“The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.”

— Joseph Joubert, The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, 1883

About Joseph Joubert

1754 – 1824

French moralist and essayist, author of the "Pensées".

“Old age deprives the intelligent man only of qualities useless to wisdom.”

“We comprehend the earth only when we have known heaven.”

“Some find activity only in repose, and others repose only in movement.”

“To achieve perfection, one must first begin by not understanding many things!”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.”

“A whole is that which has beginning, middle, and end.”