Jonathan Haidt Quotes

Reasonable people can reasonably disagree on policy.

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

Somewhere in this we got into impugning people's character and motives if we didn't like their ideas. We gotta get back to just debating ideas.

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

I enjoy the debate... I haven't met a single person in Congress yet that I dislike. It's not about moderating your views: it's about being able to talk about them and defending them in a way that's uplifting to people.

I enjoy being around people who disagree with me; and I enjoy being in non-political contexts and activities.

I suspect that no community will become humane and caring by restricting what its members can say.

I have and I will always work to promote a civil public discourse.

If I have my opinion about something, you have your opinion about something, we don't have to fight over it. And we can have a conversation. We can also disagree without being disagreeable, and we can just disagree, which is fine. It doesn't mean that I don't like you, or you don't like me. We just disagree.

Civility is not not saying negative or harsh things. It is not the absence of critical analysis. It is the manner in which we are sharing this territorial freedom of political discussion. If our discourse is yelled and screamed and interrupted and patronized, that's uncivil.

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

Moral teaching should always be used as a gift and not a cudgel.... It is important that we all be able to share our moral viewpoints without hurting each other. That is what is wrong with political discourse today.

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.

I listen to my political rivals sometimes with fear and trembling, sometimes with awe, sometimes with near panic, but always with a curiosity of nuances, curiosity for the language, curiosity for the story behind the 'impossible' position.

We're living in a time where I think most people are wanting someone to invite them respectfully to a policy position, not try to just slash and burn the other person.

I have disagreements with some and more agreements with others. But that doesn't mean I cannot listen to those I disagree with.

Let's cultivate an environment, not just in beauty pageants but in society in general, where we argue like we're right but listen like we're wrong.

When people don't like my politics, I am happy to have a political discussion with them.

Differences of opinion are healthy and they're a part of what makes our democracy great. We grow by understanding each other's differences.

In a healthy, normal society, people can disagree with one another, even have diametrically opposing views, and this does not at all mean that they must hate one another. The Polish authorities, however, have made the division of Poles their primary task.

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's interesting to me to talk to people who don't agree with me all the time.

You can tell if someone is about social intercourse or just about browbeating somebody with their opinion. It's no fun arguing with a closed-minded person.

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.