Agree to disagree

Origin

In 1770, the phrase "agree to disagree" appeared in print in its modern meaning when, at the death of George Whitefield, John Wesley wrote a memorial sermon which acknowledged but downplayed the two men's doctrinal differences:

In a subsequent letter to his brother Charles, Wesley attributed it to Whitefield (presumably George Whitefield): "If you agree with me, well: if not, we can, as Mr. Whitefield used to say, agree to disagree."Whitehead, John. The life of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A. https://books.google.com/books?id=ndsGAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22agree+to+disagree%22&pg=PA529 1793, p. 529. Retrieved on 27 September 2012. Whitefield had used it in a letter as early as June 29, 1750.

Though Whitefield and Wesley appear to have popularized the expression in its usual meaning, it had appeared in print much earlier (1608) in a work by James Anderton, writing under the name of John Brereley, Priest, although his usage lacks the implication of tolerance of differing beliefs.

The phrase "agree to differ" appeared in the early part of the 18th century in a sermon by John Piggott: "And now why should we not agree to differ, without either enmity or scorn?"Piggott, John. Eleven Sermons. https://books.google.com/books?id=ARkHAAAAQAAJ&dq=%22agree+to+differ%22&pg=PA290 1714, p. 290. Retrieved on 27 September 2012. (Sermon on Union and Peace, preach'd to several Congregations, April 17, 1704).

References

References

1. Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church. Sermons. [http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/53/2/ ''On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield'', page 2.] {{webarchive. link. (October 11, 2008 Retrieved on 20 April 2009.)
2. Whitefield, George. ''The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, Volume 2'' [https://archive.org/details/worksreverendge04whitgoog/page/n291 ] 1771, p. 362. Retrieved on 20 September 2013
3. (1608). "The Protestants Apologie for the Roman Church Deuided into three seuerall Tractes".