Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Avoid personal attacks in politics; they cause lasting harm.
In plain terms
Never attack people personally in politics or the damage is severe.
What can you take from it?
Personal attacks deepen conflict and cause lasting damage.

Where it applies

  • debates
  • campaigns

Putting it to work

  • professional conduct
  • dispute resolution

Questions to consider

  • Is attacking personal ever justified?
  • How do you disagree without attacking?

Another view

Personal attacks can sometimes rally supporters effectively.

More from Jack Valenti

  1. No one today knows what is indecent.

    Permalink to quote #13
  2. We are facing a very new and a very troubling assault on our fiscal security, on our very economic life and we are facing it from a thing called the video cass…

    Permalink to quote #15
  3. We want to tell American parents that they and they alone have total power to control every hour of television programming that comes into their home.

    Permalink to quote #12

Related quotes

  1. Exstat et sermo eius in senatu percivilis: 'Siquidem locutus aliter fuerit, dabo operam ut rationem factorum meorum dictorumque reddam; si perseveraverit, in v…

    SuetoniusSuetonius quote #10
  2. I cannot shift the blame for Chechnya, for the sorrow of numerous mothers and fathers. I made the decision, therefore I am responsible.

    Boris YeltsinBoris Yeltsin quote #11
  3. The pinning on of stars reaches its full cynical significance when sanctified valour and bereaved families are used to lend dignity to wars stupidly fought. Th…

    John Ralston SaulJohn Ralston Saul quote #11