--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't raise your voice, improve your…" description: "\"Don't raise your voice, improve your argument.\" [Address at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 November 2004]\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/desmond-tutu-442_addresses_don-t-raise-your-voice-improve-your-argu_1135875.jpg" --- # Don't raise your voice, improve your argument." \[Address… ![“Don't raise your voice, improve your argument." [Address at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 November 2004]” quote by Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/desmond-tutu-442_addresses_don-t-raise-your-voice-improve-your-argu_1135875.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/desmond-tutu-442_addresses_don-t-raise-your-voice-improve-your-argu_1135875.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/desmond-tutu-442_addresses_don-t-raise-your-voice-improve-your-argu_1135875.jpg) > “Don't raise your voice, improve your argument." \[Address at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 November 2004\]” [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Improving arguments is more effective than raising one's voice; focus on substance over volume. **In simple terms:** Better arguments matter more than louder voices. Key Takeaway Strengthen your reasoning. Themes communication debate respect Mood thoughtful calm Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - conflict resolution - academic discussion Key Concepts critical thinking persuasion civil discourse Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay calm while debating? - What steps improve argument quality? A Different Perspective May be difficult when emotions run high. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Johannesburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/johannesburg/) [November](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/november/) [South africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-africa/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [My father always used to say, "Don't raise your voice. Improve your argument." Good sense does not always lie with the loudest shouters, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/my-father-always-used-to-say-don-t-raise-your-voice-improve-your-2/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [My father always used to say, "Don't raise your voice. Improve your argument."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/my-father-always-used-to-say-don-t-raise-your-voice-improve-your/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [My father used to say, 'Don't raise your voice. Improve your argument.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/my-father-used-to-say-don-t-raise-your-voice-improve-your-argument/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Don't raise your voice.. Improve your argument...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-raise-your-voice-improve-your-argument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you want to make people pay attention to what you're saying, you don't raise your voice but lower it: this is what really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/if-you-want-to-make-people-pay-attention-to-what-you-re-saying-you/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [People don't take you seriously if you scream, if you raise your voice, especially when you're a 19-year-old girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/people-don-t-take-you-seriously-if-you-scream-if-you-raise-your-voice/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Nevre raise your voice.! Just improve your arguement.!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nevre-raise-your-voice-just-improve-your-arguement/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do not be silent. Raise your voice. Be a light in the dark.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalynn-bayron/do-not-be-silent-raise-your-voice-be-a-light-in-the-dark/) Kalynn Bayron > [“I'd read somewhere that if you want to make people pay attention to what you're saying, you don't raise your voice but lower it:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/i-d-read-somewhere-that-if-you-want-to-make-people-pay-attention-to/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [You cant raise your child probably if you dont sometimes raise your voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/you-cant-raise-your-child-probably-if-you-dont-sometimes-raise-your/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“Don't raise your voice, raise your standard!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hagir-elsheikh/don-t-raise-your-voice-raise-your-standard/) [Hagir Elsheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hagir-elsheikh/) > [You know in democracy you can protest peacefully and I'm sure you know it will have at least some kind of impact. You need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehbooba-mufti/you-know-in-democracy-you-can-protest-peacefully-and-i-m-sure-you/) [Mehbooba Mufti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehbooba-mufti/) > [Sing to me," she said. "That would be valiant, to raise your voice in this dark, lonely place, and it will be useful as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/sing-to-me-she-said-that-would-be-valiant-to-raise-your-voice-in-this/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Tired of being ignored? Then raise your voice, put yourself upfront for the world to see . Don't wait on it to happen .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tired-of-being-ignored-then-raise-your-voice-put-yourself-upfront-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/never-be-afraid-to-raise-your-voice-for-honesty-and-truth-and/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) ## More by Desmond Tutu > [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Freedom and liberty lose out by default because good people are not vigilant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/freedom-and-liberty-lose-out-by-default-because-good-people-are-not/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-shall-be-free-only-together-black-and-white-we-shall-survive-only/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Many people would be surprised that, in fact, I'm quite shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/many-people-would-be-surprised-that-in-fact-i-m-quite-shy/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Too many people think that reconciliation means you soft-pedal differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/too-many-people-think-that-reconciliation-means-you-soft-pedal/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Our Christian faith is actually very subversive of the conventional notion of success - the notion that what invests a person with worth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/our-christian-faith-is-actually-very-subversive-of-the-conventional/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Every situation of justice is an occasion where someone is being humiliated and they want to restore their dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/every-situation-of-justice-is-an-occasion-where-someone-is-being/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Race should not be used to claim privileges and rights for one group, exclusively, which are denied other different groups. Then that is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/race-should-not-be-used-to-claim-privileges-and-rights-for-one-group/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [People are able to justify immense cruelty and say that it is something that is sanctioned by their faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/people-are-able-to-justify-immense-cruelty-and-say-that-it-is/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [South Africa, so utterly improbably, is a beacon of hope in a dark and troubled world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/south-africa-so-utterly-improbably-is-a-beacon-of-hope-in-a-dark-and/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [I don't often want to speak. I try to be a reasonable person and to be diplomatic, but you go to that place and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-don-t-often-want-to-speak-i-try-to-be-a-reasonable-person-and-to-be/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“child of God, known by name and whose very hairs are numbered. Praise and adore God and thank him for ever and ever. Amen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/child-of-god-known-by-name-and-whose-very-hairs-are-numbered-praise/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [To remain neutral in situations of injustice is to be complicit in that injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/to-remain-neutral-in-situations-of-injustice-is-to-be-complicit-in/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [It's a fantastic thing that from moment to the next moment if God were to have stopped for a split second we would disintegrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/it-s-a-fantastic-thing-that-from-moment-to-the-next-moment-if-god/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Once lost, trust can only be regained if we are as good as our word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/once-lost-trust-can-only-be-regained-if-we-are-as-good-as-our-word/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) [Explore all 558 Desmond Tutu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) ## More Addresses quotes > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... 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