Controversial quotes:

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Controversial proposals, once accepted, soon become hallowed. -- Dean Acheson
If you've got a big mouth and you're controversial, you're going to get attention. -- Simon Cowell
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Like religion, politics, and family planning, cereal is not a topic to be brought up in public. It's too controversial. -- Erma Bombeck
I am continually fascinated at the difficulty intelligent people have in distinguishing what is controversial from what is merely offensive. -- Nora Ephron
I admire Madonna because she always did whatever she felt like doing. She went through some controversial periods when people rejected her, but she kept on reinventing herself. -- Shakira
Sense data are much more controversial than qualia, because they are associated with a controversial theory of perception - that one perceives the world by perceiving one's sense-data, or something like that. -- David Chalmers
A child who is protected from all controversial ideas is as vulnerable as a child who is protected from every germ. The infection, when it comes- and it will come- may overwhelm the system, be it the immune system or the belief system. -- Jane Smiley
Thinking of the universe as a computer is controversial. -- Seth Lloyd
If journalism is good, it is controversial, by its nature. -- Julian Assange
Controversial' as we all know, is often a euphemism for 'interesting and intelligent. -- Kevin Smith
But, you know, sex is controversial, it just is and it always will be. -- Liam Neeson
There are people who can talk sensibly about a controversial issue; they're called humorists. -- Cullen Hightower
Well I think people think sex is controversial. Not always, but certainly it's something to be discussed. -- Liam Neeson
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One of the most powerful defences the media can offer for controversial actions is, of course, public interest. -- Rowan Williams
If an individual wants to be a leader and isn't controversial, that means he never stood for anything. -- Richard M. Nixon
I think that as I continue to write, my writing I hope will become more controversial and more provocative. -- Christopher Darden
I've never intended to be controversial but it's very easy to be controversial in pop music because nobody ever is. -- Steven Morrissey
The issue of human rights is one of the most fundamental human issues and also one of the most sensitive and controversial. -- Ali Khamenei
I think it is very difficult today to have a reasoned public discourse on any controversial subject. Certainly, election years present a complicating factor. -- John Poindexter
That's the heart of it: My shows were not that controversial with the American people. They were controversial with the people who think for the American people. -- Norman Lear
Controversial daily radio host. Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by seeking to provoke others to serious criminal acts and fostering hatred which might lead to inter-community violence. -- Michael Savage
They said it was against the rules to take sides on a controversial issue. I said, 'I wish you had told me that during World War II, when I took sides against Hitler. -- Howard K. Smith
When The Simpsons came around, there really was nothing else like it on TV. It's hard to imagine, but when Fox first took the plunge with it, it was considered controversial to put animation on prime time. -- Matt Groening
Early British pop was helped tremendously by the writing of Bob Dylan who had proved you could write about political and quite controversial subjects. Certainly what we did followed on from what was happening with the angry young men in the theatre. -- Pete Townshend
Controversial issues are always more interesting but I don't create material about a subject I have opinion on just because it's controversial. The most fun is having a point of view that the audience is generally against and presenting an argument that challenges their thinking. -- Doug Stanhope
I never really expected to be controversial. -- B. F. Skinner
Just because you say something doesn't make it controversial, and it doesn't make you a bad person. -- Charles Barkley
There will always be excuses, arguments, and questions of timing when moving on difficult and controversial issues. -- Lara Giddings
Global warming is controversial, of course, but the controversy is mainly over whether human activity is driving it. -- Michio Kaku
I was a controversial figure on my reservation when I was a kid. I was mouthy and opinionated and arrogant. Nothing has changed. -- Sherman Alexie
It is a virtual reflex for governments to plead security concerns when they undertake any controversial action, often as a pretext for something else. -- Noam Chomsky
Just because someone is holding a gun doesn't make an image controversial. It all depends on where you put the gun, who is holding it. -- Carine Roitfeld
Custard is controversial: what makes it a custard, how best to cook it and, crucially, is it to be eaten or put in a pie and thrown? -- Yotam Ottolenghi
We're always going to argue about abortion. It's a hard choice and it's controversial, and that's why I'm pro-choice, because I want people to make their own choices. -- Hillary Clinton
When I was growing up, my parents were almost involved in various volunteer things. My dad was head of Planned Parenthood. And it was very controversial to be involved with that. -- Bill Gates
I think controversy is not always a bad thing. Jesus was controversial. It's through controversy that people often wake up and smell the coffee and say, 'What's going on here? Do we need to rethink something here?' -- Kirk Cameron
