“In plural societies, it is both inevitable and important that people offend the sensibilities of others.”

— Kenan Malik

Free speech in an age of identity politics (2015)
Context: In plural societies, it is both inevitable and important that people offend the sensibilities of others. Inevitable, because where different beliefs are deeply held, clashes are unavoidable. Almost by definition such clashes express what it is to live in a diverse society. And so they should be openly resolved [rather] than suppressed in the name of ‘respect’ or ‘tolerance’. And important because any kind of social change or social progress means offending some deeply held sensibilities.

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Kenan Malik 6

English writer, lecturer and broadcaster 1960

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“If we set the precedent of limiting the First Amendment, in order to protect the sensibilities of those who are offended by flag burning, what will we say the next time someone is offended by some other minority view, or by some other person's exercise of the freedom the Constitution is supposed to protect?”

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“It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be …”

Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, known for his works of science fiction …

General sources
Source: "My Own View" in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (1978) edited by Robert Holdstock;
Context: It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be... This, in turn, means that our statesmen, our businessmen, our everyman must take on a science fictional way of thinking.

“A large plural society cannot be governed without recognizing that, transcending its plural interests, there is a rational order with a superior common law.”

Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American journalist

Essays in the Public Philosophy http://books.google.com/books?id=dCBruUK-qdcC&q=%22A+large+plural+society+cannot+be+governed+without+recognizing+that+transcending+its+plural+interests+there+is+a+rational+order+with+a%22&pg=PA106#v=onepage (1955)