Bainbridge Colby Quotes

I've encountered a lot of people who sound like critics but very few who have substantive criticisms. There is a lot of skepticism, but it seems to be more a matter of inertia than it is of people having some real reason for thinking something else.

If you want to give me a good faceful for one of my political positions, I can take it.

As the loyal opposition we can be loyal and still generate a lot of opposition.

We need an opposition to remind us if we are making mistakes. When you are not opposed you think everything you do is right.

If you disagree with me about a position I have taken, or what I've done, tell me, argue with me, debate. Sometimes, right and good are not that clear; at other times, it is only deliberate and respectful debate that leads us to understand what road we should take.

I attack ideas. I don't attack people. And some very good people have some very bad ideas. And if you can't separate the two, you gotta get another day job. You don't want to be a judge. At least not a judge on a multi-member panel.

I will attack ideas very hard. I am not shy about that one bit. So I don't want people to think that because I had a call for civility that that means I shy away from debate and that I'm agreeable. That's not the case. What is the case is that I will not question who you are as a person.

Perhaps it would be better for science, that all criticism should be avowed.

Contention is inseparable from creating knowledge. It is not contention we should try to avoid, but discourses that attempt to suppress contention.

Expressions of disapproval are on a level of vulgarity that cannot be tolerated. The way to express disapproval is to do without applause.

Resort is had to ridicule only when reason is against us.

Managing dissent is about recognizing the value of disagreement, discord and difference.

Bring it on. Dissent is central to any democracy.

I guess some people are brilliant enough to be brilliant on their own and never doubt anything and come up with fabulous things. But I think it's good to get into arguments with people and have them say, 'That sucks' or 'You're crazy' or 'That's cheesy' or 'What do you think of this?'

A scientist's aim in a discussion with his colleagues is not to persuade, but to clarify.

I'd much rather have 15 people arguing about something than 15 people splitting into two camps, each side convinced it's right and not talking to the other.

I think, in general, it's better not to respond to reviews of your work.

To disagree, one doesn't have to be disagreeable.

I don't mind anybody coming after me as long as they're coming with facts.

Disagreements are one of the fundamental positive aspects of science.

I think that you can disagree with people and debate over their positions with issues without engaging in the politics of personal destruction.

Patriotism without criticism has no head; criticism without patriotism has no heart..

Don’t take the wrong side of the argument just because your opponent has taken the right side.

One may criticize even what one reveres.

I don’t attack people. I attack ideas. And some very good people can have some very bad ideas.