A better way to mutual respect is to engage directly with the moral convictions citizens bring to public life, rather than to require that people leave their deepest moral convictions outside politics before they enter.

Source: "The Lost Art of Democratic Debate." TED2010. Feb. 2010. Conference Presentation. Additional Information: This quote is from political philosopher Michael Sandel's 2010 TED Talk about the importance of political debate. The quote means that questions of morality, such as people's concerns about same-sex marriage, are often left out of political discourse because such issues are considered too controversial; however, politicians can foster a more respectful relationship with the public if they discuss and debate moral issues that people care about, rather than ignoring them. Watch the full TED Talk here: Michael Sandel - The Lost Art of Democratic Debate  

“The Lost Art of Democratic Debate.” TED2010. Feb. 2010. Conference Presentation.