--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The last time that I consciously wrote…" description: "\"“The last time that I consciously wrote anything to 'save the honor of the Left', as I rather pompously put it, was my little book on the crookedness a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/christopher-hitchens-117_alger-hiss_the-last-time-that-i-consciously-wrote-a_2363151.jpg" --- # The last time that I consciously wrote anything to 'save… ![“The last time that I consciously wrote anything to 'save the honor of the Left', as I rather pompously put it, was my little book on the crookedness and cowardice and corruption (to put it no higher) of Clinton. I used leftist categories to measure him, in other words, and to show how idiotic was…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/christopher-hitchens-117_alger-hiss_the-last-time-that-i-consciously-wrote-a_2363151.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/christopher-hitchens-117_alger-hiss_the-last-time-that-i-consciously-wrote-a_2363151.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/christopher-hitchens-117_alger-hiss_the-last-time-that-i-consciously-wrote-a_2363151.jpg) > ““The last time that I consciously wrote anything to 'save the honor of the Left', as I rather pompously put it, was my little book on the crookedness and cowardice and corruption (to put it no higher) of Clinton. I used leftist categories to measure him, in other words, and to show how idiotic was the belief that he was a liberal's champion. Again, more leftists than you might think were on my side or in my corner, and the book was published by Verso, which is the publishing arm of the New Left Review . However, if a near-majority of leftists and liberals choose to think that Clinton was the target of a witch-hunt and the victim of 'sexual McCarthyism', an Arkansan Alger Hiss in other words, you become weary of debating on their terms and leave them to make the best of it.”” [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. Hitchens criticizes the left’s tendency to defend Clinton uncritically, using leftist language to expose his flaws and expressing frustration with the prevailing narrative. **In simple terms:** He argues the left often protects Clinton despite his wrongdoing. Key Takeaway Questionify your political loyalties. Themes politics media ideology critique hypocrisy Mood skeptical critical irritated Type political analytical When to use this quote - political debate - media analysis - academic discussion - public discourse Key Concepts leftist rhetoric political bias defensiveness Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance ideology with accountability? - When should you challenge your own group’s narratives? A Different Perspective The left’s defense may ignore evidence and hinder honest critique. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alger-hiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alger-hiss-5962/) [Arkansas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arkansas/) [Bill clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bill-clinton/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) [Idiocy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiocy/) [Impeachment-of-bill-clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impeachment-of-bill-clinton-89550/) [Last time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-time/) [Left Review](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-review-5793257/) [Leftism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leftism/) [Leftist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leftist/) [Leftists Liberals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leftists-liberals-1716879/) [Leftists Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leftists-think-3079720/) [Lewinsky-scandal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lewinsky-scandal-106406/) [Liberalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalism/) [Mccarthyism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mccarthyism/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Used Leftist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used-leftist-5793258/) [Witch hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch-hunt/) ## Related quotes > [“This brings us to the crux moment in the supposed 'Show Trial' melodrama. Employing the confusing and confused testimony of Jude Wanniski (who he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/this-brings-us-to-the-crux-moment-in-the-supposed-show-trial/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“On page 603 it is stated that at first Blumenthal could not remember the lunch with me and my wife at which he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/on-page-603-it-is-stated-that-at-first-blumenthal-could-not-remember/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Throughout the most trying phase of the Case, Nixon and his family, and sometimes his parents, were at our farm, encouraging me and comforting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whittaker-chambers/throughout-the-most-trying-phase-of-the-case-nixon-and-his-family-and/) [Whittaker Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whittaker-chambers/) > [A lot of leftists think it is soccer's fault that people don't think, while most rightists are convinced that soccer is a proof that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/a-lot-of-leftists-think-it-is-soccer-s-fault-that-people-don-t-think/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [The spectrum on the list is very broad. It includes leftists who think that whiny liberals should be stuffed in a sack and drowned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/the-spectrum-on-the-list-is-very-broad-it-includes-leftists-who-think/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [I think that most of the young officers I know are leftists and liberals and Democrats. And the reason is this: All of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/i-think-that-most-of-the-young-officers-i-know-are-leftists-and/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [What the left have done is screw up everybody's human nature where the opposite sex is concerned. Now nobody knows who they're supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-the-left-have-done-is-screw-up-everybody-s-human-nature-where/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I analyze people's ideology, and I know leftists and liberals like the back of my hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-analyze-people-s-ideology-and-i-know-leftists-and-liberals-like-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## 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 Alger-hiss quotes > [“Throughout the most trying phase of the Case, Nixon and his family, and sometimes his parents, were at our farm, encouraging me and comforting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whittaker-chambers/throughout-the-most-trying-phase-of-the-case-nixon-and-his-family-and/) [Whittaker Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whittaker-chambers/) [Browse all 2 Alger-hiss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alger-hiss-5962/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The last time that I consciously wrote anything to 'save the honor of the Left', as I rather pompously put it, was my little book on the crookedness and cowardice and corruption (to put it no higher) of Clinton. 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