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 just thought it was unconscionable for the Congress to insert itself into this debate. We are particularly unqualified to make that decision and to intrude ourselves into the lives of this family.
In the continuing debate over the morality of enhanced interrogation, an essential consideration is often overlooked: intent.
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If I've helped fuel the debate on loneliness in some small way, that is wonderful.
With or without a Social Security fix, Americans don't have enough assets to retire on. There has to be a much larger debate.
I have... been disturbed by the negative tone of the debate over immigration... there is a rising crescendo of opinion from columnists and politicians saying we should reduce our immigration intake.
In 1960, John F. Kennedy rode a superior televised debate performance to victory over Richard Nixon.
Filibusters should require 35 senators to... make a commitment to continually debate an issue in reality, not just in theory. The number of votes needed to overcome a filibuster should be reduced to 55 from 60.
The first half of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report, even in redacted form, leaves no room for debate: This president and his campaign eagerly exploited help from Russian agents, despite being aware that Russia was sabotaging our election.
Much of our national debate proceeds as if China and America were locked in a zero-sum game in which one's loss is precisely the other's gain.
The myth of the liberal media empowers conservatives to control debate in the United States to the point where liberals cannot even hope for a fair shake anymore.
It may happen sometimes that a long debate becomes the cause of a longer friendship. Commonly, those who dispute with one another at last agree.
Religion enabled society to organise itself to debate goodness, just as Greek drama had once done.
Squelching debate by branding it un-American is dishonest, dangerous, and, in itself, hateful.
Let's start to have a grown up debate in this country about who we are and where we want to go and what kind of country we want to build.
One of the reasons a strategist never sits in a stadium and gets caught up in the crowds - and never sits watching a debate in person - is because the vast majority of American voters watch these political events...
Healthy debate has been replaced by automatic sensors that eliminate the need for actual talking during a filibuster - a la 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.' Robust debate is necessary in a democratic society. Instead, our discourse has been relegated...
Healthy disagreement, debate, leading to compromise has always been the American way.
In the past there has been debate as to whether or not traditional rights such as that to trial by jury might be protected or if a Bill of Rights should extend into areas of social and economic policy.
We should protect free speech by repealing offences that stifle legitimate debate - like 'glorification' of terrorism and religious hatred - but take a 'zero-tolerance' approach to extremists inciting violence.
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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.