The Book of Revelation is the strangest book in the Bible, and the most controversial. Instead of stories and moral teaching, it offers only visions - dreams and nightmares, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, earthquakes, plagues and war. -- Elaine Pagels
You can't have a university without having free speech, even though at times it makes us terribly uncomfortable. If students are not going to hear controversial ideas on college campuses, they're not going to hear them in America. I believe it's part of their education. -- Donna Shalala
I am of mixed minds about the issue of privacy. On one hand, I understand that information is power, and power is, well, power, so keeping your private information to yourself is essential - especially if you are a controversial figure, a celebrity, or a dissident. -- Susan Orlean
Dollywood is a family park, and all families are welcome. We do have a policy about profanity or controversial messages on clothing or signs. It is to protect the individual wearing or carrying them, as well as to keep down fights or problems by those opposed to it at the park. -- Dolly Parton
For all the tough talk about China during the presidential debates, Romney and Obama evaded any mention of China's suspect human rights record, corruption, and rule of law. By not tackling these controversial topics, the candidates are protecting a strategic partnership with China at the expense of essential human values and beliefs. -- Ai Weiwei
I'm always told that what I say is controversial. Why is it controversial? Because I speak from a tradition that has now fallen out of favor with the dominant media in this country. And so when I say things like marriage should be between one man and one woman, I'm called a bigot. -- Rick Santorum
The Armenian Genocide is such a controversial and very sensitive issue because the Turkish and Armenian people disagree about the facts of what actually happened. I know how strongly Armenians feel about the Genocide, and how it's never been recognised. At the same time, I do not hold today's generation of people accountable. -- Khloe Kardashian
I used to tweet, but it's an act of futility. You're not really making any impact, and if you find yourself in a mood when you wanna be a bit controversial and you post something, you suddenly realise, 'Oh my God!' because you've opened yourself up to a bunch of criticism from strangers. -- Sylvester Stallone
Innovators are inevitably controversial. -- Eva Le Gallienne
I get called 'controversial' all the time. -- Michael Moore
Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. -- John F. Kennedy
I am really the most controversial artist in the world. -- Thomas Kinkade
I'm controversial. My friends either dislike me or hate me -- Oscar Levant
I have this idiot name tag which says 'controversial.' -- Maurice Sendak
How could anything non-controversial be of intellectual interest to grown-ups? -- Edward Abbey
I always put in one controversial item. It makes people talk. -- Dorothy Draper
I have never knowingly made a non-controversial speech in my life. -- Margaret Thatcher
I've never tried to be controversial. The truth is controversial enough. -- Keith Green
When I am no longer controversial, I will no longer be important -- Gustave Courbet
'Requiem' has been controversial because people don't feel I gave it closure. -- Lauren Oliver
I don't mind being controversial. Even Jesus wasn't loved in his day. -- Elvis Presley
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Requiem has been controversial because people dont feel I gave it closure. -- Lauren Oliver
You know, the only reason net neutrality is controversial is because it's complicated. -- Tim Wu
In the old days, 'controversial' in a relationship meant same-sex or mixed races. -- Sam Taylor-Johnson
I like controversy. The more controversial it gets, the more interesting it is. -- Marco Brambilla
It is pretty hard to find the right result to a controversial issue. -- Max Baucus
I may be controversial, but my allegiance is to people outside the Beltway. -- Howard Dean
I still have this image: I can't be controversial, I can't say things. -- Chris Evert
I think art should be controversial. I think it should make people think. -- Madonna Ciccone
It's never my intent to be controversial but I don't shy away from it. -- Gary Myers
I just have my characters say my controversial opinions and then hide behind them. -- Mindy Kaling
If you're not controversial, you'll never break through the din of all the commentary. -- Roger Stone
I like an interesting movie even if it's controversial or offensive, depending on your taste. -- Adam Brody
People say I'm controversial. But I think I lead a very balanced and normal life. -- Ricardo Salinas Pliego
I spent my whole career playing it safe, being a gentleman, never doing anything controversial. -- Robin Thicke
It amazes me that talking about traditional values is controversial, but it seems to be. -- Laura Schlessinger
What makes me vulnerable is speaking up about topics that may be controversial to others. -- Gabrielle Bernstein
To get some of the substance of why [Michael] Flynn [is Defense Adviser] is so controversial. -- John Heilemann
Important decisions are risky. They should be controversial. Acclamation means that nobody has done the homework. -- Peter Drucker
I'm really happy I was kicked out of CalArts (for a controversial art piece I made). -- Yony Leyser
I was very willing to take on controversial roles that people didn't really want to look at. -- Rosie Perez
