--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When public leaders turn public debates…" description: "\"When public leaders turn public debates into words of war - 'enemies' 'go to hell' 'attack' - they are enabling the edgiest of their followers to take ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/charlie-baker-8604_enemies_when-public-leaders-turn-public-debates_392190.jpg" --- # When public leaders turn public debates into words of war… ![“When public leaders turn public debates into words of war - 'enemies' 'go to hell' 'attack' - they are enabling the edgiest of their followers to take things into their hands, and unfortunately, some of them do.” quote by Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/charlie-baker-8604_enemies_when-public-leaders-turn-public-debates_392190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/charlie-baker-8604_enemies_when-public-leaders-turn-public-debates_392190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/charlie-baker-8604_enemies_when-public-leaders-turn-public-debates_392190.jpg) > “When public leaders turn public debates into words of war - 'enemies' 'go to hell' 'attack' - they are enabling the edgiest of their followers to take things into their hands, and unfortunately, some of them do.” [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders framing debates as battles incites extreme actions among followers, leading to violence. **In simple terms:** Leaders using war language fuels extreme behavior. Key Takeaway Avoid hostile rhetoric. Themes leadership politics violence communication Mood cautious concerned Type advisory warning When to use this quote - political rallies - online debates - community meetings Key Concepts polarization social influence radicalization Questions to Reflect On - How does hostile language affect public discourse? - What alternatives can leaders use? A Different Perspective Such language can also alienate moderate supporters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Edgiest Followers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edgiest-followers-3536130/) [Enabling Edgiest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enabling-edgiest-3536131/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemies Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies-hell-2207378/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Public Debates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-debates-3536132/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-enemies-488872/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [Love finds its way through wonder of path, while enemies to hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-flores/love-finds-its-way-through-wonder-of-path-while-enemies-to-hell/) [Lara Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-flores/) > [“... it is for God, when he pleases, to cast his enemies down to hell...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/it-is-for-god-when-he-pleases-to-cast-his-enemies-down-to-hell/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“I don’t take orders from her. I don’t take orders from anyone. I am still Junco. I am still at war. And my enemies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-huss/i-don-t-take-orders-from-her-i-don-t-take-orders-from-anyone-i-am/) [J.A. Huss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-huss/) > [From lying about climate change, to undermining programs that make up our social safety net, to opposing laws that reduce gun violence, to fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/from-lying-about-climate-change-to-undermining-programs-that-make-up/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [Unfortunately, public debates do not have much room for subtlety. The audience wants a quick thrust at your opponent, not a slow and convoluted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/unfortunately-public-debates-do-not-have-much-room-for-subtlety-the/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [The king who makes war on his enemies tenderly distresses his subjects most cruelly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-king-who-makes-war-on-his-enemies-tenderly-distresses-his/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Fake friends are determined by the war between you and your enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fake-friends-are-determined-by-the-war-between-you-and-your-enemies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are at war with enemies that still have the intent to do further damage to Americans at home and abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-a-blakeman/we-are-at-war-with-enemies-that-still-have-the-intent-to-do-further/) [Bradley A. Blakeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-a-blakeman/) > [I don't see us winning the war. We have made enemies of one billion Muslims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-don-t-see-us-winning-the-war-we-have-made-enemies-of-one-billion/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“In peace one is despoiled by the mercenaries, in war by one's enemies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/in-peace-one-is-despoiled-by-the-mercenaries-in-war-by-one-s-enemies/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Your greatest weapon is your enemies mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/your-greatest-weapon-is-your-enemies-mind/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [“If it takes night to make day, pain to know pleasure, black to make white, then doesn't it stand to reason that the depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-snyder/if-it-takes-night-to-make-day-pain-to-know-pleasure-black-to-make/) [Michael Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-snyder/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/) [A.K. Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-k-hasan/) ## More by Charlie Baker > [Nobody wants to see someone's life ruined over a small-time lapse in judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/nobody-wants-to-see-someone-s-life-ruined-over-a-small-time-lapse-in/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [I'm obviously a huge Bill Weld fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/i-m-obviously-a-huge-bill-weld-fan/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [When I left Harvard Pilgrim, it had been ranked first in the nation by U.S. News and World Report for customer satisfaction for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/when-i-left-harvard-pilgrim-it-had-been-ranked-first-in-the-nation-by/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [I would argue that the charter schools are really good at building programming and curriculum around the issues and the interests of the kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/i-would-argue-that-the-charter-schools-are-really-good-at-building/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [Our Founders worried a lot about the tyranny of the majority. They designed our form of government to provide a loud voice for minority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/our-founders-worried-a-lot-about-the-tyranny-of-the-majority-they/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [There are a number of issues that I disagree vehemently with Mr. Trump on. I question whether he's got the temperament to serve as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/there-are-a-number-of-issues-that-i-disagree-vehemently-with-mr-trump/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [I'm a very big believer that the primary focus for any organization at any point in time should always be smarter, better, faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/i-m-a-very-big-believer-that-the-primary-focus-for-any-organization/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [I've said for a long time that the governor and the mayors should be far more engaged in this conversation at the federal level.