--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Liberals are sometimes defined as people…" description: "\"Liberals are sometimes defined as people who can't take their own side in an argument.\" — Cass Sunstein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/cass-sunstein-7201_argument_liberals-are-sometimes-defined-as-people_2348505.png" --- # Liberals are sometimes defined as people who can't take… ![“Liberals are sometimes defined as people who can't take their own side in an argument.” quote by Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/cass-sunstein-7201_argument_liberals-are-sometimes-defined-as-people_2348505.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/cass-sunstein-7201_argument_liberals-are-sometimes-defined-as-people_2348505.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/cass-sunstein-7201_argument_liberals-are-sometimes-defined-as-people_2348505.png) > “Liberals are sometimes defined as people who can't take their own side in an argument.” [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests liberals often avoid taking a firm stance, implying indecisiveness or desire to please both sides. **In simple terms:** Liberals sometimes can’t pick a side. Key Takeaway Encourage clear, principled positions. Themes politics ideology indecision moderation argumentation Mood critical analytical Type political commentary philosophical When to use this quote - debates - policy drafting - public statements - campaigns Key Concepts pluralism cognitive bias political strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can one balance openness with conviction? - When is flexibility more valuable than firmness? A Different Perspective Strong positions can alienate moderate supporters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined/) [Defined People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined-people-468996/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Liberals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberals/) [Liberals Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberals-defined-5708773/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-argument-740597/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) ## Related quotes > [My wife and I have created our own language. We can be at a table with six other people and have an argument without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/my-wife-and-i-have-created-our-own-language-we-can-be-at-a-table-with/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [On stage, it's like an argument going on between four people. The argument is the art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/on-stage-it-s-like-an-argument-going-on-between-four-people-the/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [I'm used to politics at an international level: people put together an argument and, even if you vehemently disagree with them, well, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/i-m-used-to-politics-at-an-international-level-people-put-together-an/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [I don't get that - people going to war over religion. I don't know, I could see going to war over justice or democracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jeni/i-don-t-get-that-people-going-to-war-over-religion-i-don-t-know-i/) [Richard Jeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jeni/) > [Offense is what people take when they can't take argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/offense-is-what-people-take-when-they-can-t-take-argument/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Most people go not by argument, but by sympathies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/most-people-go-not-by-argument-but-by-sympathies/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [The party is defined by the people that are in it, not necessarily the politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hurd/the-party-is-defined-by-the-people-that-are-in-it-not-necessarily-the/) [Will Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hurd/) > [We are so defined by how people see us. We're a very materialistic culture. We're a very image-driven culture. What if that goes away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/we-are-so-defined-by-how-people-see-us-we-re-a-very-materialistic/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Irony ... may be defined as what people miss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/irony-may-be-defined-as-what-people-miss/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“It was strangely simple the way that one thing suddenly defined you to other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-purnhagen/it-was-strangely-simple-the-way-that-one-thing-suddenly-defined-you/) [Mara Purnhagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-purnhagen/) > [Really, who you are is defined by the people who you know - not even the people that you know, but the people you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/really-who-you-are-is-defined-by-the-people-who-you-know-not-even-the/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [“According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a family is defined as two or more people living together who are related by birth, marriage or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/according-to-the-u-s-census-bureau-a-family-is-defined-as-two-or-more/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [When we're defined by what people think we lose the courage to be vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-we-re-defined-by-what-people-think-we-lose-the-courage-to-be/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I'm not defined by what people think of me. My happiness comes from within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/i-m-not-defined-by-what-people-think-of-me-my-happiness-comes-from/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Alabama is defined by its people. It's that simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-ivey/alabama-is-defined-by-its-people-it-s-that-simple/) [Kay Ivey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-ivey/) ## More by Cass Sunstein > [I think President Barack Obama has been an extraordinarily successful president, and that this period will record that with a bunch of exclamation points.