When you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. When you have the law on your side, argue the law. When you have neither, holler.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of using appropriate arguments depending on one's situation.
Al Gore's quote reflects the idea that effective argumentation relies on the facts and legal principles available. When facts or legal standing can support a position, those should be the focus of the argument. However, in the absence of both, one may resort to more emotional appeals, indicated humorously by the suggestion to 'holler', highlighting the often frustrating nature of debate when one lacks solid ground.
In practice
A lawyer could use this quote during a courtroom session to emphasize how they will approach their case.
Global warming is real and human activity is the main cause. The consequences are mainly negative and headed toward catastrophic, unless we act. However, the good news is that we can meet this challenge. It is not too late, and we have everything we need to get started.
The climate crisis is not a political issue; it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level.
I think it's harder for people than it should be. But as more and more of us become carbon neutral and change the patterns in our lives to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem, we are now beginning to see the changes in policy that are needed.
We have a planetary emergency. We have to find a way to create, in the generation of those alive today, a sense of generational mission.
CO2 is the exhaling breath of our civilization, literally... Changing that pattern requires a scope, a scale, a speed of change that is beyond what we have done in the past.
Well-established theories collapse under the weight of new facts and observations which cannot be explained, and then accumulate to the point where the once useful theory is clearly obsolete.
They shall not be expected to acknowledge us until we have acknowledged ourselves.
Rule, after you have first learned to submit to rule.
Better than a meaningless story of a thousand words is a single word of deep meaning which, when heard, produces peace.
The main problem with this great obsession for saving time is very simple: you can't save time. You can only spend it wisely or foolishly. The Bisy Backson has practically no time at all, because he's too busy wasting it by trying to save it. And by trying to save it, he ends up wasting the whole thing.
Tell the truth. Sing with passion. Work with laughter. Love with heart. 'Cause that's all that matters in the end.
No one's hurt is too small, no worry too removed, no blessing so elusive that it cannot be seen by the eyes in the back of the human heart.
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