig line

From my man B. Russell

[Michael_UK]

7. That may have been the one I was thinking of

However, the Yeats quote essentially says the same thing. Thank you

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Check my signature line.