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-think-president-barack-obama-has-been-an-extraordinarily-successful/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [I am proud to say that the Federalist Society was founded in part at the University of Chicago, and one of its best characteristics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-am-proud-to-say-that-the-federalist-society-was-founded-in-part-at/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [Groups become more extreme and entrenched in their beliefs and polarized from others when members only exchange information that reinforces their views and filter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/groups-become-more-extreme-and-entrenched-in-their-beliefs-and/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [Those who believe in climate change, as I do, I think it's also fair to say that they are more receptive to confirming evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/those-who-believe-in-climate-change-as-i-do-i-think-it-s-also-fair-to/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [I think it's a very firm part of human nature that if you surround yourself with like-minded people, you'll end up thinking more extreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-think-it-s-a-very-firm-part-of-human-nature-that-if-you-surround/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [There is no liberty without dependency. That is why we should celebrate tax day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/there-is-no-liberty-without-dependency-that-is-why-we-should/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [And so it's no surprise that people who object to the death penalty on pure moral grounds also think it has no deterrent effect,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/and-so-it-s-no-surprise-that-people-who-object-to-the-death-penalty/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [It is even possible that desirable redistribution is more likely to occur through climate change policy than otherwise, or to be accomplished more effectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/it-is-even-possible-that-desirable-redistribution-is-more-likely-to/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [Presumed consent preserves freedom of choice, but it is different from explicit consent because it shifts the default rule. Under this policy, all citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/presumed-consent-preserves-freedom-of-choice-but-it-is-different-from/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [A well-functioning democracy has a culture of free speech, not simply legal protection of free speech. It encourages independence of mind. It imparts a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/a-well-functioning-democracy-has-a-culture-of-free-speech-not-simply/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [I'm also a big Bob Dylan fan. The songs on The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - which is one of his best early albums -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-m-also-a-big-bob-dylan-fan-the-songs-on-the-freewheelin-bob-dylan/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [So, you could often say things are terrible and that accounts for what happened, or things are really bright, and that accounts for what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/so-you-could-often-say-things-are-terrible-and-that-accounts-for-what/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [Wikipedia works because those who know the truth are usually more numerous and committed than those who believe in a falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/wikipedia-works-because-those-who-know-the-truth-are-usually-more/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [For the Sanders supporters, there's a thought that the people who are well off are doing really great, and the system is systematically unfair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/for-the-sanders-supporters-there-s-a-thought-that-the-people-who-are/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [Whatever your gender, you can be a Star Wars fan. Of course I knew it from life before, but the core of enthusiastic female…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/whatever-your-gender-you-can-be-a-star-wars-fan-of-course-i-knew-it/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) [Explore all 93 Cass Sunstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) ## More Argument quotes > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [One argument goes that recessions are good for female artists because when money flies out the window, women are allowed in the house. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/one-argument-goes-that-recessions-are-good-for-female-artists-because/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [If in the middle of an argument I suddenly fall silent it does not mean you have won... No it means you should probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/if-in-the-middle-of-an-argument-i-suddenly-fall-silent-it-does-not/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [“The motive behind my arguments have always been to come at truth. I am not interested in conquering anyone with my ideologies or seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-evans/the-motive-behind-my-arguments-have-always-been-to-come-at-truth-i-am/) [Crystal Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-evans/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) [Browse all 3,479 Argument quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Liberals are sometimes defined as people who can't take their own side in an argument.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cass Sunstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/liberals-are-sometimes-defined-as-people-who-can-t-take-their-own/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Argument" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/liberals-are-sometimes-defined-as-people-who-can-t-take-their-own/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/cass-sunstein-7201_argument_liberals-are-sometimes-defined-as-people_2348505.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/cass-sunstein-7201_argument_liberals-are-sometimes-defined-as-people_2348505.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/cass-sunstein-7201_argument_liberals-are-sometimes-defined-as-people_2348505.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Liberals are sometimes defined as people who can't take their own side in an argument.” — Cass Sunstein", "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": "Cass Sunstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Liberals are sometimes defined as people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/liberals-are-sometimes-defined-as-people-who-can-t-take-their-own/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/liberals-are-sometimes-defined-as-people-who-can-t-take-their-own/#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 } } ] } ```