Constructive Discourse Quotes

It becomes obvious when people are sincere in their criticism and when they're not. I've learned over time that people will always have something to say.

If you get criticized, good - I don't think people get criticized enough. People talk behind your back and they criticize you, but they don't often come up and say it to you.

It's easy for people to talk about the negative.

I like constructive criticism from smart people.

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

There is a difference between constructive criticism and criticism that is hateful. I can criticize America, but in a way that shows that I want to improve America and its democracy.

There's a lot of people that I disagree with that I think I could have interesting conversations with. What I don't want to get into is manufactured conflict. I would much rather talk to someone like Dr. Rhonda Patrick or Randall Carlson and be mesmerized by information. I guess in a way that's selfish, or maybe not objective of me. The older (and hopefully wiser) I get the less interested I am in conflict. I don't mind disagreeing with people in a civil way, but I definitely don't want to go out of my way to have an argument unless it's a really important subject.

I think that's the most important thing: that we create dialogue.

We've come to be consumed by a 24-hour, slash-and-burn, negative ad, bickering, small-minded politics that doesn't move us forward.

Don't just crit their siticising.

If you're open for praise, you have to be open to criticism.

It may be fine for an artist to be indifferent to the reaction of the viewer to a work of art. A vigorous debate on issues is also beneficial. But the dark vision of a world without truth cannot be our future.

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

I don't like to listen to the unthoughtful criticism. When we have thoughtful criticism, I love it.

What I want is a clash of ideas, not opinions.

Reason leavened with a little wit (if possible) is the real alternative to hate speech, meaning that there's no better time for it.

People think if they voted for somebody, they should reflexively defend everything they do or say. And if you voted against somebody, you should just as reflexively oppose everything they do or say. It's not very helpful. What's more constructive for our kids is to go on a case-by-case basis, evaluating particular policies.

I think that we need to look hard at our beliefs and be responsible about how we speak out.

We tend to read each other's books in sizeable chunks as they are written. I don't know that you could say we are ruthless with each other - in fact, I suppose we are very kind. There are ways to make suggestions which are not destructive.

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.