--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are no young people who know how to…" description: "\"There are no young people who know how to debate, who know how to vote, and who know how to persuade people to vote. And you have seen this in Paraguay..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5d/john-gimlette-11101_debate_there-are-no-young-people-who-know-how-t_1560692.jpg" --- # There are no young people who know how to debate, who know… ![“There are no young people who know how to debate, who know how to vote, and who know how to persuade people to vote. And you have seen this in Paraguay and they are reaping the harvest now of fifty years of dictatorship.” quote by John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5d/john-gimlette-11101_debate_there-are-no-young-people-who-know-how-t_1560692.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5d/john-gimlette-11101_debate_there-are-no-young-people-who-know-how-t_1560692.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5d/john-gimlette-11101_debate_there-are-no-young-people-who-know-how-t_1560692.jpg) > “There are no young people who know how to debate, who know how to vote, and who know how to persuade people to vote. And you have seen this in Paraguay and they are reaping the harvest now of fifty years of dictatorship.” [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many young people lack skills in debate, voting, and persuasion, leading to vulnerability under authoritarian regimes. **In simple terms:** Youth often miss critical civic skills. Key Takeaway Teach debate and voting early. Themes civic education authoritarianism youth empowerment Mood concerned urgent Type educational political When to use this quote - schools - community workshops - online courses Key Concepts democratic participation political literacy media influence Questions to Reflect On - How can societies foster civic competence? - What barriers prevent youth engagement? A Different Perspective Skills alone may not overcome systemic oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Dictatorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictatorship/) [Harvest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvest/) [Paraguay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paraguay/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [I want people to laugh with me and Paraguay and Newfoundland, but I don't want to laugh at them. I hope in my books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-want-people-to-laugh-with-me-and-paraguay-and-newfoundland-but-i/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I was writing the Paraguay book, a Paragauyan told me that only five thousand people in Paraguay read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-was-writing-the-paraguay-book-a-paragauyan-told-me-that-only-five/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [ In both places \[Paraguay and Newfoundland\] people rise despite everything - both are pretty tough environments. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/in-both-places-paraguay-and-newfoundland-people-rise-despite/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [Paraguay has had a U.S. supermarket boss as its ambassador for a while. He did the job well. He was there because he wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/paraguay-has-had-a-u-s-supermarket-boss-as-its-ambassador-for-a-while/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I'll always love Paraguay. It's this most exotic place configured out of the imagination, the whole country.Paraguay will always be a special place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-ll-always-love-paraguay-it-s-this-most-exotic-place-configured-out/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I slightly feel, having written Paraguay and Newfoundland - and both of them have developed eccentricities through isolation - I am quite relieved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-slightly-feel-having-written-paraguay-and-newfoundland-and-both-of/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [It is a gift, and you realize as soon as you cross the border into Paraguay, as I did, the first time in '82,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/it-is-a-gift-and-you-realize-as-soon-as-you-cross-the-border-into/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [If you know how to read, you have a complete education about life, then you know how to vote within a democracy. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-you-know-how-to-read-you-have-a-complete-education-about-life-then/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Black Fergusonians have shown that they will vote when they have something to vote for and know that their vote will count. Seventy-six percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/black-fergusonians-have-shown-that-they-will-vote-when-they-have/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [I think if campaigners tell people the reality, people will know who to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagma/i-think-if-campaigners-tell-people-the-reality-people-will-know-who/) [Nagma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagma/) > [I don't know how anyone could vote Republican. It's so obvious that their only interest is keeping the rich rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-campbell/i-don-t-know-how-anyone-could-vote-republican-it-s-so-obvious-that/) [Vivian Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-campbell/) > [“It doesn't take a PhD in Statistics to know that your one vote doesn't count!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-schmoyer/it-doesn-t-take-a-phd-in-statistics-to-know-that-your-one-vote-doesn/) Rick Schmoyer > [The Senate just sits and waits till they find out what the president wants, so they know how to vote against him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/the-senate-just-sits-and-waits-till-they-find-out-what-the-president/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [“Well, in San Francisco if someone's against you, they know how to vote you out of an area. If someone's against you in Louisiana,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-j-gaines/well-in-san-francisco-if-someone-s-against-you-they-know-how-to-vote/) [Ernest J. Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-j-gaines/) > [If you don't know, your labor unions and community organizations, there's somebody you can ask to guide you. A lot of people, especially in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/if-you-don-t-know-your-labor-unions-and-community-organizations-there/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) ## More by John Gimlette > [I was talking to my publisher in Britain and was told here we are - we are sixty million people and we reckon only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-was-talking-to-my-publisher-in-britain-and-was-told-here-we-are-we/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [ In both places \[Paraguay and Newfoundland\] people rise despite everything - both are pretty tough environments. