“I'm trying to make people more alert that mere acceptance isn't a good enough indicator that something is ethical. You actually need to stop and think. Acceptance on the basis of ignorance or deceit is not the same thing as the acceptance on the basis of ongoing vigorous democratic debate.” PeopleThinkingTryingEnoughAcceptanceIgnoranceDemocraticDebateDeceitGood EnoughEthical Author:Sheila Jasanoff
“Thinking about seasteading requires us to free ourselves of these broad political categories we're stuck with on land. People can make whatever community system they want on a seastead. What emerges will totally defy the broad categories we debate about now.” PeopleThinkingPoliticalCommunityDebateStuck Author:Joe Quirk
“Donald Trump insult women. We've seen him rate women on their appearance, ranking them from one to ten. We've seen him embarrass women on TV and on Twitter. We saw him after the first debate spend nearly a week denigrating a former Miss Universe in the harshest, most personal terms. So yes, this is who Donald Trump is.” UniverseTermWeekMissingRateAppearanceDebateInsult Author:Hillary Clinton
“I encourage all my colleagues to run for office themselves. But it has become extremely difficult in this system to become a prominent opposition politician. I no longer have any rivals to have a debate with. I need competition. And the people will soon tire of me. They say: Navalny, It's always just Navalny. We want to see someone new.” PeopleRunningDifficultPoliticianOfficeCompetitionDebateTire Author:Alexei Navalny
“Britain is a great country. We can more or less say what we like, and we can walk down the street without anyone trying to kill us. I know it's tough for some people, but generally we live in a caring society. We live in a great country, but we're no longer a great power. Part of the problem with some elements of the European debate is that they hanker for the days when we were a great power. Those days are gone, and they went a long time ago.” PeopleTryingLongCountryProblemToughCaringDebateGreat PowerGreat Country Author:Billy Bragg
“Writers and reporters need to remind themselves they're not to be judged solely by the number of clicks or eyeballs on a given story, but there is this other value and this other important mission, and the key is balancing the two so that you stay alive long enough, whether you're an individual writer or whether you're a whole news organization, to keep doing what you're doing but that you don't get so driven by that that you forget that what you're supposed to be doing in a higher sense is informing people, is elevating the debate and not lowering it.” PeopleLongImportantEnoughValuesIndividualForgetDrivenDebateJudgedStaying Alive Author:Frank Bruni
“We still write too many stories that are "state of the race" stories that are informed almost solely by what the polling shows and by what we're then deducing about who's up, who's down, and I'm just not sure that's very helpful to readers, it certainly doesn't elevate the debate and, and the problem is if you, if you cover these things, and I don't think the Times is particularly culpable, I think other news organizations are worse, if you cover them in an entirely "who's up, who's down" horse race way.” ThinkingWritingProblemHorseDebateNot SureHelpful Author:Frank Bruni
“I have constantly told people that I was Secretary of State and I was not going to get into a partisan debate. And I would vote my ballot in a secret way, as all Americans do. But I just want to acknowledge that after the election took place, it was a special time for Americans.” PeopleSecretSpecialVoteElectionDebateAcknowledgeSecretaryOld People Author:Condoleezza Rice
“Don't forget during the primary debates when Trump pointed at Carly Fiorina and said, "Look at that face, who would vote for her?" That tells you everything about him and what he cares about women.” CareForgetVoteDebate Author:Maxine Waters
“We are unique among advanced countries that we don't have universal health care. My hope was that I was able to get a hundred percent of people health care while I was president. We didn't quite achieve that, but we were able to get 20 million people health care who didn't have it before. And obviously some of the progress we made is now imperiled because there's still a significant debate taking place in the United States. For those 20 million people, their lives have been better.” PeopleCountryCarePresidentProgressAchieveUniqueDebateSignificantHealth CareUniversal Health Care Author:Barack Obama
“I like Macron a lot and I very much welcome him - particularly the fact that he made Europe one of the main topics of the election debate.” ElectionDebateWelcome Author:Jean-Claude Juncker
“The story of slavery is everybody's story. It is the story about how we're all shaped by, regardless of race, regardless of how long we've been in this country. We hope that we can be a factor to both educate America around this subject but maybe more importantly help Americans finally wrestle with this, talk about it, debate it, because only through that conversation can we ever find the reconciliation healing that I think we all want.” ThinkingLongCountryHelpingHealingSlaveryDebateEducateReconciliation Author:Lonnie Bunch
“We are not getting rid of carriers any time soon. This is both because of their utility and also because of their role in Navy culture and in the defense-industrial complex. It is an academic debate.” CultureDebateAcademicNavyUtility Author:P. W. Singer
