--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world’s most renowned debating…" description: "\"“The world’s most renowned debating society had been established in 1823. It was called the Oxford Union and stayed the focal point of contentious deba..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/ashwin-sanghi-3271_focal-point_the-world-s-most-renowned-debating-socie_1284449.png" --- # The world’s most renowned debating society had been… ![“The world’s most renowned debating society had been established in 1823. It was called the Oxford Union and stayed the focal point of contentious debates unparalleled in their content and influence. The famous 1933 motion, ‘This House will under no circumstances fight for King and Country’ had…” quote by Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/ashwin-sanghi-3271_focal-point_the-world-s-most-renowned-debating-socie_1284449.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/ashwin-sanghi-3271_focal-point_the-world-s-most-renowned-debating-socie_1284449.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/ashwin-sanghi-3271_focal-point_the-world-s-most-renowned-debating-socie_1284449.png) > ““The world’s most renowned debating society had been established in 1823. It was called the Oxford Union and stayed the focal point of contentious debates unparalleled in their content and influence. The famous 1933 motion, ‘This House will under no circumstances fight for King and Country’ had been passed by 275 votes to 153 in the Oxford Union and had ignited national indignation in the media. Winston Churchill had condemned the ‘ever shameful motion’ as an ‘abject, squalid, shameless avowal’. Many believed that the vote had played a significant role in reinforcing Hitler’s decision to invade Europe. Members of the Oxford Union couldn’t care less what Churchill and the media thought. Divergence and forthrightness remained central to the Union’s founding philosophy.”” [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Oxford Union’s tradition of bold, controversial debate persisted despite criticism, showing that free discourse can challenge prevailing narratives. **In simple terms:** Bold debate endures despite backlash. Key Takeaway Value open, critical discussion. Themes freedom of speech political dissent historical impact academic debate Mood controversial reflective Type historical political When to use this quote - university clubs - political forums - media analysis - public policy formation Key Concepts democratic discourse civic responsibility intellectual courage Questions to Reflect On - How does dissent shape societal values? - When should speech be limited? A Different Perspective Critics may claim such debates legitimize harmful ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-oxford-4162110/) [Debating Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debating-society-2105221/) [Focal point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focal-point/) [Members Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/members-oxford-4162111/) [Oxford Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oxford-union-4162108/) [Renowned Debating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renowned-debating-4162109/) ## Related quotes > [I was in the debating society at school, I was the president of the Oxford Union, and then I became an MP in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/i-was-in-the-debating-society-at-school-i-was-the-president-of-the/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [At the Oxford Union I'd never debated before but I gave it a go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-gyimah/at-the-oxford-union-i-d-never-debated-before-but-i-gave-it-a-go/) [Sam Gyimah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-gyimah/) > [It is better, as far as getting the vote is concerned, I believe, to have a small, united group than an immense debating society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-paul/it-is-better-as-far-as-getting-the-vote-is-concerned-i-believe-to/) [Alice Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-paul/) > [In college, I was in the debating society - this total nerd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-brennan/in-college-i-was-in-the-debating-society-this-total-nerd/) [Margaret Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-brennan/) > [Jackson, however, persevered. He joined the Franklin Debating Society, an institution that had been in existence over fifty years, and had enrolled in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-hill/jackson-however-persevered-he-joined-the-franklin-debating-society-an/) [Daniel H. Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-hill/) > [Nothing ever gets settled in this town (Washington). It's not like running a company or even a university. It's a seething debating society, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-shultz/nothing-ever-gets-settled-in-this-town-washington-it-s-not-like/) [George P. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-shultz/) > [Politics is a rough and tumble business, and yet there seems to be an effort by the commentariat to sanitise American politics to some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-carville/politics-is-a-rough-and-tumble-business-and-yet-there-seems-to-be-an/) [James Carville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-carville/) > [The combination of professionalism and technology may also result in narrow-minded specialization more suited to a debating society than to an organization whose task…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-creveld/the-combination-of-professionalism-and-technology-may-also-result-in/) [Martin Van Creveld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-creveld/) > [Canberra can be a bit of a debating society from time to time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-morrison/canberra-can-be-a-bit-of-a-debating-society-from-time-to-time/) [Scott Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-morrison/) > [Nothing ever gets settled in this town. a seething debating society in which the debate never stops, in which people never give up, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-shultz/nothing-ever-gets-settled-in-this-town-a-seething-debating-society-in/) [George P. