Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders than the arguments of its opposers.

Heat and rightness are easily confused. When a good idea is defended with contempt, listeners stop weighing the idea and start weighing the person, and the idea pays for the manner. Overstatement invites people to hunt for the exaggeration instead of considering the substance. Opponents can rarely do as much damage as an ally who will not let the case speak for itself.

If something matters to you, notice how you sound when you argue for it. Try stating it at its plainest, with the strongest objection included. What survives that will travel further than anything delivered at volume.