This is why elegance is better than winning

This is why elegance is better than winningThis is why elegance is better than winningMany years ago my wife whisked me away for my birthday to Anderson Valley, located near the coastal region of Mendocino County in Northern California. Our lodging was the Philo Pottery Inn, a charming little bed and breakfast that since closed down. Beyond the beautiful scenery, the primary purpose of our weekend was to attend a wonderful Alsace wine dinner at Scharffenberger Cellars.We dressed up for the event and were seated at a large table full of friendly strangers. As the evening unfolded, appetizers and tasty dishes were paired with outstanding wine selections.Then, at some point in the dinner conversation, a woman at our table ventured into politics. She made a very partisan statement, nodding affirmatively with the expectation that everyone agreed with her.Some at the table nodded in agreement. Others were silent. I was young, full of opinions and ready to joust.Spoiling for a fightI grew u p in a household of readers. My father, an administrative law judge and learned man, often held court at dinner time. Wed discuss current events, news and politics. I couldnt compete with my fathers expansive knowledge of history, but I enjoyed testing him on political issues.I grew to enjoy lively debate, however, I learned that its generally bad form to make partisan political comments to a table full of strangers. Its presumptuous and a little arrogant to drop political bombs among polite company. It puts people on the spot, and can turn a pleasant gathering into an uncomfortable evening.Unfortunately, when the woman at our table made her political remark, I immediately disagreed and challenged her.Well, things got interesting. Real fast. The woman was an accomplished attorney. I was a cocky law enforcement professional with a graduate degree. Before the dessert and aged hafen arrived, the woman and I were engaged in a heated debate.The fool chatters while the wise man listensMy wife rolled her eyes and slid across the table to converse with a quiet woman who seemed unimpressed with the political banter. But the most fascinating chap at the table was an elegant Irish gentleman. He had white hair, was impeccably dressed and nicht plussed by the political salvos being hurled back and forth. The gentlemans name was Guinness McFadden.My wife, who has far more common sense than me, stayed completely out of the political morass. Apparently, others tired of it as well and the table thinned.Mr. McFadden was queried at one point to offer his opinion. I recall that he raised an eyebrow and briefly shared a bit of his military background. Somehow, he managed to deliver a salient yet non partisan point. He smiled, fell silent again, and leaned back in his chair. He seemed content to let us exhaust ourselves.Later that night, back at the Philo Pottery Inn, I sensed my wifes displeasure. That woman should know better. You cant drop political bombs and expect everyone to agree with you, I reasoned. My wife countered with her observations about Guinness McFadden. About how dignified he was. Above the fray. Clearly capable of delivering trenchant, probably devastating insights that would have ended the debate. But he didnt. Too much of a gentleman.Mistakes of youthI was younger then. It took less to tease an argument out of me. I didnt understand that such debates were often of little consequence. People believe what they believe.Mr. McFadden obviously knew this. He had wisdom and much more life experience on his side. In fact, hes quite a remarkable guy. He turned down an Ivy League scholarship to attend the University of Norte Dame. He earned a bronze star in Vietnam. In Potter Valley, where he makes wine, he is also a pioneer in the Mendocino organic movement.As the years marched on, I often thought about our little weekend getaway to Mendocino County. Over time, I learned to stand down when someone tosses out provocative remarks or political state ments.I took a page from Guinness McFadden, with my wifes approval. I guess wisdom, like caviar, is an acquired taste. You need some experience and time to develop it.Wolves and monkeysPeople often say that mans natural inclination is towards violence and war. I remember a prozentsatz by the historians Will and Ariel DurantNo one ever wants to recognize the inexorable periodicity of war.Perhaps theyre right. In many ways men can be like wolves. They like to pack together, go on the hunt and fight. They respect strength and usually pick a leader of the pack.But men can also be like monkeys. They can form tight bonds, families and supportive networks. They can look out for one another and demonstrate great tenderness.A few years ago the Wall Street Journal carried an article that questioned whether man was innately violent. The article relied on some fascinating research with monkeys.Id like to think that mans deeper instincts, eventually, bend towards elegance, peacefulness, and love . Maybe thats why aged felons who get out of prison infrequently reoffend. Theyre older and hopefully wiser. All the piss and vinegar of youth is spent and the mind turns to more important concerns. Thoughts about purpose. Family. Legacy.Choose elegance over winningIf you want to please your spouse, impress fellow dinner guests and actually enjoy your dessert, heres some advice for you. Namely, three reasons why elegance is better than winning.1. You wont look and sound like a jerk. You might have all the answers and even be right, but sometimes you lose even when you win an argument.2. Winning rarely changes peoples minds. As noted above, people believe what they believe. Try convincing a Palestinian that Israel should exist. Or vice versa. Same thing with apologists and atheists. People become entrenched in their beliefs. Beating someone in a debate may feel good, but have you really influenced your opponent?3. Elegance transcends bias. It didnt really matter to me what side of th e political fence Guinness McFadden was on. I was far more intrigued and impressed with his kind demeanor, distinguished flair and friendly disposition. Not to mention the fact that my wife was more smitten with how he behaved at dinner, as opposed to my combative approach.I have nothing against wolves, but they do help illustrate my point. The next time you are tempted to jump into the fray, snarl your fangs and nip at the heels of your political opponent, take pause. Picture those amazing gorillas we see in nature films, sitting placidly in a lush rain forest, rocking their babies and grooming one another. Which better illustrates what we should strive for?Guinness McFadden already figured this all out. Thanks to his example, my wifes gentle reinforcement and the mellowing refinement of time, Im starting to figure it out, too. Elegance is better than winning.Before you goIm John Weiss. I draw old school, handcrafted cartoons and write about life. Get on my free email listherefor t he latest cartoons and blog posts.Thisarticlefirst appeared on Medium.