Debate Quotes - Page 13

• Specifically, I’d like to debate whether cannibalism ought to be grounds for leniency in murders, since it’s less wasteful.

  Bill Watterson

  Cannibalism, Murder, Leniency

  "Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat". Book by Bill Watterson, October 1994.

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• I'm sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and disagree with this administration, somehow you're not patriotic, and we should stand up and say, "We are Americans and we have the right to debate and disagree with any administration!"

  Hillary Clinton

  Encouragement, Tired, Patriotic

  Hillary Clinton's speech at the annual Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson-Bailey Day fund raising dinner in Connecticut, April 28, 2003.

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• On every question of construction (of the Constitution) let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit of the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Patriotism, Trying, May

  Thomas Jefferson (1829). “Memoirs, Correspondence, and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Late President of the United States”, p.382

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• A culture's ability to understand the world and itself is critical to its survival. But today we are led into the arena of public debate by seers whose main gift is their ability to compel people to continue to watch them.

  George Saunders

  People, Survival, Watches

  George Saunders (2012). “The Brain-Dead Megaphone”, p.14, A&C Black

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• The critical opinions of a writer should always be taken with a large grain of salt. For the most part, they are manifestations of his debate with himself as to what he should do next and what he should avoid.

  W. H. Auden

  Taken, Criticism, Salt

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• An isolated person requires correspondence as a means of seeing his ideas as others see them, and thus guarding against the dogmatisms and extravagances of solitary and uncorrected speculation. No man can learn to reason and appraise from a mere perusal of the writing of others. If he live not in the world, where he can observe the public at first hand and be directed toward solid reality by the force of conversation and spoken debate, then he must sharpen his discrimination and regulate his perceptive balance by an equivalent exchange of ideas in epistolary form.

  H. P. Lovecraft

  Mean, Writing, Reality

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• I am to cover the philosophical side of the debate and so far my only thought is that reading keeps you from going gaga.

  Mary Ann Shaffer

  Philosophical, Reading, Sides

  Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer (2011). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle Deluxe Reading Group Edition): A Novel”, p.32, Dial Press

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• What I think the political correctness debate is really about is the power to be able to define. The definers want the power to name. And the defined are now taking that power away from them.

  Toni Morrison

  Thinking, Power, Names

  "CHLOE WOFFORD Talks About TONI MORRISON". Interview with Claudia Dreifus, www.nytimes.com. September 11, 1994.

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• It is only on the battlefield of ideas that the best ones can be recognized and ultimately prevail. Only those afraid of the truth seek to silence debate, intimidate those with whom they disagree, or slander their ideological counterparts. Those who know they are right have no reason to stifle debate because they realize that all opposing arguments will ultimately be overcome by fact.

  Glenn Beck

  Ideas, Silence, Facts

  Glenn Beck (2009). “Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Ouf-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine”, p.17, Simon and Schuster

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• The Christ within who is our hope of glory is not a matter of theological debate or philosophical speculation. He is not a hobby, a part-time project, a good theme for a book, or a last resort when all human effort fails. He is our life, the most real fact about us. He is the power and wisdom of God dwelling within us.

  Brennan Manning

  Real, Book, Philosophical

  Brennan Manning (2015). “Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging”, p.130, NavPress

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• Those who, in debate, appeal to their qualifications, argue from memory, not from understanding.

  Leonardo da Vinci

  Memories, Understanding, Arguing

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• Good conversational debate is an end in itself, and talking for the love of conversation is what makes us human.

  Bryce Courtenay

  Talking, Conversation, Ends

  Bryce Courtenay (1989). “The Power of One”, Random House LLC

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• I think in our desire to create a better America,we have to have civilized debate in this country and not just yelling.

