---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is little anyone can do with…"
description: "\"There is little anyone can do with fanatics. Reasoning with them is a fool's errand. Avoiding them is mandatory.\" — Bill O'Reilly"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/bill-o-reilly-1019_avoiding_there-is-little-anyone-can-do-with-fanat_554067.jpg"
---

#  There is little anyone can do with fanatics. Reasoning…

![“There is little anyone can do with fanatics. Reasoning with them is a fool's errand. Avoiding them is mandatory.” quote by Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/bill-o-reilly-1019_avoiding_there-is-little-anyone-can-do-with-fanat_554067.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/bill-o-reilly-1019_avoiding_there-is-little-anyone-can-do-with-fanat_554067.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/bill-o-reilly-1019_avoiding_there-is-little-anyone-can-do-with-fanat_554067.jpg)

> “There is little anyone can do with fanatics. Reasoning with them is a fool's errand. Avoiding them is mandatory.”

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Fanatics are irrational; trying to reason with them wastes effort, avoidance is safer.

**In simple terms:** Avoid reasoning with fanatics.

Key Takeaway

Stay clear of irrational extremes.

Themes

politics extremism communication

Mood

cautious critical

Type

political psychological

When to use this quote

- public debate
- online forums
- policy making

Key Concepts

cognitive bias radicalization

Questions to Reflect On

- Can dialogue ever change a fanatic?
- When is avoidance justified?

A Different Perspective

Avoidance may ignore underlying issues needing address.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Avoiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding/) [Errands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errands/) [Fanatics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fanatics/) [Fanatics Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fanatics-reasoning-4605916/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Little Fanatics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-fanatics-4605917/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasoning/) [Reasoning Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasoning-fool-4605918/)

## Related quotes

> [We're living in a time when parenting is not at all mirroring the way I was parented. For me, I just followed my parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-falco/we-re-living-in-a-time-when-parenting-is-not-at-all-mirroring-the-way/)

[Edie Falco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-falco/)

> [I’m Adorable. I Look like Keira Knightley Running Errands!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-m-adorable-i-look-like-keira-knightley-running-errands/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [Everyone is afraid of you and when folk are afraid of a person it usually means the person is cruel in some way, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/everyone-is-afraid-of-you-and-when-folk-are-afraid-of-a-person-it/)

[Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/)

> [How sweet the morning air is! See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo. Now the red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/how-sweet-the-morning-air-is-see-how-that-one-little-cloud-floats/)

[Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/)

> [Donald Trump insisted yesterday that he is not racist, because one time an African-American won Apprentice. Because nothing says 'not racist' like making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/donald-trump-insisted-yesterday-that-he-is-not-racist-because-one/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [Diets are a fool’s errand. I eat something sweet every day, whether it’s chocolate or a cookie. If I don’t, I guarantee you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/diets-are-a-fool-s-errand-i-eat-something-sweet-every-day-whether-it/)

[Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/)

> [Women are the real superheroes because they're not just working. They have a life and everything. I'm super lucky because I come home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-paradis/women-are-the-real-superheroes-because-they-re-not-just-working-they/)

[Vanessa Paradis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-paradis/)

> [I'm the last person who has any desire to instruct anybody in shame. That's no errand for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jock-sturges/i-m-the-last-person-who-has-any-desire-to-instruct-anybody-in-shame/)

[Jock Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jock-sturges/)

> [I'm merely running some errands. This is now off the record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-m-merely-running-some-errands-this-is-now-off-the-record/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [“- What…what are you doing here? I thought you had to run some errands. - And let an opportunity like this slip by? No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-colail/what-what-are-you-doing-here-i-thought-you-had-to-run-some-errands/)

[J.M. Colail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-colail/)

> [“We fetch fire and water, run about all day among the shops and markets, and get our clothes and shoes made and mended, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-fetch-fire-and-water-run-about-all-day-among-the-shops-and-markets/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Phrases like Worship Service or Service of Worship are tautologies. To worship God means to serve him. Basically there are two ways to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/phrases-like-worship-service-or-service-of-worship-are-tautologies-to/)

[Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/)

> [I was a trader for a company. That's different from the brokers who we sort of disdain as sort of just errand boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/i-was-a-trader-for-a-company-that-s-different-from-the-brokers-who-we/)

[Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/)

> [I was put into jail as I was going to the shoemaker's to get a shoe which was mended. When I was let out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/i-was-put-into-jail-as-i-was-going-to-the-shoemaker-s-to-get-a-shoe/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [Riddle of destiny, who can show What thy short visit meant, or know What thy errand here below?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/riddle-of-destiny-who-can-show-what-thy-short-visit-meant-or-know/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

