--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us not speak of tolerance. This…" description: "\"Let us not speak of tolerance. This negative word implies grudging concessions by smug consciences. Rather, let us speak of mutual understanding and mu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/dominique-pire-67132_concessions_let-us-not-speak-of-tolerance-this-negat_2116978.png" --- # Let us not speak of tolerance. This negative word implies… ![“Let us not speak of tolerance. This negative word implies grudging concessions by smug consciences. Rather, let us speak of mutual understanding and mutual respect.” quote by Dominique Pire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/dominique-pire-67132_concessions_let-us-not-speak-of-tolerance-this-negat_2116978.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/dominique-pire-67132_concessions_let-us-not-speak-of-tolerance-this-negat_2116978.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/dominique-pire-67132_concessions_let-us-not-speak-of-tolerance-this-negat_2116978.png) > “Let us not speak of tolerance. This negative word implies grudging concessions by smug consciences. Rather, let us speak of mutual understanding and mutual respect.” [Dominique Pire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-pire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates replacing superficial tolerance with genuine mutual understanding and respect. **In simple terms:** Promote true understanding, not grudging tolerance. Key Takeaway Seek deeper respect. Themes tolerance respect communication Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - interpersonal conflict - multicultural workplaces - community dialogues Key Concepts ethical philosophy social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster real mutual respect? - What barriers hinder true understanding? A Different Perspective Tolerance may be easier but less authentic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concessions/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Mutual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual/) [Mutual respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-respect/) [Mutual understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-understanding/) [Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative/) [Negative Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-word-1513464/) [Negative words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-words/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-tolerance-4300502/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) [Tolerance and respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance-and-respect/) [Tolerance Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance-negative-1551559/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [The highest religion has been defined by a negative word: ahimsa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-highest-religion-has-been-defined-by-a-negative-word-ahimsa/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Indeed the very word, nonviolence, a negative word, means that it is an effort to abandon the violence that is inevitable in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/indeed-the-very-word-nonviolence-a-negative-word-means-that-it-is-an/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Neutrality is a negative word. It is a word that does not express what America ought to feel. America has a heart, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/neutrality-is-a-negative-word-it-is-a-word-that-does-not-express-what/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Regarding mutual tolerance: It is negative in one sense, but positive in another. It absolutely forbids us to be forward in pronouncing on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/regarding-mutual-tolerance-it-is-negative-in-one-sense-but-positive/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [To me, the word 'workaholic' is a negative word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinny-woodall/to-me-the-word-workaholic-is-a-negative-word/) [Trinny Woodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinny-woodall/) > [Flaw is just a negative word for what might be something that makes you unique or interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-warburton/flaw-is-just-a-negative-word-for-what-might-be-something-that-makes/) [Matt Warburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-warburton/) > [“Discipline is not a negative word. It comes from the Greek word "to train.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/discipline-is-not-a-negative-word-it-comes-from-the-greek-word-to/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Neutrality is a negative word. It does not express what America ought to feel. We are not trying to keep out of trouble; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/neutrality-is-a-negative-word-it-does-not-express-what-america-ought/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [“Furthermore, they must learn not to make the elementary mistake of assuming that because a word contains a negative suffix or prefix it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/furthermore-they-must-learn-not-to-make-the-elementary-mistake-of/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [We are cast as combatants in the war between truth and error. There is no middle ground. We must stand up for truth, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/we-are-cast-as-combatants-in-the-war-between-truth-and-error-there-is/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [I believe we don't need to widen the divide between the West and Islam. Rather, we need to build dialogue to encourage tolerance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-neshat/i-believe-we-don-t-need-to-widen-the-divide-between-the-west-and/) [Shirin Neshat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-neshat/) > [Well, we definitely need a strong and clear and assertive America. That's for sure. But you've always got to build alliances. And so it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/well-we-definitely-need-a-strong-and-clear-and-assertive-america-that/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [“The French psychologist Jacques Salomé talks about the need to develop a personal intimacy with one’s own self as a counterbalance to the couple.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/the-french-psychologist-jacques-salom-talks-about-the-need-to-develop/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Civility is a work of the imagination, for it is through the imagination that we render others sufficiently like ourselves for them to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-barber/civility-is-a-work-of-the-imagination-for-it-is-through-the/) [Benjamin Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-barber/) > [We must work harder to build mutual respect, an attitude of tolerance, with forbearance one for another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/we-must-work-harder-to-build-mutual-respect-an-attitude-of-tolerance/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) ## More by Dominique Pire > [To act without knowledge is folly, to know without acting is cowardice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-pire/to-act-without-knowledge-is-folly-to-know-without-acting-is-cowardice/) [Dominique Pire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-pire/) > [Peace is not something to say but something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-pire/peace-is-not-something-to-say-but-something-to-do/) [Dominique Pire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-pire/) > [There is perhaps no surer road to peace than the one that starts from little islands and oases of genuine kindness, islands and oases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-pire/there-is-perhaps-no-surer-road-to-peace-than-the-one-that-starts-from/) [Dominique Pire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-pire/) [Explore all 4 Dominique Pire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-pire/) ## More Concessions quotes > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [It is not a process of bargaining or give-and-take. The peace process is not about giving concessions. We will not allow any step which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/it-is-not-a-process-of-bargaining-or-give-and-take-the-peace-process/) [Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/) > [We need only think of the number of talented men who sooner or later make their apologies and concessions to philistinism, so as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-brandes/we-need-only-think-of-the-number-of-talented-men-who-sooner-or-later/) [Georg Brandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-brandes/) > [We accept it as normal that people who have never been on the land, who have no history or connection to the country, may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-davis/we-accept-it-as-normal-that-people-who-have-never-been-on-the-land/) [Wade Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-davis/) > [I make no concessions to conformism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/i-make-no-concessions-to-conformism/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [In a contest with a weaker party it is more honorable to yield than to force concession. Magnanimity becomes the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/in-a-contest-with-a-weaker-party-it-is-more-honorable-to-yield-than/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [The division of the spoils between the victors will also provide employment for a powerful office, whose doorsteps the greedy adventurers and jealous concession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/the-division-of-the-spoils-between-the-victors-will-also-provide/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [If we are to reach a situation of true peace, real peace, peace for generations, we will have to make painful concessions. Not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/if-we-are-to-reach-a-situation-of-true-peace-real-peace-peace-for/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [“... I'd like to get along with them, but in practice, I don't want to have to make concessions to be the kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjena-sathian/i-d-like-to-get-along-with-them-but-in-practice-i-don-t-want-to-have/) [Sanjena Sathian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjena-sathian/) > [Nobody gets to threaten the full faith and credit of the United States just to extract political concessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-gets-to-threaten-the-full-faith-and-credit-of-the-united/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Constitution itself, plainly written as it is, the safeguard of our federative compact, the offspring of concession and compromise, binding together in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/the-constitution-itself-plainly-written-as-it-is-the-safeguard-of-our/) [James K. 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There were panics in 1785, 1791, 1819, 1857, 1869, 1873,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/capitalism-is-chronically-unstable-boom-and-bust-has-always-marked/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [From her concession speech: Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/from-her-concession-speech-although-we-weren-t-able-to-shatter-that/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) [Browse all 134 Concessions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concessions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let us not speak of tolerance. This negative word implies grudging concessions by smug consciences. 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