  Craig Ferguson

  Country, Thinking, Yelling

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• Are we going to debate philosophy or should I just kiss and make up with the demon now? Let it get a good shot at your throat so it can rip it out? (Xypher) Put him down mercifully. (Kat) Yes, Queenie. I’ll make sure and use a cushioned blade. (Xypher)

  Sherrilyn Kenyon

  Philosophy, Rip, Kissing

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• Someone please tell me that we’re not seriously having a friggin’ debate over the genius of ‘Karma Chameleon’ at seven o’clock in the morning? (Xypher)

  Sherrilyn Kenyon

  Karma, Morning, Genius

  Sherrilyn Kenyon (2008). “Dream Chaser”, p.193, Macmillan

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• If things go badly for me tonight, I want you to stay with Mr. Wynter; he will pay you a decent wage.” “Will he make me bathe?” “No, he will debate the matter with you until you decide to wash.” “Ah. One of those.

  Eoin Colfer

  Tonight, Want, Pay

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• Strange as my circumstances were, the terms of this debate are as old and commonplace as man; much the same inducements and alarms cast the die for any tempted and trembling sinner; and it fell out with me, as it falls with so vast a majority of my fellows, that I chose the better part and was found wanting in the strength to keep to it.

  Robert Louis Stevenson

  Fall, Men, Alarms

  Robert Louis Stevenson (2005). “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, second edition”, p.86, Broadview Press

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• Without debate, without criticism no administration and no country can succeed and no republic can survive.

  John F. Kennedy

  Country, Government, President

  Address to the American Newspaper Publishers, delivered 27 April 1961, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York

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• Soooo," Arriane said. "Now you've met Randy." "I thought his name was Cam." "We're not talking about him," Arriane said quickly. "I mean the she-man in there." Arriane jerked her head toward the office where they'd left the attendant in front of the TV. "Whaddya think-dude or chick?" "Uh, chick?" Luce said tentativley. "Is this a test?" Arriane cracked a smile. "The first of many. And you passed. At least, I think you passed. The gender of most of the faculty here is an ongoing, schoolwiide debate. Don't worry, you'll get into it.

  Lauren Kate

  Mean, Men, Thinking

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• The writer’s job is to write with rigor, with commitment, to defend what they believe with all the talent they have. I think that’s part of the moral obligation of a writer, which cannot be only purely artistic. I think a writer has some kind of responsibility at least to participate in the civic debate. I think literature is impoverished, if it becomes cut from the main agenda of people, of society, of life.

  Mario Vargas Llosa

  Jobs, Believe, Writing

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• My dear creature, I have done with all debate. But you know as well as I, patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either MY COUNTRY, RIGHT OR WRONG, which is infamous, or MY COUNTRY IS ALWAYS RIGHT, which is imbecile.

  Patrick O'Brian

  Country, Mean, Jingoism

  Patrick O'Brian (1990). “Master and Commander (Vol. Book 1)”, p.194, W. W. Norton & Company

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• School was more than academics; an education prepared you for the humdrum of real life: working with others, tempering one's personality to assimilate with the group but without losing your individual identity, understading the factors of logic, reasoning, and debate. For a person - vampire or human - to succeed in the world, unlocking the mysteries of the universe was insufficient. One would also need to grasp the mysteries of human nature.

  Melissa de la Cruz

  Real, School, Personality

  Melissa de la Cruz (2010). “The Van Alen Legacy: Number 4 in series”, p.165, Hachette UK

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• Take the risk of thinking for yourself. Much more happiness, truth, beauty and wisdom will come to you that way.

  Christopher Hitchens

  Thinking, Texas, Risk

  Christopher Hitchens' closing remarks at Hitchens-Dembski debate at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, www.youtube.com. November 18, 2010.

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• When we are debating an issue, loyalty means giving me your honest opinion, whether you think I'll like it or not. Disagreement, at this state, stimulates me. But once a decision is made, the debate ends. From that point on, loyalty means executing the decision as if it were your own.

  Colin Powell

  Loyalty, Mean, Thinking

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• We work on macro issues and macaroni and cheese issues. When women are in the halls of power, our national debate reflects the needs and dreams of American families.

  Barbara Mikulski

  Dream, Badass, Issues

  "Women in the US Senate: a guide to the 20 female senators" by Emma G. Keller, www.theguardian.com. November 09, 2012.

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