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/in-both-places-paraguay-and-newfoundland-people-rise-despite/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [Lawrence Millman is a favorite writer of mine. He did a travels on the trail of the Vikings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/lawrence-millman-is-a-favorite-writer-of-mine-he-did-a-travels-on-the/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [American travel writing is very healthy. I'm always flicking through the reviews and I see plenty of travel writing - and an impressive line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/american-travel-writing-is-very-healthy-i-m-always-flicking-through/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [What's fascinating is where they come from in the world. People in Bangladesh, a chap in a fire-base in Tikrit in Iraq. Chap in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/what-s-fascinating-is-where-they-come-from-in-the-world-people-in/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [The United Nations was the thing I wanted to work for. Like the United Nations Commission for Refugees is what I was interested in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/the-united-nations-was-the-thing-i-wanted-to-work-for-like-the-united/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [When McDonald's opened up in Moscow - I happened to be there when it opened and wandered in. And the Russians were queuing three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/when-mcdonald-s-opened-up-in-moscow-i-happened-to-be-there-when-it/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [People my age and younger do think much more towards Europe. We have to fill the gap sometime - we can't think we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/people-my-age-and-younger-do-think-much-more-towards-europe-we-have/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I slightly feel, having written Paraguay and Newfoundland - and both of them have developed eccentricities through isolation - I am quite relieved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-slightly-feel-having-written-paraguay-and-newfoundland-and-both-of/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [ Paraguayans have no Italian blood and are half Guarani \[Indian\] blood. And the Chileans call themselves "the English of South America," which actually couldn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/paraguayans-have-no-italian-blood-and-are-half-guarani-indian-blood/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I am sure you have met diplomats; they probably travel far less than you do. Okay, they get to know a place very intensely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-am-sure-you-have-met-diplomats-they-probably-travel-far-less-than/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [Originally I wanted to be a diplomat, and by attrition I started giving up that idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/originally-i-wanted-to-be-a-diplomat-and-by-attrition-i-started/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [ I wouldn't like to see Cuba change in other ways. And the trouble is when Fidel \[Castro\] does go - I am sure he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-wouldn-t-like-to-see-cuba-change-in-other-ways-and-the-trouble-is/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I don't therefore know how to write for the big papers. It must be kids - students - and retired people. And the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-don-t-therefore-know-how-to-write-for-the-big-papers-it-must-be/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [It is a gift, and you realize as soon as you cross the border into Paraguay, as I did, the first time in '82,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/it-is-a-gift-and-you-realize-as-soon-as-you-cross-the-border-into/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) [Explore all 61 John Gimlette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) ## More Debate quotes > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [One of the undervalued contributors to Trump's stunning 2016 victory was the masterful performance Pence had in his debate against Hillary Clinton running mate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/one-of-the-undervalued-contributors-to-trump-s-stunning-2016-victory/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [There can be a debate on the Citizenship Amendment Act, but why should we shelter someone who has come to India illegally from outside?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-thackeray/there-can-be-a-debate-on-the-citizenship-amendment-act-but-why-should/) [Raj Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-thackeray/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [Grace is ours. Let's live it! Deny it or debate it and we kill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/grace-is-ours-let-s-live-it-deny-it-or-debate-it-and-we-kill-it/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [As far as I know, the question of whether and how it could be strategically or morally justified was never the subject of open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-far-as-i-know-the-question-of-whether-and-how-it-could-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The "family" has clearly emerged anew in the late 1970s as a central subject for discussion, debate, research and writing in bothscholarly and popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/the-family-has-clearly-emerged-anew-in-the-late-1970s-as-a-central/) Sheila Kamerman > [The premise of any discussion I have is not to debate my humanity. I refuse to engage on that level. It makes for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/the-premise-of-any-discussion-i-have-is-not-to-debate-my-humanity-i/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [It is important to allow a broad debate on energy and climate. We must urgently explore realistic ways to address the different scientific, technical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennart-bengtsson/it-is-important-to-allow-a-broad-debate-on-energy-and-climate-we-must/) Lennart Bengtsson > [“I know quite well why I became a historian… It was because dissension was frowned upon when I was a child: 'Don't argue, Claudia,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/i-know-quite-well-why-i-became-a-historian-it-was-because-dissension/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [A little tough talk in the midst of a campaign or as part of a presidential debate cannot obscure a record of 30 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/a-little-tough-talk-in-the-midst-of-a-campaign-or-as-part-of-a/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [ \[James\] Madison pointed out in the discussion of the constitutional debates - the constitutional convention - that democracy would be a danger. 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