Shirley Chisholm Quotes

Years ago on my radio show, I used to say, 'I'm a conservative, but I'm not in a bad mood about it.' I've always believed that civility in heavy doses is essential in self-government.

I get very very concerned when I hear people start characterizing their opponents as stupid. I still understand that because politics is a little rough and tumble at times, but I don’t buy it and when they start calling each other either crazy or evil. You and I, we don’t compromise with crazy people or evil people. And so, I don’t think that’s helpful. Generally speaking, just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t make them crazy or evil.

We must learn that we can disagree with each other without becoming deadly enemies.

We can argue and we can disagree, but we don’t need to poke our fingers in each other’s eyes in order to get our points across.

In Washington, there is a way to have disagreements and debates, which is so healthy, but a way to be friends at the end of the day, which I believe is the essence of America.

Yeah, you can disagree with someone and still be cool - that's a thing!

Healthy disagreement, debate, leading to compromise has always been the American way.

We may disagree on some things, but we can do so without being disagreeable.

Our civilization is becoming less civil. You don’t have the right to demonize somebody just because they disagree with you.

We cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at one another

All of us try to persuade our fellow citizens to see our point of view and that is the way public opinion is created in a democracy. It seems to me, however, we might achieve our aim with a little less violent invective and blackening of the individual character, for on both sides motives are probably good. The real difference is in the methods that are advocate.

You have to be able to interact with people whose politics you disagree with.

Elected officials need to stop with the name calling and hateful statements.

Being respected by people on both sides of the aisle is really important to me - even in an age when giving a hearing to 'both sides' is considered a smear in some corners.

This country is not going to progress if we can't have decent civil conversations and be respectful to one another.

That's something that the world needs to learn today: that you can disagree and still be friends.

I don't know how we continue to do politics in a democracy if we simply can't listen to one another, if we simply close the door and say you are beyond redemption.

My father, for his part, was not a man to begrudge anyone a divergent opinion; he'd have been fine if I had written some articles disagreeing with his policies, or even given interviews, as long as I was respectful and civil.

It's a very important thing to learn to talk to people you disagree with.

I think it is important that we rebuild an atmosphere of forgiveness and civility in every aspect of our lives.

Civility is not about dousing strongly held views. It's about making sure that people are willing to respect other perspectives.

You should be able to voice your opinion and respect the voice of the other side. You should be willing to educate yourself and know what it is you're dealing with.

The way to silence religious disputes is to take no notice of them.

Dialogue between people of differing views is critical for fostering understanding in a democracy.

The triumph of persuasion over force is the sign of a civilized society.