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/i-ve-said-for-a-long-time-that-the-governor-and-the-mayors-should-be/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [I hope when I am governor and it's all over, I am a governor who underpromised and overdelivered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/i-hope-when-i-am-governor-and-it-s-all-over-i-am-a-governor-who/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [When a mom or dad can stop worrying about where they will lay their head each night they can start climbing back on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/when-a-mom-or-dad-can-stop-worrying-about-where-they-will-lay-their/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [Former Gov. Weld is that kind of guy who you can't predict what his next move will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/former-gov-weld-is-that-kind-of-guy-who-you-can-t-predict-what-his/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [I rode it a lot before I was governor. I rode the commuter rail for a lot of years, I rode the T for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/i-rode-it-a-lot-before-i-was-governor-i-rode-the-commuter-rail-for-a/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [Across Massachusetts, there are many talented and inspiring educators doing for their students what their predecessors did for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/across-massachusetts-there-are-many-talented-and-inspiring-educators/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [You just can't get surprised when you get surprised, because weird stuff just comes over the transom all the time, and it's not necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/you-just-can-t-get-surprised-when-you-get-surprised-because-weird/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [I oppose indexing gas tax hikes to inflation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/i-oppose-indexing-gas-tax-hikes-to-inflation/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) [Explore all 79 Charlie Baker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) ## More Enemies quotes > [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/) [A.K. Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-k-hasan/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [“If it takes night to make day, pain to know pleasure, black to make white, then doesn't it stand to reason that the depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-snyder/if-it-takes-night-to-make-day-pain-to-know-pleasure-black-to-make/) [Michael Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-snyder/) > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [Your greatest weapon is your enemies mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/your-greatest-weapon-is-your-enemies-mind/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Sometimes even paranoids have enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delmore-schwartz/sometimes-even-paranoids-have-enemies/) [Delmore Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delmore-schwartz/) > [When a husband brings his wife flowers for no reason, there's a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-mcgee/when-a-husband-brings-his-wife-flowers-for-no-reason-there-s-a-reason/) [Molly McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-mcgee/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“Anyone who is portraying Israel as a friend is a servant of Israel. I warn some sides against turning enemies into friends and friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayed-hassan-nasrallah/anyone-who-is-portraying-israel-as-a-friend-is-a-servant-of-israel-i/) [Sayed Hassan Nasrallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayed-hassan-nasrallah/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Whoever will not love his enemies cannot know the Lord and the sweetness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silouan-the-athonite/whoever-will-not-love-his-enemies-cannot-know-the-lord-and-the/) [Silouan the Athonite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silouan-the-athonite/) > [I play basketball hard-nosed and if you're not on my team, during that 48 minutes we're enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-play-basketball-hard-nosed-and-if-you-re-not-on-my-team-during-that/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [“Enemies are people who's story you haven't heard, or who's face you haven't seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-butter/enemies-are-people-who-s-story-you-haven-t-heard-or-who-s-face-you/) [Irene Butter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-butter/) > [A sweet thing, perspective - a chance to see your enemies so small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/a-sweet-thing-perspective-a-chance-to-see-your-enemies-so-small/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) [Browse all 1,888 Enemies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When public leaders turn public debates into words of war - 'enemies' 'go to hell' 'attack' - they are enabling the edgiest of their followers to take things into their hands, and unfortunately, some of them do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charlie Baker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/when-public-leaders-turn-public-debates-into-words-of-war-enemies-go/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/when-public-leaders-turn-public-debates-into-words-of-war-enemies-go/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/charlie-baker-8604_enemies_when-public-leaders-turn-public-debates_392190.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/charlie-baker-8604_enemies_when-public-leaders-turn-public-debates_392190.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/charlie-baker-8604_enemies_when-public-leaders-turn-public-debates_392190.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When public leaders turn public debates into words of war - 'enemies' 'go to hell' 'attack' - they are…” — Charlie Baker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charlie Baker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When public leaders turn public debates...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/when-public-leaders-turn-public-debates-into-words-of-war-enemies-go/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/when-public-leaders-turn-public-debates-into-words-of-war-enemies-go/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```