Civility Quote by Sandra Day O'Connor
“Unfortunately civility is hard to codify or legislate, but you know it when you see it. It's possible to disagree without being disagreeable.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Civility, US Supreme Court, 2005
Civility cannot be fully defined by law, but it is recognizable and can coexist with disagreement.
In simple terms: Civility is felt, not legislated.
Key Takeaway
Practice respectful disagreement.
Themes
civility
communication
disagreement
Mood
thoughtful
calm
Type
advice
ethical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- workplace meetings
- online discussions
- family arguments
Key Concepts
social norms
ethical behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize civility in tense moments?
- Can disagreement be constructive without hostility?
A Different Perspective
Legal codes cannot capture nuanced social behavior.
![“Cassandra Dahnke and Tomas Spath, write: Civility is claiming and caring for one’s identity, needs, and beliefs without degrading someone else’s in the process….[Civility] is about disagreeing without disrespect, seeking common ground as a starting point for dialogue about differences, listening…” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5bc/bren-brown-280_common-ground_cassandra-dahnke-and-tomas-spath-write-c_737343.jpg)
