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We Must Not Be Enemies: Restoring America's Civic Tradition

Book by Michael Austin · 2 quotes · Civility, Friendship, Politics

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We Must Not Be Enemies: Restoring America's Civic Tradition Quotes

“Classical philosophy holds that perpetual agreement with another person is incompatible with friendship. Because no two people can possibly agree on everything, someone who never expresses disagreement with you is acting insincerely - and true friendship requires sincerity above almost everything else.”

Friendship Honesty Sincerity Flattery Disagreement Arguments

Book:We Must Not Be Enemies: Restoring America's Civic Tradition

Source: We Must Not Be Enemies: Restoring America's Civic Tradition

“[Ralph Waldo] Emerson believed that any friendship worthy of the name consisted of two essential elements: tenderness, or honest affection not tied to any material interest, and truth, or a willingness to speak sincerely without fear that frankness will destroy the relationship. Simply agreeing with everything someone says is a sign not of friendship but of insincerity. 'Better be a nettle in the side of your friend than his echo,' he writes. Friendship should be 'an alliance of two large, formidable natures, mutually feared, before yet they recognize the deep identity which, beneath these disparities, unites them.”

Friendship Honesty Conflict Sincerity Arguments

Book:We Must Not Be Enemies: Restoring America's Civic Tradition

Source: We Must Not Be Enemies: Restoring America's Civic Tradition