--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A faction willing to take the risks of…" description: "\"A faction willing to take the risks of making war on the ossified status quo in the Middle East can be described as many things, but not as conservativ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/christopher-hitchens-117_conservative_a-faction-willing-to-take-the-risks-of-m_1485640.jpg" --- # A faction willing to take the risks of making war on the… ![“A faction willing to take the risks of making war on the ossified status quo in the Middle East can be described as many things, but not as conservative.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/christopher-hitchens-117_conservative_a-faction-willing-to-take-the-risks-of-m_1485640.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/christopher-hitchens-117_conservative_a-faction-willing-to-take-the-risks-of-m_1485640.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/christopher-hitchens-117_conservative_a-faction-willing-to-take-the-risks-of-m_1485640.jpg) > “A faction willing to take the risks of making war on the ossified status quo in the Middle East can be described as many things, but not as conservative.” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Challenging entrenched power structures requires bold, unconventional actions, not traditional conservatism. **In simple terms:** Changing the status quo needs risk‑taking, not conservatism. Key Takeaway Embrace bold change. Themes politics reform risk conservatism Middle East Mood critical urgent provocative Type analytical political When to use this quote - activism - policy reform - military strategy - grassroots movements Key Concepts power dynamics ideological conflict strategic risk Questions to Reflect On - What risks are justified to disrupt entrenched systems? - How can bold actions stay ethical? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to unintended instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/east/) [Faction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faction/) [Faction Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faction-willing-5424838/) [Factions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/factions/) [Making War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-war-288003/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle east](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-east/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risks/) [Status quo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/status-quo/) [Things Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-conservative-1769748/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Willing Risks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing-risks-275289/) ## Related quotes > [It is amazing how pretending to be in a different faction changes everything -- even the way I walk. That must be why it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/it-is-amazing-how-pretending-to-be-in-a-different-faction-changes/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [So long as Trump says the right things at the right time to the right crowds, he'll never be held accountable for his doublespeak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-pavlich/so-long-as-trump-says-the-right-things-at-the-right-time-to-the-right/) [Katie Pavlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-pavlich/) > [Faction is to party what the superlative is to the positive. Party is a political evil, and faction is the worst of all parties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/faction-is-to-party-what-the-superlative-is-to-the-positive-party-is/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Every faction conditions its members to think and act a certain way. And most people do it. For most people, it's not hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/every-faction-conditions-its-members-to-think-and-act-a-certain-way/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-latent-causes-of-faction-are-thus-sown-in-the-nature-of-man-and/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [It may be concluded that a pure democracy . . . can admit no cure for the mischiefs of faction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-may-be-concluded-that-a-pure-democracy-can-admit-no-cure-for-the/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Faction is that hybrid of documented fact and novelistic elaboration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/faction-is-that-hybrid-of-documented-fact-and-novelistic-elaboration/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [I call myself a radical conservative. What's that? Well, let's analyze it. Go to the dictionary. Radical: One who gets to the roots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-call-myself-a-radical-conservative-what-s-that-well-let-s-analyze/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [There will always be, within a party, people who backed one candidate versus people who backed another, and there will be factions in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/there-will-always-be-within-a-party-people-who-backed-one-candidate/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Liberty is to faction what air is to fire...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/liberty-is-to-faction-what-air-is-to-fire/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [My mother told me once that we can't survive alone, but even if we could, we wouldn't want to. Without a faction we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-mother-told-me-once-that-we-can-t-survive-alone-but-even-if-we/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I think America right now is looking for somebody who appeals to every faction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-eckhart/i-think-america-right-now-is-looking-for-somebody-who-appeals-to/) [Aaron Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-eckhart/) > [To live factionless Is not just to live in poverty and discomfort; it is to live divorced from society, separated from the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/to-live-factionless-is-not-just-to-live-in-poverty-and-discomfort-it/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [If that's your definition of the Clinton faction, then I think that that seems to be in ascendancy. That might include a guy like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podesta/if-that-s-your-definition-of-the-clinton-faction-then-i-think-that/) [John Podesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podesta/) > [Faction before blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/faction-before-blood/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“In the very recent past, we have seen the Church of Rome befouled by