But still remember, if you mean to please,
To press your point with modesty and ease.
The mark at which my juster aim I take
Is contradiction for its own dear sake . . .
The wrangler, rather than accord with you,
Will judge himself deceived, and prove it too.
Vociferated logic kills me quite,
A noisy man is always in the right;
I twirl my thumbs, fall back into my chair,
Fix on the wainscot a distressful stare,
And when I hope his blunders are all out,
Reply discreetly, "To be sure–no doubt."

In these lines, Cowper critiques the way some individuals approach conversation—not with a desire for genuine dialogue, but as a platform to assert themselves loudly and contradict for the sheer pleasure of argument. A "noisy man," he suggests, often wins by volume rather than by reason. The speaker's reaction—a retreat into silence and sarcasm—reflects frustration with such bombast. Cowper’s insight underscores the futility of loud, empty rhetoric, advocating instead for calm and modest discourse. His advice to "press your point with modesty and ease" remains relevant in today's world, where civil discourse often takes a backseat to more aggressive tactics. Through this passage, Cowper champions thoughtful and respectful conversation over bluster and noise.