Silently Right

Would you rather argue when you know you’re wrong, or keep silent when you know you’re right?

My brother likes to argue. He will pick the tiniest most unimportant thing and start arguing about it. One time we got in an argument about the inside color of a mango. Often he will disagree with me about whatever he can find to disagree on. When I was younger this was a serious problem, because I always took the bait and it rarely ended nicely.

I think it’s pretty easy to get in an argument with someone. I doubt many people would choose to argue knowing they are wrong in their opinion, but I am sure there are people out there who would. On the other hand, it’s incredibly rare to find someone who will keep quiet when they know they are right. Most people want the correct idea or belief or whatever to be out there. Most people won’t sit idly by while the wrong conclusion wins.

But which would be easier? I think it would be much easier to argue wrongly than to be quietly right. It’s no fun being right if no one else knows you are. It’s incredibly irritating to hear people arriving at the wrong conclusion when you know they are wrong. It’s much easier to jump in. Much more satisfying as well.

Except when it comes to issues of justice. It’s so much easier to remain silently right. I’m not saying I want to argue wrongly, but I don’t like to speak up either. It’s hard to speak for others when the majority disagrees. It’s hard to want to put yourself on the line for people who don’t have a voice. But we should. I should.

Would you rather remain silent when you know you’re right or argue when you know you’ll lose?