--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not about whether we should have a…" description: "\"It's not about whether we should have a conservative or a liberal. It's about, do we have someone that has the mental acumen to understand what the law..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50c/dave-rubin-11946_government_it-s-not-about-whether-we-should-have-a_1749913.jpg" --- # It's not about whether we should have a conservative or a… ![“It's not about whether we should have a conservative or a liberal. It's about, do we have someone that has the mental acumen to understand what the laws are, and not write laws but defend the laws. That's the whole purpose of three branches of government.” quote by Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50c/dave-rubin-11946_government_it-s-not-about-whether-we-should-have-a_1749913.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50c/dave-rubin-11946_government_it-s-not-about-whether-we-should-have-a_1749913.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50c/dave-rubin-11946_government_it-s-not-about-whether-we-should-have-a_1749913.jpg) > “It's not about whether we should have a conservative or a liberal. It's about, do we have someone that has the mental acumen to understand what the laws are, and not write laws but defend the laws. That's the whole purpose of three branches of government.” [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The purpose of government branches is to defend existing laws, not to create them; competence in legal understanding is essential. **In simple terms:** Branches defend laws, not make them. Key Takeaway Prioritize legal knowledge. Themes government law competence Mood analytical thoughtful Type political educational When to use this quote - civic education - policy making - public service Key Concepts constitutional theory political science Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance law creation and defense? - What role should expertise play in legislation? A Different Perspective Complex issues often require law‑making, not just defense. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [It is said that a neo-conservative is a liberal who has been mugged by reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stockwell-day/it-is-said-that-a-neo-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-has-been-mugged/) [Stockwell Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stockwell-day/) > [As the attorney general for Pennsylvania, my job is to enforce the laws of the commonwealth. My office does not count the votes; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/as-the-attorney-general-for-pennsylvania-my-job-is-to-enforce-the/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [As attorney general, I have a duty to defend the laws and constitution of the State of Missouri.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/as-attorney-general-i-have-a-duty-to-defend-the-laws-and-constitution/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Some things I think are very conservative, or very liberal. I think when someone falls into one category for everything, I'm very suspicious. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/some-things-i-think-are-very-conservative-or-very-liberal-i-think/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [Whatever your political affiliation may be, whether you are a conservative or liberal, we should all be bound by the belief that we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-kita/whatever-your-political-affiliation-may-be-whether-you-are-a/) [Candace Kita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-kita/) > [A conservative is a liberal who's been mugged, and a libertarian is a conservative who's been indicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-mugged-and-a-libertarian-is-a/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [Donald Trump is not ideological. Now, to me, that means more than he's not just conservative or liberal. He knows what both things are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-not-ideological-now-to-me-that-means-more-than-he-s/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [A conservative is a liberal who got mugged the night before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-rizzo/a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-got-mugged-the-night-before/) [Frank Rizzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-rizzo/) > [The shortest way to change a radical into a conservative, a liberal into a tyrant, a man into a beast, is to give him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/the-shortest-way-to-change-a-radical-into-a-conservative-a-liberal/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [I believe the regressive Left - the group of people who use illiberal tactics to silence those defending liberal principles - to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-believe-the-regressive-left-the-group-of-people-who-use-illiberal/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [Elected officials want to paint everyone with a broad brush. What they don't get is that everyone pays bills. Liberal activists pay bills. Conservative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-veasey/elected-officials-want-to-paint-everyone-with-a-broad-brush-what-they/) [Marc Veasey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-veasey/) > [Liberal talk on the radio doesn't perform well because it is not a sequestered to a niche - it's everywhere in the media universe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-loesch/liberal-talk-on-the-radio-doesn-t-perform-well-because-it-is-not-a/) [Dana Loesch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-loesch/) > [It is the liberal philosophy, not the conservative one, that views humans as selfish automatons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/it-is-the-liberal-philosophy-not-the-conservative-one-that-views/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [Trump is more conservative on individual rights, domestic issues, economic issues and defense. On the other hand, Clinton is quite liberal and wishes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabrizio-moreira/trump-is-more-conservative-on-individual-rights-domestic-issues/) [Fabrizio Moreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabrizio-moreira/) > [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/) ## More by Dave Rubin > [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That's upsetting to a lot of people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-election-of-trump-threw-the-chess-board-up-the-pieces-are-all/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [Classical liberalism is the idea that individual freedom and limited government are the best way for humans to form a free society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/classical-liberalism-is-the-idea-that-individual-freedom-and-limited/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [Sometimes inaction is worse than action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/sometimes-inaction-is-worse-than-action/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [If you took one of these One Direction kids, because they basically are kids, my guess is one of them is gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/if-you-took-one-of-these-one-direction-kids-because-they-basically/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [I'm so in favor of gay marriage that I even married a guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-m-so-in-favor-of-gay-marriage-that-i-even-married-a-guy/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [I believe the regressive Left - the group of people who use illiberal tactics to silence those defending liberal principles - to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-believe-the-regressive-left-the-group-of-people-who-use-illiberal/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [The whole point of real comedy is that you can say something that is true, and by being funny, you can make it tolerable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-whole-point-of-real-comedy-is-that-you-can-say-something-that-is/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [Those who only tolerate people they agree with or like aren't actually tolerant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/those-who-only-tolerate-people-they-agree-with-or-like-aren-t/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [I spent too many years of my life stressing over and struggling with my sexuality. But it was a valuable lesson. I realised that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-spent-too-many-years-of-my-life-stressing-over-and-struggling-with/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [I don't do anything in my life as far as I know, or at least consciously, that's based in religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-don-t-do-anything-in-my-life-as-far-as-i-know-or-at-least/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [I think virtually everyone wants to do good and be good and be decent to each other and pursue something that is valuable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-think-virtually-everyone-wants-to-do-good-and-be-good-and-be-decent/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [Obviously, I agree with Trump on many of his criticisms of the mainstream media. You can absolutely argue that their failure to report honestly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/obviously-i-agree-with-trump-on-many-of-his-criticisms-of-the/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [Whatever differences we have, tolerating others' opinions is a prerequisite to a functioning and free society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/whatever-differences-we-have-tolerating-others-opinions-is-a/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [I think the media has portrayed conservatives as these cold, heartless people who want poor people to die and let half the population starve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-think-the-media-has-portrayed-conservatives-as-these-cold-heartless/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [I remember thinking Democrats and liberals were the good guys. They cared about the little guy. They cared about poor people. They cared about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-remember-thinking-democrats-and-liberals-were-the-good-guys-they/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) [Explore all 57 Dave Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) ## 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. He looked down on pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/my-dad-s-quite-a-conservative-person-and-he-brought-me-up-to-be-very/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [To all conservative women out there: If you are so sure the embryo needed for stem cell research are precious human life that can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/to-all-conservative-women-out-there-if-you-are-so-sure-the-embryo/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [There are a lot of conservative people, a lot of moderate people, Republicans, Democrats, in Hollywood. 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": "It's not about whether we should have a conservative or a liberal. It's about, do we have someone that has the mental acumen to understand what the laws are, and not write laws but defend the laws. 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