## More by Bill O'Reilly

> [ Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [America today is a confused society, caught up in a terror war, a culture war, and a media war, where honesty and professional standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/america-today-is-a-confused-society-caught-up-in-a-terror-war-a/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [Donald Trump so far is sending a signal that he's going to run the government like his business and maybe that's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/donald-trump-so-far-is-sending-a-signal-that-he-s-going-to-run-the/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [“bathroom—if you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/bathroom-if-you/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [The one thing the police cannot protect us from is a politician like Bill de Blasio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-one-thing-the-police-cannot-protect-us-from-is-a-politician-like/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [I think that the terrible, disgraceful coverage actually got Donald Trump elected, along with Hillary Clinton's inability to connect with voters on any level.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/i-think-that-the-terrible-disgraceful-coverage-actually-got-donald/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [“We'll do it live... WE'LL DO IT LIVE! FUCK IT! DO IT LIVE... look, I'll write it and we'll do it live! Fucking thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/we-ll-do-it-live-we-ll-do-it-live-fuck-it-do-it-live-look-i-ll-write/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [Alaskans are basically 'leave me alone' type people who respect and embrace different strokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/alaskans-are-basically-leave-me-alone-type-people-who-respect-and/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [The most powerful nation on earth should be able to pass a fair, effective immigration law that combines compassion with responsibility and does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-most-powerful-nation-on-earth-should-be-able-to-pass-a-fair/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [I'm just a loud Irish guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/i-m-just-a-loud-irish-guy/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [Growing up under the heavy hand of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, it was drummed into me that attending weekly mass was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/growing-up-under-the-heavy-hand-of-the-school-sisters-of-notre-dame/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [The truth is that many powerful guys have fooled around while working for the people. Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Warren Harding to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/the-truth-is-that-many-powerful-guys-have-fooled-around-while-working/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [They established their patriotic credentials long ago, and are either supportive of the Bush agenda or know when to keep their traps shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/they-established-their-patriotic-credentials-long-ago-and-are-either/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [Many Americans simply don't want the pinheads in Washington or the various state capitals to be telling us how to live. But we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/many-americans-simply-don-t-want-the-pinheads-in-washington-or-the/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [Do the atheists in Wisconsin realize they're going to Hell? Did you ask them that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/do-the-atheists-in-wisconsin-realize-they-re-going-to-hell-did-you/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

[Explore all 265 Bill O'Reilly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

## More Avoiding quotes

> [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/)

[Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/)

> [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/)

[Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/)

> [ I can hardly believe what these 12 caricatures \[about Prophet Muhammad\] have caused in the world. We Danes feel like we have been placed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-fogh-rasmussen/i-can-hardly-believe-what-these-12-caricatures-about-prophet-muhammad/)

[Anders Fogh Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-fogh-rasmussen/)

> [I know a bit about taxation and the remarkable effort that goes in to avoiding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/i-know-a-bit-about-taxation-and-the-remarkable-effort-that-goes-in-to/)

[Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/)

> [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/)

[Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/)

> [I don't believe in happy endings. Children have got to face death sooner or later. Granny and Grandpa die, dogs die, cats die, gerbils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-briggs/i-don-t-believe-in-happy-endings-children-have-got-to-face-death/)

[Raymond Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-briggs/)

> [Resisting and avoiding pain sucks energy-and time. The more you let yourself feel those minute-and-a-half hells, the quicker you'll start feeling those minute-and-a-half happinesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/resisting-and-avoiding-pain-sucks-energy-and-time-the-more-you-let/)

[Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/)

> [Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/reading-is-sometimes-an-ingenious-device-for-avoiding-thought/)

[Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/)

> [A day can really slip by when you're deliberately avoiding what you're supposed to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/a-day-can-really-slip-by-when-you-re-deliberately-avoiding-what-you/)

[Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/)

> [When someone starts Ignoring you, just back off without staying there with them Just to know the reason for avoiding..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishak/when-someone-starts-ignoring-you-just-back-off-without-staying-there/)

[Vishak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishak/)

> [You know what takes effort? Being kind, being patient, being respectful, telling someone how you feel politely instead of just avoiding them for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/you-know-what-takes-effort-being-kind-being-patient-being-respectful/)

[Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/)

> [It's all about being flexible, and avoiding choices whenever possible. Choices suck, they are inherently limiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-armstrong/it-s-all-about-being-flexible-and-avoiding-choices-whenever-possible/)

[Craig Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-armstrong/)

> [In my personal life I'm very conservative. I've been married to the same person for nearly 50 years, I'm scrupulous about paying bills, avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/in-my-personal-life-i-m-very-conservative-i-ve-been-married-to-the/)

[Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/)

[Browse all 713 Avoiding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There is little anyone can do with fanatics. Reasoning with them is a fool's errand. Avoiding them is mandatory.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bill O'Reilly"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/there-is-little-anyone-can-do-with-fanatics-reasoning-with-them-is-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Avoiding"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/there-is-little-anyone-can-do-with-fanatics-reasoning-with-them-is-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/bill-o-reilly-1019_avoiding_there-is-little-anyone-can-do-with-fanat_554067.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/bill-o-reilly-1019_avoiding_there-is-little-anyone-can-do-with-fanat_554067.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/188/bill-o-reilly-1019_avoiding_there-is-little-anyone-can-do-with-fanat_554067.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There is little anyone can do with fanatics. Reasoning with them is a fool's errand. Avoiding them is…” — Bill O'Reilly",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Bill O'Reilly",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There is little anyone can do...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/there-is-little-anyone-can-do-with-fanatics-reasoning-with-them-is-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/there-is-little-anyone-can-do-with-fanatics-reasoning-with-them-is-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
