more heat than light

English

Noun

more heat than light (uncountable)

1. More passion or conflict than enlightenment or illumination on a subject.
   • 1979 April 14, David M. Stryker, “A Contribution”, in Gay Community News, page 4:

     Since I instigated the Manhattan Review (STH) ad which ran in GCN, which is now generating so much heat but very little light, I feel I must make some points clear.

   • 1996, Stephen Edelston Toulmin, Björn Gustavsen, Beyond Theory: Changing Organizations Through Participation, page 1:

     So, in any overall account of the social sciences, disputes are liable to break out about what is, or is not, truly scientific research; and, too often, these disputes generate more heat than light.