“Hillary Clinton, at the end of the debate, what you want viewers to say, yes, she's smart, she's knowledgeable, but she's not a bad egg, you know? Not a bad egg is a pretty high compliment in American politics, given the toxic atmosphere in which we currently dwell.” SmartClintonDebateAtmosphereComplimentKnowledgeable Author:Mark Shields
“Donald Trump can't even handle the rough and tumble of a presidential campaign. He loses his cool at the slightest provocation. When he has gotten a tough question from a reporter, when he is challenged in a debate. When he sees a protester at a rally. Imagine, if you dare imagine, imagine him in the Oval Office facing a real crisis. A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons. And in the end, it comes down to what Donald Trump doesn't get, America is great because America is good.” MenRealImagineOfficeToughCrisisDareDebatePresidentialRoughNuclear WeaponsTweetPresidential Campaign Author:Hillary Clinton
“Colin Kaepernick is the latest professional athlete to spark a national debate about the meaning behind the American flag and the national anthem.” AthleteDebateAnthemAmerican FlagProfessional Athlete Author:Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
“In present-day America, expressing reverence for those who serve in uniform is something akin to a religious obligation. Everyone professes to cherish America's "warriors." Yet such bountiful, if superficial, expressions of regard camouflage a growing gap between those who serve and those who applaud from the sidelines. Our present-day military system, based on the misnamed All-Volunteer Force, is neither democratic nor effective. Why has discussion and debate about its deficiencies not found a place among the nation's political priorities?” PoliticalReligiousMilitaryDemocraticDebatePrioritiesObligationWarriorDiscussionCherishReverenceSuperficial Author:Andrew Bacevich
“Donald Trump doesn't like to debate and knows in his heart of hearts he isn't great at it.” HeartDebate Author:Christopher Michael Cillizza
“Every Republican candidate in the country is going to be asked whether in a debate or where else, by opponents or by the press, do you consider Donald Trump to be an appropriate role model for the children of our state? And it just - as far as the women's vote reported on in Georgia, it makes it so, not simply difficult. It makes it almost impossible for somebody with self-respect, who has a mother or sister or a daughter, somebody like this in Abraham Lincoln's chair.” ChildrenCountryMotherDifficultImpossibleRepublicanDaughterVoteDebateRole Models Author:Mark Shields
“The problem with these presidential debates like this is that you can't really prepare for them, because the questions are so individual and personal or even idiosyncratic. Secretary Hillary Clinton has a lot richer and deeper experience in doing these, obviously, than Donald Trump.” ProblemIndividualClintonDebatePresidentialSecretary Author:Michael Gerson
“Sometimes politics is viewed as a boxing match. So, let's look at movies of last year. You know, you prepare for match like creed. Trump is like "Mad Max: Fury Road." We have never seen anything like this in politics. The kind of race he's going to run. I mean, look, he is winning the nomination. He doesn't prepare for debates. He doesn't run advertising. He gets millions of dollars spent against him, it has no effect, he's not running as sophisticated data driven campaign yet he is winning. As each and every day, you just don't know what you're going to get with this guy.” KindMeanSometimesRunningGuyWinningMadDrivenDebateAdvertisingBoxingSophisticatedFury Author:David Plouffe
“Delhi is a very maligned city, and deservedly so. Yet there's something about it. It's a secret city, it doesn't hang out its wares. It's like a very deep river. Floating right up on top are the institutions of contemporary power: government, politics, media, and then there's the bureaucracy, the diplomatic missions. But it's also the city of intellectual debate, of protest, it's the city where people from all over the country converge to express their anger. And then, underneath all that, there's this crumbling, ancient city, a confluence of so much history.” PeopleCountrySecretIntellectualAncientDebateProtestHanging OutBureaucracyVery DeepDiplomatic Author:Arundhati Roy
“The fact that we don't' talk about it, that we don't have a politics in which this question of war and peace can even get onto the table, so that we can open up our Orwell, our 1984, or Animal Farm, or whatever, and read the political text that's being spotted to us on the television right off of the page; the fact that we don't have a politics robust enough to actually debate whether or not we want to be a country permanently at war. That's what keeps me from sleeping at night.” WarCountryEnoughPoliticalNightSleepAnimalDebate Author:Glenn Loury
“The truth about the climate crisis is still inconvenient to the large carbon polluters. And so they want to bob and weave and dodge the truth, and pretend like it's still a big controversy, and it's not. They want to pretend that this is up for debate. Like, whether or not the world is round is up for debate, or whether the moon landing really took place.” WorldMoonCrisisDebateControversyMoon Landing Author:Al Gore
“Hosni Mubarak was the glue that held very leaderless and organic and very pluralistic mix of people together. Now that he's gone, there's a lot more debate and division about what happens next, which is healthy. We're essentially still under military dictatorship right now. The military rules the country. It can issue laws by decree.” PeopleCountryTogetherMilitaryHealthyDebateDictatorship Author:Sharif Abdel Kouddous
