Quotes About Debate

Anger is never without an argument, but seldom with a good one.

With the publication of this book, Velikovsky's reputation thereafter and until his death found itself in deep, very deep, dodo, the kindest expression of which was that he "kindled a worldwide debate," which was conducted not only with enormous fervor, but also with serious dollops of malice, vengeful mouth-frothing by energetic intellectuals, etc. The central reason for the debate

History is not about the past; it is about arguments we have about the past. And because it is about arguments that we have, it is about us.

I prefer rationalism to atheism. The question of God and other objects-of-faith are outside reason and play no part in rationalism, thus you don't have to waste your time in either attacking or defending.

In the field of suppressed languages there are many now that attract more attention ... Basque ... Breton ... Romany.... They all sign up for those.... Not that they study the language: nobody wants to do that these days.... They want problems to debate, general ideas to connect with other general ideas. My colleagues adjust, follow the mainstream, give their courses titles like 'Sociology of Welsh,' 'Psycho-linguistics of Provençal."...

being contradictory is more important than being right.

A good story should provoke discussion, debate, argument...and the occasional bar fight.

When you see something that is technically sweet, you go ahead and do it and you argue about what to do about it only after you have had your technical success. That is the way it was with the atomic bomb.

Every leader-writer who thunders 'Galileo' at us assumes that we know even less about Galileo than he does.

If you attempt an actual argument with a paper of the opposite politics, says Chesterton, "you will have no answer except slanging or silence.

The best argument is that which seems merely an explanation.

Fear not those who argue but those who dodge

I have always been aware that you have to get people listening before you can change their minds. Any artist's big fear is being ignored, so if you get debate, that's great.

There is perhaps no topic more widely discussed among theologians, philosophers and scientists of nearly all times and all cultures than the origin of the Universe.

The role of dissent is to force all of us to question our dogmas and biases. It is to stretch the spectrum of discourse.

President Reagan had said, in a presidential debate against Walter Mondale, "I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and who have lived here even though sometime back they may have entered illegally." Imagine: The patron saint of the modern conservative movement made the case for a concept that today would have him pilloried by the right-wing press and those cynical politicians who have learned to exploit division for their own electoral success.

The legendary New York senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously quipped: "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion but not to his own facts.

So much of our public policy seems to follow a mantra of "Go with your gut." It doesn't matter what the details are, as long as you are winning, and a perverse calculus has gripped Washington wherein reckless sloganeering and obstruction has replaced governing by consultation, debate, and consensus.

policy discussion usually means pitting one model against another. Viewpoints and policy prescriptions that aren't backed by a model typically don't have standing.

Never argue. To win an argument is to lose a sale.

questions can outperform statements in persuading others.

Lead with questions, not answers." "Engage in dialogue and debate, not coercion." "Conduct autopsies, without blame." "Build 'red flag' mechanisms." In other words, make it easy for employees and customers to speak up when they identify a problem.

At any debate, you want viewers to have learned something they didn't know before - whether it's about the candidates' temperament, policies, or preparedness for office.

I invite a variety people on my show with wide-ranging opinions - sometimes even my jaw hits the floor, too - but I let them speak. Whether it's left, right, or center, I want to expose my viewers to other perspectives. Agree with them or not, the nation needs to listen.