When you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. When you have the law on your side, argue the law. When you have neither, holler.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of using appropriate arguments depending on one's situation.
Al Gore's quote reflects the idea that effective argumentation relies on the facts and legal principles available. When facts or legal standing can support a position, those should be the focus of the argument. However, in the absence of both, one may resort to more emotional appeals, indicated humorously by the suggestion to 'holler', highlighting the often frustrating nature of debate when one lacks solid ground.
In practice
A lawyer could use this quote during a courtroom session to emphasize how they will approach their case.
Global warming is real and human activity is the main cause. The consequences are mainly negative and headed toward catastrophic, unless we act. However, the good news is that we can meet this challenge. It is not too late, and we have everything we need to get started.
The climate crisis is not a political issue; it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level.
I think it's harder for people than it should be. But as more and more of us become carbon neutral and change the patterns in our lives to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem, we are now beginning to see the changes in policy that are needed.
We have a planetary emergency. We have to find a way to create, in the generation of those alive today, a sense of generational mission.
CO2 is the exhaling breath of our civilization, literally... Changing that pattern requires a scope, a scale, a speed of change that is beyond what we have done in the past.
Well-established theories collapse under the weight of new facts and observations which cannot be explained, and then accumulate to the point where the once useful theory is clearly obsolete.
The passions are the only orators which always persuade.
I know who I am, I know what I can and can't do. I know what I will and won't do. I know what I'm capable of and I don't agree to do things that I don't think I can pull off.
No matter what anybody says, what matters most is what you think of yourself.
The advice of the elders to young men is very apt to be as unreal as a list of the hundred best books.
From the body of the unborn essence arises the sphere of light, and from that sphere of light arises wisdom. From the wisdom arises the seed syllable and from the seed syllable arises the complete Mandala, the deity and the retinue.
I think once I made up my mind that I was allergic to alcohol, and that's what I learned, it made sense to me. And I think it was kind of pointed out that you know if you were allergic to strawberries, you wouldn't eat strawberries. And that made sense to me.
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