The art of dispute

Do not fight each “No!” with a “No!” The strongest debater is not the one who claims loud something different but the one who knows how to make the same things appear in a completely new light. Learn to adopt the opponent’s own account and to reframe it into unexpected meaning. This reminds me of a story:

Mounted on a platform by the wool market in Konya Nasreddin was teaching his followers and anyone else who wished to listen:

"Have trust in Allah, but don't forget to tie up your camel." and “Don’t wait to dig your well until you are thirsty”

By that time the people trusted and obeyed the word of the Hodja who was much admired by the crowds.

"The wise will do what I say", he went on, "and not what I do.”

“The common people will do what I do, but not what I say.”

“As for the fools, they will laugh whatever I say or do as if I were joking. That is good. If they would listen to me, I might be saying something wrong. Now, let's see who heeds my words."

A wandering dervish, irritated to see everyone open-mouthed with admiration for such a chatterer, shouted from the crowd,

"They listen to you because the one-eyed is king in the land of the blind. But I can tell you one thing, here is one man you cannot move with cunning words. And even less will I obey a fool like you."

"Is that so!" said the Hoça. "Why don't you come up here to prove what you say?"

The dervish consented and mounted on the platform, ready to dispute.

Bowing respectfully, Nasreddin invited him: "Please take place here on my left". Which the dervish proudly did, bowing in his turn.

"Even better", added the Mullah changing his mind and bowing again, "stand here on my right hand". The dervish bowed back with dignity and moved to the right.

"You know", concluded Hoça, "I think that you are a reasonable obeying person. Why don't you go back to your place and let me continue my teaching?"