--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The principal feature of American…" description: "\"The principal feature of American liberalism is sanctimoniousness. By loudly denouncing all bad things — war and hunger and date rape — liberals testif..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/anonymous-1_aristocracy_the-principal-feature-of-american-libera_615928.jpg" --- # The principal feature of American liberalism is… ![“The principal 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…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/anonymous-1_aristocracy_the-principal-feature-of-american-libera_615928.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/anonymous-1_aristocracy_the-principal-feature-of-american-libera_615928.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/anonymous-1_aristocracy_the-principal-feature-of-american-libera_615928.jpg) > “The principal 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.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. American liberalism often displays moral superiority, creating an exclusive elite of self‑appointed caretakers. **In simple terms:** Liberals claim moral high ground to join an elite. Key Takeaway Question the motives behind moral posturing. Themes politics morality elitism Mood critical skeptical Type political social commentary When to use this quote - campaign rhetoric - media analysis - social activism - public debates Key Concepts virtue signaling social hierarchy identity politics Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to adopt moral superiority? - How does this affect political discourse? A Different Perspective Moral claims can be sincere, not just performative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Liberalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalism/) [Liberals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberals/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) ## Related quotes > [“But the Great Society did not do nearly as much to improve the economic standing of people as did the extraordinary growth of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/but-the-great-society-did-not-do-nearly-as-much-to-improve-the/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [The fact that populism is flourishing internationally, far from the Electoral College and Fox News, suggests that Trump's specific faults might actually be propping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/the-fact-that-populism-is-flourishing-internationally-far-from-the/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [“Will his work survive? Alas, I worry it will not. As an American liberal with impeccable credentials, I would like to say that political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/will-his-work-survive-alas-i-worry-it-will-not-as-an-american-liberal/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [ \[American\] liberalism today sees no realm of human life that is beyond political significance, from what you eat to what you smoke to what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/american-liberalism-today-sees-no-realm-of-human-life-that-is-beyond/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [The search for a moral equivalent of war continues to define American liberalism to this day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/the-search-for-a-moral-equivalent-of-war-continues-to-define-american/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [Harvey Weinstein does not personify American liberalism any more than Bill O'Reilly personifies American conservatism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/harvey-weinstein-does-not-personify-american-liberalism-any-more-than/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [The death of American liberalism as a significant moral force can be traced to the point in when President Bill Clinton signed legislation that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/the-death-of-american-liberalism-as-a-significant-moral-force-can-be/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [Racism and bigotry generally are the great driving engines of modern American liberalism. Even a remote hint of racism can trigger a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/racism-and-bigotry-generally-are-the-great-driving-engines-of-modern/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [Modern American liberalism is nothing but the socialism too stupid to recognize itself in the mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-beale/modern-american-liberalism-is-nothing-but-the-socialism-too-stupid-to/) [Theodore Beale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-beale/) > [“Historically, American liberals have been idealists, pressing forward toward the goals of greater freedom, social equality, and more meaningful democracy. The articulate exposition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-p-huntington/historically-american-liberals-have-been-idealists-pressing-forward/) [Samuel P. Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-p-huntington/) > [“Still, the exaggerations of Johnson and other liberals at the time came to haunt them within a few years. Talk about the "healing miracle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/still-the-exaggerations-of-johnson-and-other-liberals-at-the-time/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [True American Liberalism utterly denies the whole creed of socialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/true-american-liberalism-utterly-denies-the-whole-creed-of-socialism/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [problematic within post-Reformation dogmatics. Is faith something I 'do' to earn God's favour, and, if not, what role does it play? Once we release…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/problematic-within-post-reformation-dogmatics-is-faith-something-i-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For a Christian to be a Christian, he must first be a sinner. Being a sinner is a prerequisite for being a church member.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-a-christian-to-be-a-christian-he-must-first-be-a-sinner-being-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Racial and denominational schools impart to the membership of their communities something which the general educational institution is wholly unable to inculcate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/racial-and-denominational-schools-impart-to-the-membership-of-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Aristocracy quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though -- if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [24.9 percent of American children live in poverty, while the proportions in Germany, France and Italy are 8.6, 7.4 and 10.5 percent. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hutton/24-9-percent-of-american-children-live-in-poverty-while-the/) [Will Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hutton/) > [Tomorrow every Duchess in London will be waiting to kiss me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsay-macdonald/tomorrow-every-duchess-in-london-will-be-waiting-to-kiss-me/) [Ramsay MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsay-macdonald/) > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/why-do-these-big-old-country-houses-always-have-family-portraits-in/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though—if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power … but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-n-aron/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a-2/) [Elaine N. Aron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-n-aron/) > [Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. Books, the oldest and the best, stand naturally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/books-are-the-treasured-wealth-of-the-world-and-the-fit-inheritance/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We stand a better chance with aristocracy, whether hereditary or elective, than with monarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stiles/we-stand-a-better-chance-with-aristocracy-whether-hereditary-or/) [Ezra Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-stiles/) > [ The law for religious freedom... \[has\]put down the aristocracy of the clergy and restored to the citizen the freedom of the mind. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-law-for-religious-freedom-has-put-down-the-aristocracy-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) [Browse all 426 Aristocracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The principal 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. 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