--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, first of all, no professor should…" description: "\"Well, first of all, no professor should be able to say, I refuse to defend my position. I refuse to debate my position.\" — Alan Dershowitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/alan-dershowitz-2194_able_well-first-of-all-no-professor-should-be_1471534.png" --- # Well, first of all, no professor should be able to say, I… ![“Well, first of all, no professor should be able to say, I refuse to defend my position. I refuse to debate my position.” quote by Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/alan-dershowitz-2194_able_well-first-of-all-no-professor-should-be_1471534.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/alan-dershowitz-2194_able_well-first-of-all-no-professor-should-be_1471534.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/alan-dershowitz-2194_able_well-first-of-all-no-professor-should-be_1471534.png) > “Well, first of all, no professor should be able to say, I refuse to defend my position. I refuse to debate my position.” [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A scholar should not refuse to defend or debate their position; intellectual integrity demands engagement. **In simple terms:** Defend and discuss your views. Key Takeaway Engage in open debate. Themes academia ethics argumentation freedom of speech Mood defensive inquisitive Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - classroom debates - public forums - policy discussions - media interviews Key Concepts critical thinking intellectual honesty Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to decline a debate? - How to handle hostile audiences? A Different Perspective Some topics may be too sensitive to discuss openly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Debate Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate-position-5340710/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Position Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position-refuse-4032345/) [Professors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professors/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Refuse Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse-debate-5340709/) [Refuse Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse-defend-3705786/) [Say Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-refuse-1831447/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [“Be careful, he says, the official US position will be that they refuse to negotiate for hostages, but they may try to enlist the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cain/be-careful-he-says-the-official-us-position-will-be-that-they-refuse/) [Kenneth Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cain/) > [Protest is when I say I don't like this. 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