---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that liberal straight white men…"
description: "\"I think that liberal straight white men really need to stop patting themselves on the back for what they think they think and actually take a look at t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/brett-gelman-8521_i-think_i-think-that-liberal-straight-white-men_1418495.jpg"
---

#  I think that liberal straight white men really need to…

![“I think that liberal straight white men really need to stop patting themselves on the back for what they think they think and actually take a look at their actions.” quote by Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/brett-gelman-8521_i-think_i-think-that-liberal-straight-white-men_1418495.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/brett-gelman-8521_i-think_i-think-that-liberal-straight-white-men_1418495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/brett-gelman-8521_i-think_i-think-that-liberal-straight-white-men_1418495.jpg)

> “I think that liberal straight white men really need to stop patting themselves on the back for what they think they think and actually take a look at their actions.”

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

## About This Quote

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

Calls for self‑examination of privileged groups and aligning actions with values.

**In simple terms:** Ask privileged people to check actions, not just words.

Key Takeaway

Reflect on personal impact.

Themes

privilege self‑awareness accountability

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

analytical social commentary

When to use this quote

- workplace meetings
- public debates
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

social critique identity politics

Questions to Reflect On

- How do your actions reflect your stated beliefs?
- What steps can you take to align them?

A Different Perspective

Change is hard when confronting comfortable habits.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Liberal Straight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal-straight-1329993/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-really/) [Stop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop/) [Stop Patting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-patting-2675974/) [Think Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-liberal-889119/) [White Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-men/)

## Related quotes

> [Every white liberal straight man needs to take action and work at unifying all peoples of our sides and stop making women and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/every-white-liberal-straight-man-needs-to-take-action-and-work-at/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [I know you think that I'm the innocent little girl in that princess gown with the halo and the wings and talks with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-mcswain/i-know-you-think-that-i-m-the-innocent-little-girl-in-that-princess/)

[Trinity McSwain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-mcswain/)

> [I really think that the Liberal Party is dead and that one will simply have to think of men and policies after the war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hamilton-gordon-1st-marquess-of-aberdeen-and-temair/i-really-think-that-the-liberal-party-is-dead-and-that-one-will/)

[John Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hamilton-gordon-1st-marquess-of-aberdeen-and-temair/)

> [“I think being a liberal, in the true sense, is being nondoctrinaire, nondogmatic, non-committed to a cause - but examining each case on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-being-a-liberal-in-the-true-sense-is-being-nondoctrinaire/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [I'm gay, and I know a lot of very liberal straight people, and, of course, they're absolutely fine, but they still won't necessarily come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/i-m-gay-and-i-know-a-lot-of-very-liberal-straight-people-and-of/)

[Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/)

> [I think that there's a liberal element out there that finds me not acceptable. They don't like my stance on a lot of issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-brewer/i-think-that-there-s-a-liberal-element-out-there-that-finds-me-not/)

[Jan Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-brewer/)

> [ I wonder if it's conservative or liberal \[ inalienable rights idea\], because when we think of liberal thought, when we think about the relation… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-wonder-if-it-s-conservative-or-liberal-inalienable-rights-idea/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [I think that being liberal, in the true sense, is being nondoctrinaire, nondogmatic, noncomitted to a cause but examining each case on its merits.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-that-being-liberal-in-the-true-sense-is-being-nondoctrinaire/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [That man, I think, has had a liberal education, who has been so trained in youth that his body is the ready servant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/that-man-i-think-has-had-a-liberal-education-who-has-been-so-trained/)

[Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/)

> [Now whatever you think of the liberal agenda on its merits, until very recently nobody thought the Constitution meant what liberals now say it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/now-whatever-you-think-of-the-liberal-agenda-on-its-merits-until-very/)

[Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sobran/)

> [I think that this liberal progressive agenda is not the thing that the American people want and it's antithesis to who we are as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/i-think-that-this-liberal-progressive-agenda-is-not-the-thing-that/)

[Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/)

> [I think if you're a liberal, you believe that we all are, at least to some extent, our brothers' keepers, you really believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-think-if-you-re-a-liberal-you-believe-that-we-all-are-at-least-to/)

[Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/)

> [If riches increase, let thy mind hold pace with them; and think it not enough to be liberal, but munificent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/if-riches-increase-let-thy-mind-hold-pace-with-them-and-think-it-not/)

[Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/)

