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At times to be silent is to lie. You will win because you have enough brute force. But you will not convince. For to convince you need to persuade. And in order to persuade you would need what you lack: Reason and Right
Miguel De Unamuno
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Silence can be deceptive, and true persuasion requires reason and morality, not just power.

This quote emphasizes the importance of honesty and the role of reason in effective communication. While brute force or silence might lead to temporary victories, true persuasion and convincing others require a foundation of reason and ethical consideration, which the speaker suggests is often lacking in forceful arguments.

Themes

SilencePersuasionReasonTruthPower

In practice

Example use cases

During a public debate about ethics, you might cite this quote to emphasize the importance of reasoning over mere force.

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