Logo - Feel The Words

Debate Quotes

On the value and the limits of arguing things out.

This page brings together debate quotes that start from a simple premise, that airing disagreement openly has real merit, before moving into frustration with reform talks that treat serious problems like minor fixes. See also Debates quotes.

I think film should raise questions, not give answers. I think film should challenge people to reflect, debate and get by themselves to the answer that fits them.

Quotes by Diego Luna

A little tough talk in the midst of a campaign or as part of a presidential debate cannot obscure a record of 30 years of being on the wrong side of defense issues.

Quotes by Dick Cheney

In Parliament we debate on and we decide the laws that are going to govern the country.

Quotes by Diane Abbott

In a lifetime of observing and participating in political debate, I have seen a lot of meanness.

Quotes by Dennis Prager

Bob Gates has unusual standing in the debate about the Obama administration's foreign policy: He was defense secretary for both a hawkish President George W. Bush and a wary President Obama. He understood Bush's desire to project power and Obama's...

Quotes by David Ignatius

It's time to debate images, especially when someone's going to prison for downloading them.

Quotes by David Hockney

Reliable data on the outsourcing of American jobs is sorely missing from the debate on globalization.

Quotes by Dan Lipinski

Some say the Constitution has robbed us of a proper land redistribution process. Others would want to look at other clauses. Well, it's South Africa. Everything is transparent and open for debate.

Quotes by Cyril Ramaphosa

There is too much disagreement for disagreement's sake. In a time of persistent challenges that still call into question our most sacred aspirations as a country, we cannot afford shallow callous divisiveness in our public debate.

Quotes by Cory Booker

We become distracted from productive labors by our perceived opponents; we become focused on them and not on our larger calling to advance our nation; our debate becomes more about scoring points against an adversary and less about advancing our...

Quotes by Cory Booker

Donald Trump is the best debater on the debate stage.

Quotes by Corey Lewandowski

A debate is a very specific kind of performance.

Quotes by ContraPoints

Information, usually seen as the precondition of debate, is better understood as its by-product.

Quotes by Christopher Lasch

The job of the press is to encourage debate, not to supply the public with information.

Quotes by Christopher Lasch

You can only have one aim per debate.

Quotes by Christopher Hitchens

Burning fossil fuels emits carbon dioxide. And carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. There is no debate about that. The link is as certain as the link between smoking and cancer.

Quotes by Christine Todd Whitman

In a film, you have to externalize things that are internal and of course it becomes a debate about to what extent you do that.

Quotes by Chris Terrio

There's a bit of debate about that; some say it was really Matthew, but the popular consensus is that Mark was the first one, so that's why I did that one first. And I was planning on doing all four.

Quotes by Chester Brown

Decentralisation is controversial - but that's fine. We should be fearless about having a debate.

Quotes by Charles Kennedy

Since January 2003, at the height of the debate on the possible unilateral strike against Iraq, I have advocated for a reinstatement of the military draft to ensure a more equitable representation of people making sacrifices in wars in which...

Quotes by Charles B. Rangel

One line draws a sharper boundary, arguing that active conflict leaves no room for public argument at all. For more on speaking out, browse Debating quotes.