Conservatives Quote by Andy Rooney
“Republicans ... are conservatives who think it would be best if we faced the fact that people are no damned good. They think that if we admit that we have selfish, acquisitive natures and then set out to get all we can for ourselves by working hard for it, that things will be better for everyone. They are not insensitive to the poor, but tend to think the poor are impoverished because they won't work. They think there would be fewer of them to feel sorry for if the government did not encourage the proliferation of the least fit among us with welfare programs.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on PBS, 1998
The quote argues that acknowledging human selfishness and encouraging personal effort, rather than relying on welfare, would improve society for all.
In simple terms: People are selfish; hard work helps everyone.
Key Takeaway
Promote self‑reliance over dependency.
Themes
self‑reliance
politics
economics
morality
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
commentary
When to use this quote
- job seeking
- entrepreneurship
- policy debate
- community volunteering
Key Concepts
human nature
welfare state
meritocracy
Questions to Reflect On
- Is personal responsibility enough to lift all out of poverty?
- How can society balance compassion with self‑reliance?
A Different Perspective
Welfare can provide essential safety nets and reduce inequality.
![“Conservatives are better talking about opportunity and growth in the abstract, while liberals talk more about poor people. Right now we [americans] need a good, optimistic, conservative opportunity ideology that is totally geared toward lifting up the poor. That's what I most want to see in…” quote by Arthur C. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/arthur-c-brooks-29421_abstract_conservatives-are-better-talking-about-o_1303896.jpg)
