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About this quote

What does it mean?
Every person has inherent dignity, and true citizenship in thought requires mutual respect and reason.
In plain terms
Everyone deserves respect and rights; traitors to thought use force instead of reason.
What can you take from it?
Respect others' rights as much as your own.

Where it applies

  • academic discourse
  • civil debate

Putting it to work

  • defend mutual rights
  • reject force in debate

Questions to consider

  • How do you show respect in disagreement?
  • Is force ever justified in debate?

Another view

It idealizes reason while ignoring that force often shapes history.

More from Robert G. Ingersoll

  1. Each nation has created a god, and the god has always resembled his creators. He hated and loved what they hated and loved, and he invariably found on the side…

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  2. Every brain is a field where Nature sows the seeds of thought, and the crop depends upon the soil.

    Permalink to quote #102
  3. Each is entitled to the honest opinion of all.

    Permalink to quote #99

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