In any disagreement, how we respond matters just as much as what we believe. The French philosopher Michel de Montaigne observed:

“He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.”

Raising our voices, interrupting, or mocking doesn’t make our argument stronger – it makes it easier to ignore. Poor disagreement erodes relationships and shuts down dialogue. True persuasion comes from reason, not volume.

Next time you find yourself in a debate, ask: Am I making a point—or just making noise? Make it a great day, dear reader, and choose reason over volume.