Quotes About Debate

Stephen Douglas's oratory was designed for the galleries, Lincoln's for his peers

Those on the other side of the debate argued forcefully that consolidated schools—with their advanced curriculums, professionally trained teachers, and classes extending through high school—were the only means of affording farm children the kind of educational opportunities available to their urban counterparts. In the end, after two years of bitter struggle, the proponents of consolidation prevailed in Bath when the township voted to fund a new school.10

Well," said Miss Ophelia, "do you think slavery right or wrong?" "I'm not going to have any of your horrid New England directness, cousin," said St. Clare, gayly.

Abortion raises moral and spiritual questions over which honorable persons can disagree sincerely and profoundly. But those disagreements did not then and do not now relieve us of our duty to apply the Constitution faithfully.

You're arguing in a circle," I said. "In a spiral," said Lamiel, "which is the best way to argue.

Winning an argument is of no value. What you want is to win a convert. And people who lose arguments are more likely to beef up their current convictions instead of converting to your way of thinking.

If you can't convince them, confuse them.

Rivalry of scholars advances wisdom.

Using insult instead of argument is the sign of a small mind.

Who trades in contradictions will not be contradicted.

The idea that we should be open to all ideas, is very different from the supposition that all ideas are equally valid.

If my writing produces angry reactions, then it might also effect a more balanced reflection. These are hard times to get it right, but the easy answers to yesterday's debate won't get it right.

A defesa de idéias, a argumentação e a crítica melhoram a democracia.

The debate over the use of aggression by police officers is an important one for society to learn more about. A number of contemporary police officers may feel some reluctance to put their hands upon a threatening individual, either because of a fear of unfair scrutiny and criticism, or because of the risk of personal civil liability.

Our civic life is heavily marked—indeed, pocked—by debates in which each side is so certain of its position that any movement is effectively impossible. For that matter, debate—in its original sense of "to consider something, to deliberate"—is impossible. We wind up with so much sound and fury and nothing gained.

The worst enemy is one whose doctrines are founded in hate and are thus beyond debate.

To straddle the middle ground and win elections, we have to be in charge of the political agenda. This can only be done by not being beaten in the argument with our critics. They complain that I come down too hard on their arguments. But wrong ideas have to be challenged before they influence public opinion and make for problems. Those who try to be clever at the expense of the government should not complain if my replies are as sharp as their criticisms.

Arguing with somebody is never pleasant, but sometimes it is useful and necessary to do so.

Nothing firms up a friendship like a good-natured argument.

In a manner of speaking," I said, using one of my favorite ways of saying "No, you are wrong.

War spells out my philosophy of "No right or wrong"— just "Your right, my wrong"—everything is subjective.

The Republican debate got pretty heated. They spent most of their time arguing over who God called first.

There is no arguing with Johnson, for if his pistol misses fire, he knocks you down with the butt end of

It is easy to believe in freedom of speech for those with whom we agree.