I kicked down doors to show that Hiphop has matured. And it may be a little controversial. -- Slick Rick
My "home" is a controversial topic. I don't exactly have one. I live all over the world. -- Lady Gaga
It's better to be controversial for the right reasons, than to be popular for the wrong reasons. -- Shimon Peres
Exposing any subject that is unpleasant or controversial means risking judgment and making some people feel uncomfortable. -- Carre Otis
If people find that controversial then I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount. -- Barack Obama
An interesting life," Yingling told me, "is one filled with controversial successes punctuated by occasional and spectacular failures. -- Craig M. Mullaney
Obviously this prison has been controversial ever since the first detainees arrived in Guantanamo more than 14 years ago. -- Audie Cornish
If everyone thinks you're doing the right thing, then everyone would be doing it. Have a controversial strategy. -- Scott McNealy
The proposal that men and women should be treated equally under the law is hardly a controversial concept. -- Carolyn Maloney
I can unite the people of Israel, so I won't speak about controversial issues, which divide the people. -- Dan Shechtman
I've always been called "controversial." I think if I were not controversial I wouldn't be doing my job. -- Andrew Weil
I curated this show [Shanghai Biennale ], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial. -- Ai Weiwei
I'd like to think I'm going upriver in talking about world-view topics rather than particular political or controversial topics. -- Max Lucado
My experience in government is that when things are non-controversial and beautifully coordinated, there is not much going on. -- John F. Kennedy
A lot of networks don't want to touch controversial subjects, and especially stuff that deals with race and history. -- Mike Jackson
Many cartoons I've drawn have been controversial, perhaps a little before their time, certainly when I was getting started. -- Terry Mosher
The Republican leadership thinks the best way to avoid losing elections is to let the Democrats win every controversial issue. -- Rush Limbaugh
Let's face it: pop music in its myriad permutations will always be sexually presumptuous, racially controversial and, frequently, politically charged. -- Dan Hill
[A formula for answering controversial letters -- without even reading the letters:] Dear Sir (or Madame): You may be right. -- H. L. Mencken
Now that I exist in the mainstream majority, I'm not really so controversial any more, am I? Not really news. -- Michael Moore
It takes some courage to write fiction about politically controversial topics. The dread is you'll be labeled a political writer. -- Barbara Kingsolver
The frustrating part of being tagged 'controversial' is people go looking for trouble where there isn't any to look for. -- Salman Rushdie
Girls' feels very active and stirring a conversation and controversial, and you can't really ask for more as an actor. -- Adam Driver
Coronation Street' was my first job, Zoe was a controversial character, and I wasn't used to everyone looking at me. -- Joanne Froggatt
It's not controversial to say that human activity is contributing in some way. The question is how serious that is. -- Bobby Jindal
Evolution is not controversial in the field of science. It's controversial in the public sphere because public education is highly politicized. -- Eugenie Scott
The problem of sexual minorities in Russia has been deliberately made controversial in Russia. There is no such problem in Russia. -- Vladimir Putin
Women are not children. We are not fragile little birds who can't cope with jokes, works of art, or controversial speakers. -- Christina Hoff Sommers
Schools provide safe spaces to talk about controversial issues, and literature presents characters portraying human experience in all its richness and contradictoriness. -- Julia Alvarez
Overconsumption is the mother of all environmental problems. For the first time in the history of capitalism, consumption itself has become controversial. -- Kalle Lasn
Free speech is intended to protect the controversial and even outrageous word; and not just comforting platitudes too mundane to need protection. -- Colin Powell
Many times I heard Imam Ahmad saying (when asked to give his opinion) on controversial scholarly issues 'I do not know.' -- Abu Dawood
I was fascinated by a compelling character embroiled in a controversial topic that told the story from a different point of view. -- Bjorn Borg
I'm not really volunteering for no family films. I really like the sweet spot of being able to be edgy and controversial. -- Romany Malco
I thought they expected you to be controversial at UCLA? I believe the Board of Regents draws the line at sacrificial murder. -- Josh Lanyon
My most famous drama in England is quite controversial. It's something called Men Only, and it's rather a shocking exploration of male sexuality. -- Peter Webber
I'm a storyline. I'm the chosen one for negative stories and controversial things. If I worried about it all, I would go insane. -- Ndamukong Suh
Paparazzi will try to get the most controversial picture of you in a compromising position because that's how they're going to sell it. -- Goldie Hawn
When someone sets out to be controversial or provocative or shocking as an end in itself, I don't think that's a noble goal. -- Rob Bell
Imagine a legal system in which lawyers were equated with the clients they defended and were condemned for representing controversial or despised clients. -- Alan Dershowitz

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