Argument, as usually managed, is the worst sort of conversation.

Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

Whether true or not, it is the bare statement... Where's your arguments, sir?

Behind every argument is someone's ignorance.
Robert Benchley

Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.
Josh Billings

Ridicule is the first and last argument of a fool.
Charles Simmons

Here the context from : The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 16/Hints on Good Manners

A Treatise on Good Manners and Good Breeding

Of Good Manners as to Conversation.

Men of wit and good understanding, as well as breeding, are sometimes deceived, and give offence, by conceiving a better opinion of those with whom they converse than they ought to do. Thus I have often known the most innocent raillery, and even of that kind which was meant for praise, to be mistaken for abuse and reflection.
Of gibing, and how gibers ought to suffer.
Of arguers, perpetual contradicters, long talkers, those who are absent in company, interrupters, not listeners, loud laughers.
Of those men and women whose face is ever in a smile, talk ever with a smile, condole with a smile, &c.
Argument, as usually managed, is the worst sort of conversation; as it is generally in books the worst sort of reading.
Good conversation is not to be expected in much company, because few listen, and there is continual interruption. But good or ill manners are discovered, let the company be ever so large.
Perpetual aiming at wit, a very bad part of conversation. It is done to support a character: it generally fails: it is a sort of insult on the company, and a constraint upon the speaker.
For a man to talk in his own trade, or business, or faculty, is a great breach of good manners. Divines, physicians, lawyers, soldiers, particularly poets, are frequently guilty of this weakness. A poet conceives that the whole kingdom * * * * * * * * * * * *

http://www.bartleby.com/27/9.html

A thesis is one thing but arguments with people usually have negative effects: those who win become conceited and the losers feel glum.

Conversation is good when people have the capacity to listen carefully and to stay with the topic. However humble a person's background is, there is something you can learn from them and mutual benefits result. According to a Chinese proverb, "There is no shame in not knowing, the shame is in not bothering to find out."

If each of us listens attentively to others, we learn how people are. It is better to remain silent than to speak as though to yourself. Posing probing questions to people who are willing to reveal themselves yields a treasure well worth the dig. You must be willing to reveal yourself to others too, if they are curious about you.

Dinos, a child always hungry for knowledge.

Dinos ... Well said - Welcome to Forum

As usually managed . . .

DO NOT TRY TO SAY IT BETTER, OR BE STUPID IN A SENCE.