--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that we ought to be a tolerant…" description: "\"I think that we ought to be a tolerant nation. I think we ought to be tolerant people. But we shouldn't set up special categories for anybody. And I'm ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/fred-thompson-8900_categories_i-think-that-we-ought-to-be-a-tolerant-n_1165425.jpg" --- # I think that we ought to be a tolerant nation. I think we… ![“I think that we ought to be a tolerant nation. I think we ought to be tolerant people. But we shouldn't set up special categories for anybody. And I'm for the rights of everybody, including gays, but not any special rights.” quote by Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/fred-thompson-8900_categories_i-think-that-we-ought-to-be-a-tolerant-n_1165425.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/fred-thompson-8900_categories_i-think-that-we-ought-to-be-a-tolerant-n_1165425.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/fred-thompson-8900_categories_i-think-that-we-ought-to-be-a-tolerant-n_1165425.jpg) > “I think that we ought to be a tolerant nation. I think we ought to be tolerant people. But we shouldn't set up special categories for anybody. And I'm for the rights of everybody, including gays, but not any special rights.” [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates tolerance for all while opposing special legal categories for any group. **In simple terms:** Support tolerance but reject special rights. Key Takeaway Promote equality without preferential treatment. Themes tolerance rights politics equality Mood serious thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - legislation - public discourse - social movements Key Concepts civil liberties policy debate Questions to Reflect On - Should all groups receive identical legal treatment? - What are the risks of ignoring unique challenges? A Different Perspective Balancing universal rights with specific protections is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [There are still so many misconceptions out there, including that gays come from bad families. Maybe I don't completely change people's minds, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-gingrich-jones/there-are-still-so-many-misconceptions-out-there-including-that-gays/) [Candace Gingrich-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-gingrich-jones/) > [For the most part our grassroots members are serious, nice, tolerant people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-maude/for-the-most-part-our-grassroots-members-are-serious-nice-tolerant/) [Francis Maude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-maude/) > [“Truly tolerant people are hard to offend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-m-esolen/truly-tolerant-people-are-hard-to-offend/) [Anthony M. Esolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-m-esolen/) > [“They were tolerant of what most people in town would think of as moral lapses in each other, but quite intolerant of departures in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/they-were-tolerant-of-what-most-people-in-town-would-think-of-as/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [If our goal is to be tolerant of people who are different than we are, then we really are aiming quite low. Traffic jams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glennon-melton/if-our-goal-is-to-be-tolerant-of-people-who-are-different-than-we-are/) [Glennon Melton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glennon-melton/) > [I want to be tolerant of other people's beliefs. I have wonderful friends who are religious, and I don't want to say that they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meyer/i-want-to-be-tolerant-of-other-people-s-beliefs-i-have-wonderful/) [George Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meyer/) > [I have a reputation worldwide of being tolerant of all people and their views. I'm too well-educated to criticize a certain religion or group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/i-have-a-reputation-worldwide-of-being-tolerant-of-all-people-and/) [Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/) > [I feel like sometimes we have to be a little less inclusive and tolerant if other people's opinions could lead to the destruction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-feel-like-sometimes-we-have-to-be-a-little-less-inclusive-and/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [A funny thing about tolerant people? They're really only tolerant when you agree with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/a-funny-thing-about-tolerant-people-they-re-really-only-tolerant-when/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [One of the things I've learned by working on the 'Walking Dead' and other TV shows is to be more tolerant of other people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-mazzara/one-of-the-things-i-ve-learned-by-working-on-the-walking-dead-and/) [Glen Mazzara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-mazzara/) > [Even tolerant people have a limit, so be careful how far you push them for you may not realize it until its too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-tolerant-people-have-a-limit-so-be-careful-how-far-you-push-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The need is not really for more brains, the need is now for a gentler, a more tolerant people than those who won for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/the-need-is-not-really-for-more-brains-the-need-is-now-for-a-gentler/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [Sometimes too much tolerance can kill you. If you are tolerant of people poisoning themselves to death they will drag you down. They will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/sometimes-too-much-tolerance-can-kill-you-if-you-are-tolerant-of/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [It did not come naturally; in fact, it would be difficult to conceive of any more dogmatic and less tolerant people than the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harris/it-did-not-come-naturally-in-fact-it-would-be-difficult-to-conceive/) [Paul Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harris/) > [We should be tolerant to people who are tolerant to us. We should be intolerant to people who are intolerant to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/we-should-be-tolerant-to-people-who-are-tolerant-to-us-we-should-be/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) ## More by Fred Thompson > [We are always just one successful terrorist attack away from a nuclear disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/we-are-always-just-one-successful-terrorist-attack-away-from-a/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [You can't buy peace by just wishing it and avoiding the challenges that other nations present