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-shultz/) > [To make the hips the focal point of a pair of trousers is, to me, a fashion mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-clarke/to-make-the-hips-the-focal-point-of-a-pair-of-trousers-is-to-me-a/) [John Cooper Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cooper-clarke/) > [The characters are always the focal point of a book for me, whether I'm writing or reading. I may enjoy a book that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-camp/the-characters-are-always-the-focal-point-of-a-book-for-me-whether-i/) [Candace Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-camp/) > [“He lifted his head and looked into her eyes as he tugged at her shirt, pulling it from beneath her, pulling it over her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-fredrick/he-lifted-his-head-and-looked-into-her-eyes-as-he-tugged-at-her-shirt/) [M.J. Fredrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-fredrick/) > [“Awareness, when managed and directed, becomes attention. By turning into attention, awareness becomes localized, and attains a focal point. Because of this feature, attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/awareness-when-managed-and-directed-becomes-attention-by-turning-into/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [If God is first, and you kind of center everything else around Him being the main focal point, you really can make decisions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-michalka/if-god-is-first-and-you-kind-of-center-everything-else-around-him/) [AJ Michalka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-michalka/) ## More by Ashwin Sanghi > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [“Treat me, O Alexander, as befits a king!’ replied Paurus as he stood in chains before his subjugator, defeated but not dispirited, wounded but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/treat-me-o-alexander-as-befits-a-king-replied-paurus-as-he-stood-in/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [“Originally built as the state ballroom for the British Viceroy, Ashoka Hall also had a wooden dance floor. 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I can pen down my best thoughts when I'm alone. But when one is elevated into the stature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/writing-is-a-intensely-personal-activity-i-can-pen-down-my-best/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [“Dhanananda’s out of the way.’ ‘But how will that happen? He’s firmly entrenched on the throne. He has Bharat’s largest armed force at his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/dhanananda-s-out-of-the-way-but-how-will-that-happen-he-s-firmly/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [“Never interfere with an enemy while he’s in the process of destroying himself.’ Napoleon Bonaparte”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/never-interfere-with-an-enemy-while-he-s-in-the-process-of-destroying/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [I was learning book-keeping at the age of 12, but it never stopped me from pursuing literature. Over the years, I grew to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/i-was-learning-book-keeping-at-the-age-of-12-but-it-never-stopped-me/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [A western audience might not appreciate 'Chanakya's Chant' because of its dependence on history and ancient statecraft. My book is a modern-day thriller that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/a-western-audience-might-not-appreciate-chanakya-s-chant-because-of/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [“First, they ignore you, second, they laugh at you, third, they fight you, and fourth—you win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/first-they-ignore-you-second-they-laugh-at-you-third-they-fight-you/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [Till the time I found a creative outlet, I was trying to be extra creative at business, which would always put me in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/till-the-time-i-found-a-creative-outlet-i-was-trying-to-be-extra/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [It may sound very strange, but I love the freedom that writing a novel gives me. It is an unhindered experience. If I come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-may-sound-very-strange-but-i-love-the-freedom-that-writing-a-novel/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [The decision to use a pen name was nothing more than a desire to compartmentalise my life. However, I had not thought about an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/the-decision-to-use-a-pen-name-was-nothing-more-than-a-desire-to/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) [Explore all 134 Ashwin Sanghi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) ## More Focal point quotes > [If God is first, and you kind of center everything else around Him being the main focal point, you really can make decisions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-michalka/if-god-is-first-and-you-kind-of-center-everything-else-around-him/) [AJ Michalka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-michalka/) > [“Awareness, when managed and directed, becomes attention. By turning into attention, awareness becomes localized, and attains a focal point. Because of this feature, attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/awareness-when-managed-and-directed-becomes-attention-by-turning-into/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [“He lifted his head and looked into her eyes as he tugged at her shirt, pulling it from beneath her, pulling it over her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-fredrick/he-lifted-his-head-and-looked-into-her-eyes-as-he-tugged-at-her-shirt/) [M.J. Fredrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-fredrick/) > [The characters are always the focal point of a book for me, whether I'm writing or reading. I may enjoy a book that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-camp/the-characters-are-always-the-focal-point-of-a-book-for-me-whether-i/) [Candace Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-camp/) > [To make the hips the focal point of a pair of trousers is, to me, a fashion mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cooper-clarke/to-make-the-hips-the-focal-point-of-a-pair-of-trousers-is-to-me-a/) [John Cooper Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cooper-clarke/) > [If Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be, and He did die on a cross at a point of time in history, then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/if-jesus-christ-was-who-he-claimed-to-be-and-he-did-die-on-a-cross-at/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [You are not IN the universe, you ARE the universe, an intrinsic part of it. Ultimately you are not a person, but a focal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/you-are-not-in-the-universe-you-are-the-universe-an-intrinsic-part-of/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [If it has to be put in a box, it's a country record. But it's hard to do that, because it is inspired and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-harp/if-it-has-to-be-put-in-a-box-it-s-a-country-record-but-it-s-hard-to/) [Jessica Harp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-harp/) > [If it was tough on me, emotionally draining, I think I would have spoke out as I did in the past. I took this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-ochocinco/if-it-was-tough-on-me-emotionally-draining-i-think-i-would-have-spoke/) [Chad Ochocinco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-ochocinco/) > [There is no doubt that Boulder was a supportive and open-door community well before TechStars ever existed. 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