--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the breadth of perspectives is wide…" description: "\"“If the breadth of perspectives is wide enough to represent the fullest range of views, consensus is unlikely. If consensus is swiftly achieved, it pro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/ron-suskind-10115_agreement_if-the-breadth-of-perspectives-is-wide-e_501119.png" --- # If the breadth of perspectives is wide enough to represent… ![“If the breadth of perspectives is wide enough to represent the fullest range of views, consensus is unlikely. If consensus is swiftly achieved, it probably means too few voices have been heard.” quote by Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/ron-suskind-10115_agreement_if-the-breadth-of-perspectives-is-wide-e_501119.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/ron-suskind-10115_agreement_if-the-breadth-of-perspectives-is-wide-e_501119.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/ron-suskind-10115_agreement_if-the-breadth-of-perspectives-is-wide-e_501119.png) > ““If the breadth of perspectives is wide enough to represent the fullest range of views, consensus is unlikely. If consensus is swiftly achieved, it probably means too few voices have been heard.”” [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Broad representation of viewpoints reduces the likelihood of quick consensus, indicating deeper deliberation. **In simple terms:** More voices mean harder agreement. Key Takeaway Encourage diverse input before deciding. Themes decisionmaking diversity consensus Mood analytical cautious thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - board meetings - policy formation - community planning - team projects Key Concepts pluralism deliberative process group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance inclusivity with efficiency? - When is quick consensus beneficial? A Different Perspective Too many perspectives can stall progress if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Consensus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consensus/) [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) ## Related quotes > [Consensus isn't just about agreement. It's about changing things around: You get a proposal, you work something out, people foresee problems, you do creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graeber/consensus-isn-t-just-about-agreement-it-s-about-changing-things/) [David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graeber/) > [ Keith's \[Briffa\] series...differs in large part in exactly the opposite direction that Phil's \[Jones\] does from ours. This is the problem we all picked… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-mann/keith-s-briffa-series-differs-in-large-part-in-exactly-the-opposite/) [Michael E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-mann/) > [Fashion is a social agreement. the result of a consensus of a large group of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-blum/fashion-is-a-social-agreement-the-result-of-a-consensus-of-a-large/) Stella Blum > [When discussing organic evolution the only point of agreement seems to be: ‘It happened.’ Thereafter, there is little consensus, which at first sight must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-conway-morris/when-discussing-organic-evolution-the-only-point-of-agreement-seems/) [Simon Conway Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-conway-morris/) > [ Summits \[World Summit on the Information Society\] are meant to help governments reach a global consensus on major issues which has proved elusive in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-souter/summits-world-summit-on-the-information-society-are-meant-to-help/) [David Souter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-souter/) > [Consensus: “The process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values, and policies in search of something in which no one believes, but to which no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/consensus-the-process-of-abandoning-all-beliefs-principles-values-and/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [“A high self-esteem having artist works hard to be understood. A low self-esteem having artist works hard to be agreed with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-high-self-esteem-having-artist-works-hard-to-be-understood-a-low/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Insofar as it represents a genuine reconciliation of differences, a consensus is a fine thing; insofar as it represents a concealment of differences, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/insofar-as-it-represents-a-genuine-reconciliation-of-differences-a/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Our normal expectations about reality are created by a social consensus. We are taught how to see and understand the world. The trick of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/our-normal-expectations-about-reality-are-created-by-a-social/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [People of good character are not all going to come down on the same side of difficult political and social issues. Good people-people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bennett/people-of-good-character-are-not-all-going-to-come-down-on-the-same/) [William Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bennett/) > [The scientific consensus is that climate change is real, urgent, and caused by humans. This science should be both supported and understood by anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/the-scientific-consensus-is-that-climate-change-is-real-urgent-and/) [Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/) > [The vision of extraordinary achievement is,by definition, a few steps beyond consensus and conventional logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-belsky/the-vision-of-extraordinary-achievement-is-by-definition-a-few-steps/) [Scott Belsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-belsky/) > [As a leader... I have always endeavored to listen to what each and every person in a discussion had to say before venturing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-a-leader-i-have-always-endeavored-to-listen-to-what-each-and-every/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [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 > [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) ## More by Ron Suskind > [I don't have to deal with the issues of