to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/you-can-t-buy-peace-by-just-wishing-it-and-avoiding-the-challenges/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [The University of North Carolina-Greensboro has ordered a Christian club to allow non-Christians as leaders. While we're at it, let's put high school dropouts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/the-university-of-north-carolina-greensboro-has-ordered-a-christian/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [You can't substitute promise after promise with known violators of prior promises at the expense of protecting ourselves or setting an example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/you-can-t-substitute-promise-after-promise-with-known-violators-of/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [A new report shows that medicare and Medicaid made more than $50 Billion in bad payments during fiscal year 2011. Under Obamacare, that'll become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/a-new-report-shows-that-medicare-and-medicaid-made-more-than-50/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [After two years in Washington, I often long for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/after-two-years-in-washington-i-often-long-for-the-realism-and/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [Being a POW certainly doesn't qualify anyone to be president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/being-a-pow-certainly-doesn-t-qualify-anyone-to-be-president/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [In the end, we may be hurting the very people we should be concerned about - the inner-city poor, those who already have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/in-the-end-we-may-be-hurting-the-very-people-we-should-be-concerned/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [Jay Carney told the reporters at his morning briefing that he hoped they would watch the new movie about Obama's first term 'many times.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/jay-carney-told-the-reporters-at-his-morning-briefing-that-he-hoped/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/this-business-will-get-out-of-control-it-will-get-out-of-control-and/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [But if the Chinese mainland, the PRC, attacked Taiwan, we'd be obligated to come to their aid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/but-if-the-chinese-mainland-the-prc-attacked-taiwan-we-d-be-obligated/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [A new report shows that, in Virginia, gun violence has fallen as the sale of firearms has soared to a new record. In other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/a-new-report-shows-that-in-virginia-gun-violence-has-fallen-as-the/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [China is one of the world's greatest proliferators of weapons of mass destruction to these rogue nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/china-is-one-of-the-world-s-greatest-proliferators-of-weapons-of-mass/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [So China will be having to make some choices as to whose side it wants to be on. Hopefully, this will be the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/so-china-will-be-having-to-make-some-choices-as-to-whose-side-it/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [For example, lead paint in old houses can be a greater threat to children's health than lead that may be under some industrial site…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/for-example-lead-paint-in-old-houses-can-be-a-greater-threat-to/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) [Explore all 77 Fred Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) ## More Categories quotes > [...the number of saintly men has not yet risen to the level where the census makes them a separate statistical category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stigler/the-number-of-saintly-men-has-not-yet-risen-to-the-level-where-the/) [George Stigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stigler/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [I've worked with jazz artists, country artists, classical artists, pop artists. I never wanted there to be categories, because when I was a kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-ve-worked-with-jazz-artists-country-artists-classical-artists-pop/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [ I don't think in national categories. For me it \[policy\] is about concepts and substance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-don-t-think-in-national-categories-for-me-it-policy-is-about/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [We don't need to complicate all the "reasons" behind our emotions. It's much simpler than that. Two categories .. good feelings, bad feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/we-don-t-need-to-complicate-all-the-reasons-behind-our-emotions-it-s/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [I put the truth out there, I put the historical facts into Hip Hop to show us how much history repeats itself and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/i-put-the-truth-out-there-i-put-the-historical-facts-into-hip-hop-to/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [I am devoting my lecture in this seminar to a discussion of the possibility that we are now entering a Jewish century, a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-a-siegel/i-am-devoting-my-lecture-in-this-seminar-to-a-discussion-of-the/) Martin A. Siegel > [A top World War II ace once said that fighter pilots fall into two broad categories: those who go out to kill and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-top-world-war-ii-ace-once-said-that-fighter-pilots-fall-into-two/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No, I don't like legend. I mean, I don't like the category. And to begin with, to me, a legend is something that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/no-i-don-t-like-legend-i-mean-i-don-t-like-the-category-and-to-begin/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [ I read so ravenously that I would read through whole categories. I was crazy about reading biographies. \[...\] I think biographies are very urgent… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-read-so-ravenously-that-i-would-read-through-whole-categories-i-was/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [... the notions category and functor were not formulated or put in print until the idea of a natural transformation was also at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saunders-mac-lane/the-notions-category-and-functor-were-not-formulated-or-put-in-print/) Saunders Mac Lane > [Last guy I was interested in turned out to be an incestuous necrophiliac," she said. 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