Quotes about Debate

Good controversy should not be a quarrel about assumptions

RULE 10, and it can be expressed thus: WHEN YOU DISAGREE, DO SO REASONABLY, AND NOT DISPUTATIOUSLY OR CONTENTIOUSLY.

If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send 150 lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, & talk by the hour? That 150 lawyers should do business together ought not to be expected.

Truth is great and will prevail if left to herself, that she is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict, unless by human interposition disarmed of her natural weapons, free argument and debate; errors ceasing to be dangerous when it is permitted freely to contradict them.

It is the duty of every American citizen to take part in a vigorous debate on the issues of the day.

Evolution is a religion; it is not science!

To suppose that the eye, with all its inimitable contrivances . . . could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, ABSURD in the highest possible degree.

By the very act of arguing, you awake the patient's reason; and once it is awake, who can foresee the result

A man never tells you anything until you contradict him.

The Bible is a wonderful book; you can prove anything you want with it.

If anybody wants to believe they're the descendants of a primate, they're welcome to do it.

Offendedness is just about the last shared moral currency in our country. And, I'm sorry, but it's really annoying. We don't discuss ideas or debate arguments, we try to figure out who is most offended.