Mary Steenburgen Quotes

It is true that [the] present-day young are idealistic. But theirs is the easy idealism that condemns abuses and pushes aside any thought that would reveal the difficulties and complexities inherent in righting wrongs. They are not willing to do the hard work by which alone the world can be improved. Hearing what they say, and seeing what they do, one suspects that one of the main functions of the young’s idealism is finding good reasons for doing bad things.

I'm pretty good at taking accountability now, and I never did anything to deserve that. It was a really lousy thing for her to do.

I just try to do my best and make the best judgments I can.

See it all. See it fairly. Be truthful, be sensible and be careful with language. When nothing depends on man, everything depends on him.

I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them.

It's an indulgence to sit in a room and discuss your beliefs as if they were a juicy piece of gossip.

If I had a worldview, and I don't know if I do, but if I did, it's one that's intensely humanistic.

If the history of the Day of Atonement has anything to say to us now it is: never relieve individuals of moral responsibility. The more we have, the more we grow.

I don't necessarily agree with everything I say.

In my own case, the most inflammatory statements I have ever made are ones that I have written and remain willing to defend.

One must always be aware, to notice even though the cost of noticing is to become responsible.

The word 'tolerance' once meant we all have the right to argue rationally for our deepest convictions in the public arena. Now it means those convictions are not even subject to rational debate.

I'm my own severest critic, and I realize when I make mistakes.

My parents taught me to approach the world critically, but also to approach it with a sense of responsibility.

People learn the most about themselves by confronting those with whom they deeply disagree..

It’s our responsibility to read the newspapers and then say it is our opinion.

Our task is to be responsible for our speech, acts and political standpoint. These must be in conformity with the people's ideas and interests

I don't regret speaking out, but I regret the way I went about it, so put it that way, yes.

It's indifference and ignorance that stops people from doing the right thing.

People can hold any opinion that they want on any subject that they choose. Just don't proactively lie to people. It's a simple request, really, and one that we don't hear nearly enough.

One of the hallmarks of higher education and of democracy is the ability to converse with people with whom we disagree.

At some point you have to take responsibility for who you are and where you are and being able to listen to other points of view, whichever side of the tracks you're on.

Curiously enough, it is often the people who refuse to assume any responsibility who are apt to be the sharpest critics of those who do.

When one confesses to an act, one ceases to be an actor in it and becomes its witness, becomes a man that observes and narrates it and no longer the man that performed it.

The responsibilities of someone in a more free and open society are, again obviously, greater than those who may pay some cost for honesty and integrity.