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Quote by Michael Austin

“When somebody summarizes an argument thoughtfully before offering a counterargument, the resulting debate tends to be more meaningful and productive. Much of what passes for argument in our society consists of people badly misrepresenting each other's arguments and responding to points that another person is not making. This inevitably leads to frustration and anger and a feeling of being rhetorically manipulated instead of honestly challenged. Correctly paraphrasing somebody's position makes it much harder to misrepresent that position while trying to argue against it.”

Quote by Michael Austin

Work

We Must Not Be Enemies: Restoring America's Civic Tradition

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Author

Michael Austin

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“Friendship: not a marathon of years but a sprint of sincerity. It's not about who's been around the longest, but who showed up with pizza at 2 AM when life got messy. Let's face it: Anyone can count years, but only true friends count on each other. So, here's to those who bring the laughs, the late-night talks, and maybe even bail money if needed. They're not just friends; they're the keepers of sanity and partners in crime”

“Eastward and westward storms are breaking,--great, ugly whirlwinds of hatred and blood and cruelty. I will not believe them inevitable.”

“Reading contemporary accounts brings home the fact that of any battle or campaign there are at least for different versions. One is that of those who fought in it, two is of the generals who commanded it, three is of those who reported on it at the time and made what they could of a mass of confused and often misleading information, and four is the version of those who had a theory about it and reported those facts which happened to fit the version they were trying to portray.”

“Reading contemporary accounts brings home the fact that of any battle or campaign there are at least for different versions. One is that of those who fought in it, two is of the generals who commanded it, three is of those who reported on it at the time and made what they could of a mass of confused and often misleading information, and four is the version of those who had a theory about it and reported those facts which happened to fit the version they were trying to portray." ~The Crimean War: A reappraisal”

“Why did you fight as you did? Why did you risk death so often? Did you do it for the good of the country? ..The war wasn't for the good of the country. It was for the benefit of private mercantile interests, fueled by by the conceit of politicians. You fought for the glory and medals then? Hardly. Then why? ...Everything I did was for my men. For the noncommissioned ones who had joined the army to avoid starvation or the workhouse. And for the junior officers who were experienced and long-serving but hadn't the means to buy a commission. I had the command only because I had money to purchase it, not for reason of merit. Absurd. And the men in my company, the poor bastards, were supposed to follow me , whether I proved to be incompetent, an imbecile or a coward. They had no choice but to depend on me. And therefore I had no choice but to try and be the leader they needed. I needed to keep them alive... I failed far too often. And now I would love for someone to tell me how to live with their deaths on my conscience.”

“There will be no New Year for those who keep living in the older years! If you really want to enter a new year, shot all the doors behind you and stick yourself to the New Year where everything is ready for you to be designed by you! Every man is an artist and every artist has the power to create infinite things; just be in the present time and design your life! No man can design his life by being in the past because present time is the only studio we can do our work!”