“Reaching out to individuals of different ideological persuasions and starting a dialogue with them demanded then (and still requires today) a particular form of courage and fortitude that not everyone has. It also presupposes a particular style of discourse that avoids making reproaches and tirades against alleged 'scoundrels' and traitors with whom no dialogue is conceivable. 'I learned to respect other people's ideas,' [Norberto] Bobbio confessed, 'to pause before the secret of every conscience, to understand before arguing, and to argue before condemning.' He had always been a person 'more interested in dialogue than conflict' and loathed extremist or intransigent positions on all sides.” PoliticsDebateDialogueOpennessOpen MindednessConversationsPublic DiscourseTalking About Politics Book:Faces of Moderation: The Art of Balance in an Age of Extremes Source: Faces of Moderation: The Art of Balance in an Age of Extremes