its complicity with the unpardonable sin of child rape, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-the-very-recent-past-we-have-seen-the-church-of-rome-befouled-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's surprising to me how many of my friends send Christmas cards, or holiday cards, including my atheist and secular friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-surprising-to-me-how-many-of-my-friends-send-christmas-cards-or/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Suppose there were groups of secularists at hospitals who went round the terminally ill and urged them to adopt atheism: 'Don't be a mug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/suppose-there-were-groups-of-secularists-at-hospitals-who-went-round/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It isn’t so long since a test of Anglican orthodoxy was applied to anyone seeking to study or teach at Oxford and Cambridge universities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-isn-t-so-long-since-a-test-of-anglican-orthodoxy-was-applied-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-much-worse-to-see-a-woman-drunk-than-a-man-i-don-t-know-quite/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's true that obscenity is a matter of taste and in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-true-that-obscenity-is-a-matter-of-taste-and-in-the-eye-of-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I worked out early on to give up things I couldn't do well at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-worked-out-early-on-to-give-up-things-i-couldn-t-do-well-at-all/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is what's important to me, and anything that helps me do that - or enhances and prolongs and deepens and sometimes intensifies argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/writing-is-what-s-important-to-me-and-anything-that-helps-me-do-that/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Explore all 1,241 Christopher Hitchens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More Conservative quotes > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [Progressive Conservative candidates from Quebec want to exert real power in Ottawa, not simply be content with playing a secondary role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-campbell/progressive-conservative-candidates-from-quebec-want-to-exert-real/) [Kim Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-campbell/) > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I am a conservative type of person, so sometimes when I'm chilling with myself, people always come ask me, 'What's wrong with you? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-wonder/i-am-a-conservative-type-of-person-so-sometimes-when-i-m-chilling/) [Wayne Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-wonder/) > [In the Tea Party era, it is the restless conservative Republican who has become passion's plaything, the toy of impetuous romance, an erotomania only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/in-the-tea-party-era-it-is-the-restless-conservative-republican-who/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [I'm a principle liberty, rule-of-law Conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/i-m-a-principle-liberty-rule-of-law-conservative/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [I would say I'm a fiscal conservative and a social liberal, if that contradiction can make sense, because in Bolivia, we have a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/i-would-say-i-m-a-fiscal-conservative-and-a-social-liberal-if-that/) [Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/) > [My dad's quite a conservative person, and he brought me up to be very questioning of the commercial world. 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It is just that the conservative people by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/there-are-a-lot-of-conservative-people-a-lot-of-moderate-people/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [“Those who consider themselves ‘Conservative’ frequently identify with family values, so they should consider carefully the fact that in 1960, only 18% of women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/those-who-consider-themselves-conservative-frequently-identify-with/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) > [A faithfully kept program of savings and conservative investments can give you more money and a better life than that of your neighbors who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bryant-quinn/a-faithfully-kept-program-of-savings-and-conservative-investments-can/) [Jane Bryant Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bryant-quinn/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [Conservative feminism is such an artificial term that doesn't mean much to me. For me conservatism means accepting reality. I acknowledge that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-schroder/conservative-feminism-is-such-an-artificial-term-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Kristina Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-schroder/) [Browse all 2,995 Conservative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A faction willing to take the risks of making war on the ossified status quo in the Middle East can be described as many things, but not as conservative.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Hitchens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/a-faction-willing-to-take-the-risks-of-making-war-on-the-ossified/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conservative" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/a-faction-willing-to-take-the-risks-of-making-war-on-the-ossified/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/christopher-hitchens-117_conservative_a-faction-willing-to-take-the-risks-of-m_1485640.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/christopher-hitchens-117_conservative_a-faction-willing-to-take-the-risks-of-m_1485640.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/christopher-hitchens-117_conservative_a-faction-willing-to-take-the-risks-of-m_1485640.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A faction willing to take the risks of making war on the ossified status quo in the Middle East can be…” — Christopher Hitchens", "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": "Christopher Hitchens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A faction willing to take the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/a-faction-willing-to-take-the-risks-of-making-war-on-the-ossified/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/a-faction-willing-to-take-the-risks-of-making-war-on-the-ossified/#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 } } ] } ```