“People's minds are polluted by these dark pictures of the future from Hollywood: "The Terminator," the Skynet, "The Matrix." It's world where there's no room for humans, or they have to fight against the machines. I think it's just a way, way, way, way in the future. Is it going to happen? I don't know. For me, these debates are not similar, but they resemble debates about how the sun will turn into a supernova in 4 to 5 billion years. Frankly, I don't care.” ThinkingWorldMindCareFightingDarkDebate Author:Garry Kasparov
“My background is such that I am uneasy about religious laws, I think there's always a real danger when you start appealing to a higher authority. It's self-righteousness, it's not righteousness, it's self-righteousness that takes control. But I think that it's absolutely crucial that that's not confused with the debate that takes place over Shari'a law in Great Britain at the moment. Because as far as anybody is concerned, when you talk about Shari'a courts now you're talking about - I don't know what people think.” PeopleThinkingRealMomentsReligiousDangerAuthorityConcernedDebateConfusedRighteousnessUneasy Author:Sadakat Kadri
“The Shari'a itself - this is possibly a kind of verbal debate - is understood to be something different from the Fiqh, and the Fiqh is the man-made element and the Shari'a is theoretically the divine element but it depends on one's personal beliefs.” KindDifferentBeliefDivineDebate Author:Sadakat Kadri
“The country's in significant danger, and I think we need people who are thoughtful. We're gonna have sharp differences, but we need to debate those in a way that's constructive and civil. I think President Obama is governing as a movement liberal. I don't think that rises to the level of being a socialist.” PeopleThinkingPresidentDangerDebateSignificantThoughtfulPresident ObamaSocialist Author:Tim Pawlenty
“Artists have their existential questions as human beings, and they address these questions in their works. But they are also thinking in a broader sense when they participate in a social and political debate through their works. Often the most important voices of artists in the political and the social debate are focused on originality in their works. We can see this in historical pieces, like "Guernica" by Picasso. "Guernica" was an extremely important manifestation and critique against war, but it was important and powerful because it was also an incredibly original and powerful work of art.” ThinkingArtImportantWarPoliticalArtistPowerfulHistoricalFocusedDebateManifestationOriginalityExistentialCritique Author:Gunnar Kvaran
“The campaign in the media takes place in many different formats, such as in citizens forums or town - hall shows. And because we don't have a presidential system in Germany, people vote for parties instead of specific candidates. From the perspective of smaller parties, even one single televised debate is a detested anomaly, because only the lead candidates from the conservatives and the SPD take part.” PeopleDifferentPartyPerspectiveVoteDebatePresidential Author:Angela Merkel
“The plurality of German campaign formats, including the televised debates, reflect that we in Germany don't directly vote for a person like in the United States or in France, but for parties. We have a different system.” DifferentPartyVoteDebate Author:Angela Merkel
“Great companies create an environment in which employees act like owners. They do this through clear communication, articulation of clear vision and priorities, coaching and openness to debate/discussion. I would argue that this type of environment helps people to be at their best - and helps the company to be at its best.” PeopleHelpingVisionEnvironmentCommunicationArguingDebatePrioritiesDiscussionCoachingEmployeeOpennessGreat Company Author:Robert S. Kaplan
“In a democracy, if people don't have accurate information, how can they be active citizens? How can they be part of the debate? And if you are facing powerful forces on the right and in Trump administration who want to create an alternative reality that feeds into their objectives for our country, you more than ever need the press to cut through that, and to be as accurate as possible.” PeopleCountryRealityPowerfulDemocracyCuttingDebate Author:Hillary Clinton
“I really don't have time at the moment for coalition debates. The voters will decide what the next parliament will look like. Those who wish to form a coalition with The Social Democrats can take a look at our platform and then they are more than welcome to talk to us.” MomentsWishDemocratDebateWelcome Author:Martin Schulz
“I had no intention of returning into the British political debate, really at all, even though I've obviously got very strong views on it, until Brexit happened, because I think Brexit is a destiny-changing decision for my country.” ThinkingCountryPoliticalStrongDecisionIntentionDebateVery Strong Author:Tony Blair
“I think now it's a very odd time in politics. It should be mostly about good governing. We need a government, not politics. Because there's too much politics. Of course there should be debate. But there seems to be so much pettiness and not enough good faith. It is civilized to agree to disagree and this idea is slowly disintegrating. The great statesmen of the past knew this, and I think it helps drive civilization.” ThinkingEnoughHelpingPastAgreeDebateOddCivilizedDisagreeGood FaithPettiness Author:Daphne Guinness
“Obviously, I'm a fan of satire. I'd debate anyone, but it would have to be the actual person. That would be my only hesitation about debating Stephen Colbert. If he were playing a character, it wouldn't really work.” CharacterDebateSatireHesitation Author:Ann Coulter
