489 Quotes About Debate

It was time to take up the discussion over governance, housing, transportation, security, health care, and education—to define the country we wanted and outline our terms. Who were we. . . . What were our limits and our ambitions?

Lincoln had entirely outgrown juvenile delight in religious argument. Talking with God seemed to the mature Lincoln more important than talking about Him.

With wisdom comes the rare ability to tell whether or not trying to change someone’s mind would be a waste of time.

I prefer that these reserves be spent in arguing whether Mary conceived without sin, whether Christ was God or man, rather than discussing whether my power is of divine origin and if, in short, I am deserving of it. Heresy, then, is tolerable as long as it is not employed directly against power.

The only way to give a bad idea a real chance to publicly fail is to hear it and then use facts to eviscerate it.

Our agreement or disagreement is at times based on a misunderstanding.

You change society by changing the wind. Change the wind, transform the debate, recast the discussion, alter the context in which political discussions are being made, and you will change the outcomes... You will be surprised at how fast the politicians adjust to the change in the wind.

Of course, the reader might argue that I was as stubborn in my viewpoint as they were in theirs. Yes, indeed, but I was right and they were wrong and that made the difference.

Don't raise your voice, improve your argument."[Address at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 November 2004]