> [I think liberal art faculties at major universities have views that are not very sound, at least on public policy issues - they may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-think-liberal-art-faculties-at-major-universities-have-views-that/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [“If men could see us as we really are, they would be a little amazed; but the cleverest, the acutest men are often under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-men-could-see-us-as-we-really-are-they-would-be-a-little-amazed/)

[Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/)

## More by Brett Gelman

> [I think that's something that people don't realize enough about when they get into comedy - it's not just about sitting back and observing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-think-that-s-something-that-people-don-t-realize-enough-about-when/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [Dinner is often a very celebratory environment, a very safe place, a time to reflect and let the day go and enjoy good food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/dinner-is-often-a-very-celebratory-environment-a-very-safe-place-a/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [I honestly don't see how anyone can view the GOP and the Right as anything but evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-honestly-don-t-see-how-anyone-can-view-the-gop-and-the-right-as/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [Deeper things, heavier things happen to you as you get older and makes you more open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/deeper-things-heavier-things-happen-to-you-as-you-get-older-and-makes/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [What a great way to make some money is just fine somebody $300 if their phone rings in the theatre. That'll make them remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/what-a-great-way-to-make-some-money-is-just-fine-somebody-300-if/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [I think that all the Mel Brooks' company of actors is just tremendous. It was a crazy group of genius people. All of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-think-that-all-the-mel-brooks-company-of-actors-is-just-tremendous/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [I've definitely had my hard partying moments. I've definitely had the long stretches of time in my personal life where I've felt an intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-ve-definitely-had-my-hard-partying-moments-i-ve-definitely-had-the/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [I love 'Seinfeld.' That was not alternative. You can't get more in mainstream than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-love-seinfeld-that-was-not-alternative-you-can-t-get-more-in/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [I'm not a stranger to depression and desperation. I can be kind of tortured but I do like to have a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-m-not-a-stranger-to-depression-and-desperation-i-can-be-kind-of/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [As far as making people feel less depressed, that, in and of itself, is a political act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/as-far-as-making-people-feel-less-depressed-that-in-and-of-itself-is/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [I'm an obvious example of how everyone is spiraling out of control on the show and just trying to live life the best they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-m-an-obvious-example-of-how-everyone-is-spiraling-out-of-control-on/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [At the end of the day, stand-up comedy is like acting when the audience are the other characters that I'm acting with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/at-the-end-of-the-day-stand-up-comedy-is-like-acting-when-the/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [I've wanted to be a comedian since I was a kid, and my parents were very supportive of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-ve-wanted-to-be-a-comedian-since-i-was-a-kid-and-my-parents-were/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [I really am not that hairy on my body. It's weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-really-am-not-that-hairy-on-my-body-it-s-weird/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

> [I get to live a privileged existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-get-to-live-a-privileged-existence/)

[Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

[Explore all 80 Brett Gelman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/)

## More I think quotes

> [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/)

[Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/)

> [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/)

[Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/)

> [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/)

[Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/)

> [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/)

[David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/)

> [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/)

[Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/)

> [I think a person has to just be herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-nixon/i-think-a-person-has-to-just-be-herself/)

[Pat Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-nixon/)

> [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/)

[Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/)

> [I think taking a hookline of a hit song and making a new song is fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-kumar/i-think-taking-a-hookline-of-a-hit-song-and-making-a-new-song-is-fun/)

[Tulsi Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-kumar/)

> [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/)

[Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/)

> [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/)

[Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I think it's a wonderful thing, turning 50. I think everyone should do it at least once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-think-it-s-a-wonderful-thing-turning-50-i-think-everyone-should-do/)

[Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/)

> [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/)

[Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/)

[Browse all 29,267 I think quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think that liberal straight white men really need to stop patting themselves on the back for what they think they think and actually take a look at their actions.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Brett Gelman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-think-that-liberal-straight-white-men-really-need-to-stop-patting/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "I think"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-think-that-liberal-straight-white-men-really-need-to-stop-patting/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/brett-gelman-8521_i-think_i-think-that-liberal-straight-white-men_1418495.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/brett-gelman-8521_i-think_i-think-that-liberal-straight-white-men_1418495.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/brett-gelman-8521_i-think_i-think-that-liberal-straight-white-men_1418495.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think that liberal straight white men really need to stop patting themselves on the back for what they…” — Brett Gelman",
                "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": "Brett Gelman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think that liberal straight white...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-think-that-liberal-straight-white-men-really-need-to-stop-patting/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-think-that-liberal-straight-white-men-really-need-to-stop-patting/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
