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
The liberal holds that he is true to the republic when he is true to himself. (It may not be as cozy an attitude as it sounds.) He greets with enthusiasm the fact of the journey, as a dog greets a man’s invitation to take a walk. And he acts in the dog’s way too, swinging wide, racing ahead, doubling back, covering many miles of territory that the man never traverses, all in the spirit of inquiry and the zest for truth. He leaves a crazy trail, but he ranges far beyond the genteel old party he walks with and he is usually in a better position to discover a skunk.
—E. B. White (1985–99) American Essayist, Humorist
Left-wingers are incapable of conspiring because they’re all egomaniacs.
—Norman Mailer (1923–2007) American Novelist Essayist
My objection to Liberalism is this—that it is the introduction into the practical business of life of the highest kind—namely, politics—of philosophical ideas instead of political principles.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
Conservative. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from a Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Conservatism makes no poetry, breathes no prayer, has no invention; it is all memory. Reform has no gratitude, no prudence, no husbandry.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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, 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
A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Liberalism is totalitarianism with a human face.
—Thomas Sowell (b.1930) American Conservative Economist, Political Commentator
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
A liberal is a man who is willing to spend somebody else’s money.
—Carter Glass (1858–1946) American Politician, Publisher
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
Someone once said that a fool can put on his coat better than a wise man can put it on for him. The implications of that undermine most of the agenda of the political left.
—Thomas Sowell (b.1930) American Conservative Economist, Political Commentator
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
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
The most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom amongst us is the compact majority.
—Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) Norwegian Playwright
The Liberal State is a mask behind which there is no face; it is a scaffolding behind which there is no building.
—Benito Mussolini (1883–1945) Italian Head of State, Politician
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
Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they’ve stolen.
—Mort Sahl (1927–2021) American Comedian, Political Satirist
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
A liberal is a power worshipper without the power.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
Cosmopolitan critics, men who are the friends of every country save their own.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
The liberals can understand everything but people who don’t understand them.
—Lenny Bruce (1925–66) American Comedian, Satirist
Liberalism is, I think, resurgent. One reason is that more and more people are so painfully aware of the alternative.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
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
A liberal is a man or a woman or a child who looks forward to a better day, a more tranquil night, and a bright, infinite future.
—Leonard Bernstein (1918–90) American Composer, Conductor
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
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