--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think America is going to have to think…" description: "\"I think America is going to have to think through whether it wants to uplift the political dialogue or advance an approach that divides and, frankly, c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/jim-leach-27662_america_i-think-america-is-going-to-have-to-thin_1537908.jpg" --- # I think America is going to have to think through whether… ![“I think America is going to have to think through whether it wants to uplift the political dialogue or advance an approach that divides and, frankly, can lead to violence.” quote by Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/jim-leach-27662_america_i-think-america-is-going-to-have-to-thin_1537908.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/jim-leach-27662_america_i-think-america-is-going-to-have-to-thin_1537908.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/jim-leach-27662_america_i-think-america-is-going-to-have-to-thin_1537908.jpg) > “I think America is going to have to think through whether it wants to uplift the political dialogue or advance an approach that divides and, frankly, can lead to violence.” [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He urges a choice between constructive political dialogue and divisive rhetoric that could incite violence. **In simple terms:** Choose dialogue over division to avoid violence. Key Takeaway Promote inclusive conversation. Themes politics dialogue division violence leadership Mood concerned hopeful Type political analytical When to use this quote - campaign speeches - policy debates - public forums - media commentary Key Concepts democratic discourse social cohesion conflict escalation Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders foster respectful debate? - What mechanisms reduce political polarization? A Different Perspective Divisive tactics may still mobilize certain bases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political dialogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-dialogue/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Uplifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uplifting/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [I am so focused on the fact that the conversation doesn't address any of the things I think are important. I think our political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-wynn/i-am-so-focused-on-the-fact-that-the-conversation-doesn-t-address-any/) [Steve Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-wynn/) > [Sanctions and boycotts would be tied to serious political dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/sanctions-and-boycotts-would-be-tied-to-serious-political-dialogue/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [I think people are kind of tired of the really amped-up rhetoric that passes for a lot of political dialogue, and they appreciate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/i-think-people-are-kind-of-tired-of-the-really-amped-up-rhetoric-that/) [Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/) > [Improvising political dialogue is not easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/improvising-political-dialogue-is-not-easy/) [James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/) > [A more significant phase should mean serious political dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/a-more-significant-phase-should-mean-serious-political-dialogue/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [ That seems to be a woman who is genuinely depressed that this is the political dialogue she \[Hillary Clinton\] is been thrown into in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/that-seems-to-be-a-woman-who-is-genuinely-depressed-that-this-is-the/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [ “I sensed that if I were ever to meet \[Senator Orrin\] Hatch face-to-face there would be little that we could agree upon. There was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-jimenez/i-sensed-that-if-i-were-ever-to-meet-senator-orrin-hatch-face-to-face/) [Guillermo Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-jimenez/) > [ The main aim of the \[political\] dialogue should be to resolve the problems of the nation, not to find who is the winner and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/the-main-aim-of-the-political-dialogue-should-be-to-resolve-the/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Changing laws and changing the political dialogue, while necessary, is insufficient to ensure that bullying stops; to ensure that every young person is supported…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-clinton/changing-laws-and-changing-the-political-dialogue-while-necessary-is/) [Chelsea Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-clinton/) > [To the extent that our political dialogue is such where everything is under suspicion, everybody is corrupt and everybody is doing things for partisan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/to-the-extent-that-our-political-dialogue-is-such-where-everything-is/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Ever since I became NATO Secretary General, I have emphasised the need for enhanced political dialogue among the Allies. And I am glad that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaap-de-hoop-scheffer/ever-since-i-became-nato-secretary-general-i-have-emphasised-the-need/) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer > [We have been making constant efforts, all the time, to start dialogue with the SLORC, but you know it takes two. We don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/we-have-been-making-constant-efforts-all-the-time-to-start-dialogue/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [We all say in our own lives that money isn't everything. Love matters, friendships matter. My relationship with my kids matters. It shouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/we-all-say-in-our-own-lives-that-money-isn-t-everything-love-matters/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [One of the things that we're missing from our political dialogue right now is the idea that the United States is a home. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-miller/one-of-the-things-that-we-re-missing-from-our-political-dialogue/) [Stephen Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-miller/) > [To those who wish to shape the nation's political dialogue, social media is dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/to-those-who-wish-to-shape-the-nation-s-political-dialogue-social/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) ## More by Jim Leach > [If you read literature, you put yourself in somebody else's shoes. You learn from great figures in literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/if-you-read-literature-you-put-yourself-in-somebody-else-s-shoes-you/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [America is very decentralized in how it supports the humanities, unlike European countries where virtually everything stems from the central government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/america-is-very-decentralized-in-how-it-supports-the-humanities/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [America somehow thinks that leadership relates to governance, and it certainly does. But society is much bigger than governance, and some of the truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/america-somehow-thinks-that-leadership-relates-to-governance-and-it/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [Our culture is more shaped by the arts and humanities than it often is by politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/our-culture-is-more-shaped-by-the-arts-and-humanities-than-it-often/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [A government of, by and for the people is obligated to conduct the nation's business in a manner that respects dissent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/a-government-of-by-and-for-the-people-is-obligated-to-conduct-the/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [Politics has high and low moments. Sometimes it brings out the better angels of our nature; sometimes baser instincts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/politics-has-high-and-low-moments-sometimes-it-brings-out-the-better/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [I am appalled by the notion of cultural wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/i-am-appalled-by-the-notion-of-cultural-wars/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [Civility is not simply about manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/civility-is-not-simply-about-manners/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [No activity I know is more of a confidence builder and at the same time more 'humility training' than wrestling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/no-activity-i-know-is-more-of-a-confidence-builder-and-at-the-same/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [Public decision-making does not lend itself to certitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/public-decision-making-does-not-lend-itself-to-certitude/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [I have a long-term interest in the humanities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/i-have-a-long-term-interest-in-the-humanities/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [The arts and humanities are vastly more important in troubled times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/the-arts-and-humanities-are-vastly-more-important-in-troubled-times/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [There are words bandied about that are being misused - words like 'socialism,' words like 'communism,' words like 'fascism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/there-are-words-bandied-about-that-are-being-misused-words-like/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [It is hard to cement any relations with any country based on promises that may not be deliverable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/it-is-hard-to-cement-any-relations-with-any-country-based-on-promises/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) > [History provides a sense of where we've been and lessons that can be taken forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/history-provides-a-sense-of-where-we-ve-been-and-lessons-that-can-be/) [Jim Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) [Explore all 20 Jim Leach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think America is going to have to think through whether it wants to uplift the political dialogue or advance an approach that divides and, frankly, can lead to violence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jim Leach" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/i-think-america-is-going-to-have-to-think-through-whether-it-wants-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/i-think-america-is-going-to-have-to-think-through-whether-it-wants-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/jim-leach-27662_america_i-think-america-is-going-to-have-to-thin_1537908.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/jim-leach-27662_america_i-think-america-is-going-to-have-to-thin_1537908.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/jim-leach-27662_america_i-think-america-is-going-to-have-to-thin_1537908.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think America is going to have to think through whether it wants to uplift the political dialogue or…” — Jim Leach", "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": "Jim Leach", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-leach/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think America is going to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/i-think-america-is-going-to-have-to-think-through-whether-it-wants-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-leach/i-think-america-is-going-to-have-to-think-through-whether-it-wants-to/#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 } } ] } ```