In today’s polarized discourse, there is a stark difference between thinkers who spend most of their time being for something, and those who spend most of their time being against something. One attitude is healthier than the other, and is more likely to lead towards truth, and is likelier to succeed in persuading others and getting its policies enacted.
Think of it as the difference between between favoring liberalism, openness, and dynamism on one hand; and owning the libs or the cons, depending on one’s tribal affiliation, on the other.
Which makes this passage from near the end of Evelyn Waugh’s 1943 novel Brideshead Revisited especially poignant (p. 383 of the Back Bay Books edition):
I said to the doctor, who was with us daily: “He’s got a wonderful will to live, hasn’t he?”
“Would you put it like that? I should say a great fear of death.”
“Is there a difference?”
“Oh dear, yes. He doesn’t derive any strength from his fear, you know. It’s wearing him out.”
Inertia Wins! 