J. William Fulbright Quotes

There would always be a vote. There were always conflicts and arguments for years and years - that's why we're not together anymore. But there was always a vote. It was always two out of three.

Majority rule is not the norm for solving issues or problems.

On no question can a perfect unanimity be hoped.

When everyone agrees to a single solution and a single plan, there's nothing more efficient in the world than an efficient democracy.

It is idle to await unanimity.

Unanimity of opinion is characteristic of savages and civilization only advances as more and more people have the right to call wrong what the majority calls right..

… the most powerful party must happily accept and hear the opinions of the weakest

You'll find individuals agreeing on this, but when they get into collective societies and larger groups they find it difficult to achieve group agreement.

When people are divided, the only solution is agreement.

In so much of politics you're not allowed to disagree with what's been agreed.

A dissenting minority feels free only when it can impose its will on the majority: what it abominates most is the dissent of the majority.

The only kind of coercion I recommend is mutual coercion, mutually agreed upon by the majority of the people affected.

We respect opposition to any position or policy. But we believe that the opinion that should prevail and be respected is that of the majority.

Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled.

Nine out of ten Americans believe that out of ten people, one person will always disagree with the other nine!

People may believe that there can be a society where dissent is not permitted, but which is nonetheless not a fear society because everyone agrees with one another and therefore no one wants to dissent.

If we cannot agree, then at least we ought to move on.

There comes a point, in any kind of, whether it's in your family discussions or business or whatever, where you finally have to get over the making of the points and now let's see if we can find common ground.

Better be wrong with the many than right with the few.

A consensus means that everyone agrees to say collectively what no one believes individually

Our national well-being is in inverse proportion to the sharpness and extent of our theoretical differences.

[Addressing Congress:] The people await action. They did not send us here to bicker ... Let us negotiate soon—and hard. But in the end, let us produce.

“Consensus” … is only another way of describing the issues that have been taken off the table.

The only place you find unanimity is in the graveyard. And even there, I have heard it said, at election times the dead have been known to vote in various ways.

Stop the fighting and find the middle ground.