the daily news cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-don-t-have-to-deal-with-the-issues-of-the-daily-news-cycle/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [ The President \[Barack Obama\] is very focused on \[healthcare\]. He, of course, is also writing this speech at high speed. And right coming up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/the-president-barack-obama-is-very-focused-on-healthcare-he-of-course/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [Reaching out to any fellow ghetto kids is an act he puts in the same category as doing drugs: the initial rush of warmth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/reaching-out-to-any-fellow-ghetto-kids-is-an-act-he-puts-in-the-same/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [The fact is that in a way, journalists become a kind of default in the system when you don't have substantive two-party back-and-forth inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/the-fact-is-that-in-a-way-journalists-become-a-kind-of-default-in-the/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [“Freshmen spend in unfathomable sitting on their beds – heads against the wall or propped pillows, semistudying or not, listening to music, catching a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/freshmen-spend-in-unfathomable-sitting-on-their-beds-heads-against/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [If you happened to be born on third base, you didn't rub it in the face of the guy who wasn't even born in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/if-you-happened-to-be-born-on-third-base-you-didn-t-rub-it-in-the/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [I've been a reporter for 20 years, and I don't ever get things wrong. That's important in terms of my professional status.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-ve-been-a-reporter-for-20-years-and-i-don-t-ever-get-things-wrong/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [I think that there's a lot of anxiety out there in people wanting their children to be part of the mainstream, to achieve based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-think-that-there-s-a-lot-of-anxiety-out-there-in-people-wanting/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [“Two hours a day for two days per week. Four hours. At $7.25 an hour, that gave him a gross income of $29 a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/two-hours-a-day-for-two-days-per-week-four-hours-at-7-25-an-hour-that/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [All of the leading terrorism experts are clear on one thing: that in terms of protecting America, we are almost never going to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/all-of-the-leading-terrorism-experts-are-clear-on-one-thing-that-in/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [It is one thing to rouse the passion of a people, and quite another to lead them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/it-is-one-thing-to-rouse-the-passion-of-a-people-and-quite-another-to/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [ I think that \[Barack Obama\] does say something that's - that is telling on that score, when he talks about the \[George W.\] Bush… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-think-that-barack-obama-does-say-something-that-s-that-is-telling/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [ \[Barack Obama\] says that he thinks America felt better, more confident, because Washington was not simply in a gridlock, in stasis, where nothing was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/barack-obama-says-that-he-thinks-america-felt-better-more-confident/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [You try to hold on to some notions you might have had before, that this will somehow work out, this is a spell that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/you-try-to-hold-on-to-some-notions-you-might-have-had-before-that/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [The key is to put your outrage in a place where you can get it when you need to, but not have it bubble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/the-key-is-to-put-your-outrage-in-a-place-where-you-can-get-it-when/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) [Explore all 67 Ron Suskind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) ## More Agreement quotes > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/) [Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/) > [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [Identity is not negotiable. An identity you have achieved by agreement is always a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-john-harrison/identity-is-not-negotiable-an-identity-you-have-achieved-by-agreement/) [M. John Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-john-harrison/) > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Gaia's main problems are not industrialization, ozone depletion, overpopulation, or resource depletion. Gaia's main problem is the lack of mutual understanding and mutual agreement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/gaia-s-main-problems-are-not-industrialization-ozone-depletion/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [We recognize that NAFTA is a three-country agreement, and we need a three-country negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/we-recognize-that-nafta-is-a-three-country-agreement-and-we-need-a/) [Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/) > [At Ohio State University, to avoid being guilty of 'sexual assault' or 'sexual violence,' you and your partner now apparently have to agree on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/at-ohio-state-university-to-avoid-being-guilty-of-sexual-assault-or/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Whatever you perceive, you always make a story with yourself as the main character, and that dictates your life. 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This was going to result in Iran getting 50 billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/netanyahu-made-all-sorts-of-claims-this-was-going-to-be-a-terrible/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Browse all 1,138 Agreement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If the breadth of perspectives is wide enough to represent the fullest range of views, consensus is unlikely. 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