What they cannot defeat by reason and argument they obstruct by delay and legalistic guile.是什么意思？

What they cannot defeat by reason and argument they obstruct by delay and legalistic guile.

凡是他们不能通过理智和辩论战胜的东西,他们便采用拖延的办法和玩弄法律的手段来加以阻挠.

what

pron. （用以询问某人或某事物的词）什么，多少，…的事物；adj. …的（事物或人）；adv. （用于感叹句中）；int. （用以表示不相信或惊奇），（用以表示未听清楚对方说的话）；

例句
How big is the abyss between what you think you are and what you actually are?
你对自己的认识和真实的你之间差别到底有多大？

they

pron. 他/她/它们，人们，大家，政府，当局，她们；

例句
The storms had abated by the time they rounded Cape Horn.
他们绕过合恩角时，暴风雨已经减弱。

cannot

=can not，未可，不能，不可；

例句
...parents who feel they cannot cope or might abuse their children.
认为自己应付不来或可能会虐待孩子的父母

defeat

vt. 击败，战胜，挫败，[法]宣告无效，作废；n. 战胜，失败，[法]废除；

例句
...the defeat of the Spanish Armada, 1588.
西班牙无敌舰队1588年的战败

by

prep. 在…旁边，表示方式，由于，经过；adv. 经过，表示保留或保存时用，短暂拜访；

例句
...expensive make-up that we saw being advertised by a beautiful model...
我们所见的由一位漂亮模特代言的昂贵化妆品

reason

n. 理由，原因，理性，理智；vt.& vi. 推理，思考，争辩，辩论，向…解释；

例句
As always, Peter had a reason for his action...
一如往常，彼得对自己的行为总有说辞。

and

conj. 和，与，而且，于是，然后，因此；

例句
I spend a lot on expensive jewelry and clothing...
我花很多钱购买昂贵的首饰和衣服。

argument

n. 争论，争吵，论据，[数]幅角，主题，情节；

例句
That argument apart, it is for the Germans themselves to work out how their forces should come together.
撇开那场纷争不谈，德国人自己也应该考虑一下如何将各种力量拧成一股绳。

obstruct

vt. 阻塞，堵塞，阻碍，阻止；vi. 阻塞，妨碍，（给…）设置障碍；

例句
The defences are intended to obstruct any advance by tanks and other vehicles.
这些防御工事用于阻止坦克等车辆前进。

delay

n. 延迟，拖延，耽搁，被耽搁或推迟的时间；vt. 延期，推迟，耽搁；vi. 延缓，延期；

例句
How much delay should we build into the plan?
我们应该为这个计划预留多少富余的时间？

legalistic

adj. 尊重法律的；

例句
...complicated legalistic language.
复杂难懂的条文主义语言

guile

n. 奸猾，狡诈，背信弃义，欺骗；

例句
His cunning and guile were not attributes I would ever underestimate...
我从未对他的狡猾和奸诈掉以轻心。