“I'd pretty much debate anybody. I prefer to debate smart liberals. I'm not saying this about Stephen Colbert but, unfortunately, the most famous liberals generally aren't the smartest ones. I have a list of the smarter liberals I recommend.” SmartDebate Author:Ann Coulter
“I definitely think religion is responsible for a lot of the evils of the world. I mean that's not really in debate. But at the same time, I think whatever gets you through the day, whatever helps you make sense of life I'm not gonna begrudge my grandmother with her rosary beads. It works for them. And at the end of the day, I don't claim to know the answer to anything.” ThinkingWorldMeanHelpingEvilResponsibleDebateMake SenseGrandmotherMy Grandmother Author:Conor Oberst
“Whether I'm writing scripts or prose, the goal is identical. To give pleasure. Now whether I succeed or not is up for debate, and, mostly, I fail. But I try. I like to make things. It's a way to stay busy during one's ephemeral and confusing life.” GivingWritingTryingGoalPleasureFailingSucceedBusyDebateProseConfusing Author:Jonathan Ames
“I wish that Google would realize its own power in the cause of free speech. The debate has been often held about Google's role in acceding to the Chinese government's demands to censor search results. Google says that it is better to have a hampered internet than no internet at all. I believe that if the Chinese people were threatened with no Google, they might even rise up and demand free speech - free search and links - from their regime. Google lives and profits by free speech and must use its considerable power to become a better guardian of it.” PeopleBelieveI BelieveWishRealizingInternetDebateChineseFree SpeechGoogleGuardian Author:Jeff Jarvis
“Have you noticed that every one of these candidates for Presidency say: "Barack Obama's weak, Vladimir Putin's kicking sand in his face. When I talk to Putin, he's gonna straighten out. Just looking at him I'm gonna - he's gonna be - " and then it turns out they can't handle a bunch of CNBC moderators at a debate. I don't think the Chinese and the Russians are gonna be too worried about you.” ThinkingWeakDebateBarackChineseWorriedSand Author:Rush Limbaugh
“I'm the only one that can take the debate to Barack Obama and win and be elected.” WinningDebateBarack Author:Michele Bachmann
“Stephen A.Douglas was a risk-taker by temperament; I expect that Lincoln - Douglas debates represented another risk he just couldn't resist. He lived to regret it.” RiskRegretDebateTemperament Author:Allen C. Guelzo
“Modern presidential debating only started with Richard Nixon and John F.Kennedy in 1960, although the proximity of that to the Lincoln-Douglas centennial is more than accidental. The reason is, I think, the medium. Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas were talking, but the talking was in terms of logic, development, and reasoning. Television, as a medium, resists those qualities in speaking - it favors quick cuts, one-liners, and talking points. I think the modern debates are largely the prisoners of the televised medium” ThinkingReasonTermQualityCuttingModernLogicDebatePresidentialPrisoner1960s Author:Allen C. Guelzo
“I suspect, too, that the modern debates represent the effort of candidates with widely-varying constituencies and special interests to please to tip the hat as quickly as possible to as many of the constituencies and interests as possible. That leaves no time for big-picture issues. Contrast this with Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, where the subject was only ever slavery, and the discussion went right to the bedrock of what a democracy is all about.” InterestEffortDemocracyModernSpecialSlaveryDebateDiscussionContrast Author:Allen C. Guelzo
“Look at me, the Front National got many more votes than the Alternative for Germany. Marine Le Pen ended up with 34 percent of the vote, 34 percent! I defended Europe, an open society and all my values. The Front National has been significantly weakened. In the debates, you don't hear anything from them anymore - because we engaged them in battle. Now is the time to be bold! The only answer to the Alternative for Germany is courage and ambition.” ValuesBattleAmbitionVoteDebatePensLook At MeMarine Author:Emmanuel Macron
“I have participated as a leader in many organizations where the leadership culture was just mean - ugly, where competitiveness, and destructive relationships stymied progress. There should be healthy tension and candid debate, but leadership teams need to practice communication, relationship building, emotional intelligence, and be aligned around common purpose to achieve organizational success. Senior leaders, chief executive officers, others need to ensure they are fostering the right environment for leadership otherwise all of that ugliness will trickle through the organization.” MeanPurposeCultureCommonLeaderEnvironmentProgressTeamAchieveBuildingEmotionalCommunicationHealthyUglyDebateTensionSeniorUglinessCompetitivenessOrganizational Author:James Merlino
“One theme that fascinates me is cognitive enhancement. It seems only a matter of time until we live in a world where steroids for the brain are readily available to all. And once we come to grips with that reality, I suspect the debate over the ethics will be much more heated than the debate over steroids in baseball or any other sport, where the use is limited to a select group of freakish athletes.” WorldRealitySportsBrainEthicsBaseballAthleteDebateSelectSteroid Author:Ben Casnocha