--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: as any organizer of focus groups will…" description: "\"“as any organizer of focus groups will tell you, people’s views on highly emotional subjects, from immigration to abortion to drugs, will change just 3..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccf/anonymous-1_deliberation_as-any-organizer-of-focus-groups-will-te_3055832.jpg" --- # as any organizer of focus groups will tell you, people’s… ![“as any organizer of focus groups will tell you, people’s views on highly emotional subjects, from immigration to abortion to drugs, will change just 30 minutes into a face-to-face discussion with people of differing views, provided that they are all given the same information and ground rules that…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccf/anonymous-1_deliberation_as-any-organizer-of-focus-groups-will-te_3055832.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccf/anonymous-1_deliberation_as-any-organizer-of-focus-groups-will-te_3055832.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccf/anonymous-1_deliberation_as-any-organizer-of-focus-groups-will-te_3055832.jpg) > ““as any organizer of focus groups will tell you, people’s views on highly emotional subjects, from immigration to abortion to drugs, will change just 30 minutes into a face-to-face discussion with people of differing views, provided that they are all given the same information and ground rules that enforce civility. One of the problems of pluralism, then, is the assumption that interests are fixed and that the role of the legislator is simply to act as a transmission belt for them, rather than having his own views that can be shaped by deliberation.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People’s opinions on charged topics shift quickly when they engage civilly with opposing views and shared facts. **In simple terms:** Views change in respectful, informed dialogue. Key Takeaway Encourage civil, fact‑based discussion. Themes pluralism deliberation politics civility Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - community meetings - policy workshops - media panels - educational forums Key Concepts public opinion social influence cognitive flexibility Questions to Reflect On - How does civility affect opinion change? - What information most shifts views? A Different Perspective If participants are entrenched, change may be minimal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civility Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civility-problems-5103711/) [Deliberation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliberation/) [Differing views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differing-views-46903/) [Pluralism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pluralism/) [Problems Pluralism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems-pluralism-5103710/) ## Related quotes > [At all costs we should avoid considering our love of God to be superior to the love of the other for GodLet us love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/at-all-costs-we-should-avoid-considering-our-love-of-god-to-be/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > [A dissent is the opportunity for the justices to express their differing views with respect to what the majority has done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/a-dissent-is-the-opportunity-for-the-justices-to-express-their/) [Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/) > [There's the ambiguity of human relationships, for instance. A relationship between two people, just like a sequence of words, is ambiguous if it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-perlman/there-s-the-ambiguity-of-human-relationships-for-instance-a/) [Elliot Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliot-perlman/) > [You can't differentiate between an Islamic terrorist and a Christian terrorist. Or a politically motivated terrorist who's anti-abortion or someone who may have differing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wrightson-nance/you-can-t-differentiate-between-an-islamic-terrorist-and-a-christian/) [Malcolm Wrightson Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wrightson-nance/) > [Dialogue between people of differing views is critical for fostering understanding in a democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gibney/dialogue-between-people-of-differing-views-is-critical-for-fostering/) [Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gibney/) > [It's very dramatic when two people come together to work something out. It's easy to take a gun and annihilate your opposition, but what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/it-s-very-dramatic-when-two-people-come-together-to-work-something/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [“We need to stop excusing mediocre and downright pernicious art, stop 'taking it for what it’s worth' as we take our fast foods, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-need-to-stop-excusing-mediocre-and-downright-pernicious-art-stop/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Deliberation is a function of the many; action is the function of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/deliberation-is-a-function-of-the-many-action-is-the-function-of-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We must curb ourfury, and allow sadness to diminish, and speak our stories with coolness and deliberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-must-curb-ourfury-and-allow-sadness-to-diminish-and-speak-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“better than rash decisions was cool, indeed the very coolest, deliberation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/better-than-rash-decisions-was-cool-indeed-the-very-coolest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The novice in the military art flew from point to point, retarding his own preparations by the excess of his violent and somewhat distempered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-novice-in-the-military-art-flew-from-point-to-point-retarding-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Inertia is so easy—don't fix what's not broken. Leave well enough alone. So we end up accepting what is broken, mistaking complaining for action,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/inertia-is-so-easy-don-t-fix-what-s-not-broken-leave-well-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“pluralism today—at least in America—exists without a dominant culture,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-davison-hunter/pluralism-today-at-least-in-america-exists-without-a-dominant-culture/) [James Davison Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-davison-hunter/) > [I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/i-want-you-to-just-let-a-wave-of-intolerance-wash-over-you-i-want-you/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [Church and state are, and must remain, separate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/church-and-state-are-and-must-remain-separate/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Deliberation quotes > [Meaning coming from feeling, feeling coming from within, you absorb a massive amount of information, it goes through your whole body, a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-henson/meaning-coming-from-feeling-feeling-coming-from-within-you-absorb-a/) [Bill Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-henson/) > [Life is not long, and too much of it must not pass in idle deliberation how it shall be spent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/life-is-not-long-and-too-much-of-it-must-not-pass-in-idle/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The great constitutional corrective in the hands of the people against usurpation of power, or corruption by their agents is the right of suffrage;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/the-great-constitutional-corrective-in-the-hands-of-the-people/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [I should esteem it the extreme of imprudence to prolong the precarious state of our national affairs, and to expose the Union to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-should-esteem-it-the-extreme-of-imprudence-to-prolong-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Deliberation and debate is the way you stir the soul of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/deliberation-and-debate-is-the-way-you-stir-the-soul-of-our-democracy/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [So with truth - there is a certain moment when one can say, this is the truth and here I put a dot, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/so-with-truth-there-is-a-certain-moment-when-one-can-say-this-is-the/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [The individual is foolish; the multitude, for the moment is foolish, when they act without deliberation; but the species is wise, and, when time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-individual-is-foolish-the-multitude-for-the-moment-is-foolish/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The Red Cross in its nature, it aims and purposes, and consequently, its methods, is unlike any other organization in the country.It is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/the-red-cross-in-its-nature-it-aims-and-purposes-and-consequently-its/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [Study without reflection is a waste of time; reflection without study is dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/study-without-reflection-is-a-waste-of-time-reflection-without-study/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision, and for whom the lighting of every cigar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/there-is-no-more-miserable-human-being-than-one-in-whom-nothing-is/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“I'm in a hole because at some point I found a shovel and started digging. Maybe I should trade my shovels for ladders and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-m-in-a-hole-because-at-some-point-i-found-a-shovel-and-started/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I am sorry they began their deliberations by so abominable a precedent as that of tying up the tongues of their members. Nothing can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-sorry-they-began-their-deliberations-by-so-abominable-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing can be more unphilosophical than to be positive or dogmatical on any subject; and even if excessive scepticism could be maintained it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/nothing-can-be-more-unphilosophical-than-to-be-positive-or-dogmatical/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“A product should be made intentionally”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/a-product-should-be-made-intentionally/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [I am mistaken if a single epigram included fails to preserve at least some faint thrill of the emotion through which it had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-quiller-couch/i-am-mistaken-if-a-single-epigram-included-fails-to-preserve-at-least/) [Arthur Quiller-Couch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-quiller-couch/) [Browse all 151 Deliberation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliberation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“as any organizer of focus groups will tell you, people’s views on highly emotional subjects, from immigration to abortion to drugs, will change just 30 minutes into a face-to-face discussion with people of differing views, provided that they are all given the same information and ground rules that enforce civility. 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