We who are liberal and progressive know that the poor are our equals in every sense except that of being equal to us.
—Lionel Trilling (1905–75) American Literary Critic
Liberals seem to assume that, if you don’t believe in their particular political solutions, then you don’t really care about the people that they claim to want to help.
—Thomas Sowell (b.1930) American Conservative Economist, Political Commentator
The American insanity for Loving Everybody is ruining my good temper and delivering my stomach to enormous bouts with acidity.
—Taylor Caldwell (1900–85) American Novelist
If you’re a liberal, anything you say is protected. If you’re a conservative, anything you say is hateful.
—Laura Schlessinger (b.1947) American Radio Talk-Show Host, Author
The Liberals have many tails, and chase them all.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Liberalism, above all, means emancipation – emancipation from one’s fears, his inadequacies, from prejudice, from discrimination, from poverty.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
The label of liberalism is hardly a sentence to public ignominy: otherwise Bruce Springsteen would still be rehabilitating used Cadillacs in Asbury Park and Jane Fonda, for all we know, would be just another overweight housewife.
—Barbara Ehrenreich (1941–2022) American Social Critic, Essayist
There are two kinds of liberalism. A liberalism which is always, subterraneously authoritative and paternalistic, on the side of one’s good conscience. And then there is a liberalism which is more ethical than political; one would have to find another name for this. Something like a profound suspension of judgment.
—Roland Barthes (1915–80) French Writer, Critic, Teacher
Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Councilor or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
A man who has both feet planted firmly in the air can be safely called a liberal as opposed to the conservative, who has both feet firmly planted in his mouth.
—Jacques Barzun (b.1907) American Cultural Historian, Philosopher
Liberalism is totalitarianism with a human face.
—Thomas Sowell (b.1930) American Conservative Economist, Political Commentator
The liberals can understand everything but people who don’t understand them.
—Lenny Bruce (1925–66) American Comedian, Satirist
The liberals have not softened their view of actuality to make themselves live closer to the dream, but instead sharpen their perceptions and fight to make the dream actuality or give up the battle in despair.
—Margaret Mead (1901–78) American Anthropologist, Social Psychologist
Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they’ve stolen.
—Mort Sahl (1927–2021) American Comedian, Political Satirist
The principle feature of American liberalism is sanctimoniousness. By loudly denouncing all bad things—war and hunger and date rape—liberals testify to their own terrific goodness. More important, they promote themselves to membership in a self-selecting elite of those who care deeply about such things. It’s a kind of natural aristocracy, and the wonderful thing about this aristocracy is that you don’t have to be brave, smart, strong or even lucky to join it, you just have to be liberal.
—P. J. O’Rourke (1947–2022) American Journalist, Political Satirist
The hard-core intentionalist expresses only the most remote concern for consequences—usually, some vague, distant utopia. But this is, in most cases, a rationalization. His real satisfaction comes from a sense of doing the right thing—even when right has, in his mind, no clear connection with reality.
—Robert Bidinotto (b.1949) American Novelist, Journalist
Liberalism, austere in political trifles, has learned ever more artfully to unite a constant protest against the government with a constant submission to it.
—Alexander Herzen (1812–70) Russian Revolutionary, Writer
A liberal is man who will give away everything he doesn’t own.
—Frank Lane (1896–1981) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Liberalism—it is well to recall this today—is the supreme form of generosity; it is the right which the majority concedes to minorities and hence it is the noblest cry that has ever resounded in this planet. It announces the determination to share existence with the enemy; more than that, with an enemy which is weak.
—Jose Ortega y. Gasset (1883–1955) Spanish Critic, Journalist, Philosopher
The essence of the Liberal outlook lies not in what opinions are held, but in how they are held: instead of being held dogmatically, they are held tentatively, and with a consciousness that new evidence may at any moment lead to their abandonment.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Of all the varieties of virtue, liberality is the most beloved.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
I sit on a man’s back, choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am very sorry for him and wish to ease his lot by all possible means—except by getting off his back.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
Discoveries made during the last hundred years have shown that liberalism is the best system to improve a country’s well being.
—Marc Forne Molne (b.1946) Andorran Politician, Lawyer
A liberal is a socialist with a wife and two children.
—Unknown
Ultraliberalism today translates into a whimpering isolationism in foreign policy, a mulish obstructionism in domestic policy, and a pusillanimous pussyfooting on the critical issue of law and order.
—Spiro Agnew (1918–96) American Politician, Vice President
The most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom amongst us is the compact majority.
—Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) Norwegian Playwright
Cosmopolitan critics, men who are the friends of every country save their own.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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