--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Forgive me for noting that conservatives…" description: "\"Forgive me for noting that conservatives seem to believe that the rich will work harder if we give them more, and the poor will work harder if we give ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd2/e-j-dionne-18102_believe_forgive-me-for-noting-that-conservatives_4154.png" --- # Forgive me for noting that conservatives seem to believe… ![“Forgive me for noting that conservatives seem to believe that the rich will work harder if we give them more, and the poor will work harder if we give them less.” quote by E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd2/e-j-dionne-18102_believe_forgive-me-for-noting-that-conservatives_4154.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd2/e-j-dionne-18102_believe_forgive-me-for-noting-that-conservatives_4154.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd2/e-j-dionne-18102_believe_forgive-me-for-noting-that-conservatives_4154.png) > “Forgive me for noting that conservatives seem to believe that the rich will work harder if we give them more, and the poor will work harder if we give them less.” [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement critiques a belief that financial incentives alone drive work ethic, suggesting that wealthier individuals are presumed to increase effort when rewarded, while poorer people are expected to work harder under scarcity. **In simple terms:** Critiques incentive‑only view of labor Key Takeaway Motivation is not purely economic Themes Economic ideology Class perception Motivation theory Policy bias Social equity Mood Skeptical Analytical Type Political quote Social commentary When to use this quote - Designing tax policy - Debating welfare reforms - Analyzing labor market trends - Crafting political speeches Key Concepts Incentive structures Work ethic Wealth disparity Political rhetoric Practical Applications - Policy analysis - Public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How do non‑monetary factors influence effort? - What evidence contradicts the incentive‑only model? A Different Perspective Some argue that higher taxes on the wealthy can fund social programs without reducing their productivity, challenging the notion that wealth always boosts work output. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Conservatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatives/) [Conservatives Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatives-believe-287594/) [Forgive me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-me/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Harder Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder-poor-287593/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Noting Conservatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noting-conservatives-287595/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Work harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-harder/) ## Related quotes > [Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us. Society is stronger when we make vows to each other and we support each other. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/conservatives-believe-in-the-ties-that-bind-us-society-is-stronger/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [No one is guaranteed happiness. You can pursue it, but if you happen to find success along the way on that road to happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/no-one-is-guaranteed-happiness-you-can-pursue-it-but-if-you-happen-to/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [Conservatives believe in providing Constitutional rights to our citizens, not to enemy combatants like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/conservatives-believe-in-providing-constitutional-rights-to-our/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Only conservatives believe that subversion is still being carried on in the arts and that society is being shaken by it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-rosenberg/only-conservatives-believe-that-subversion-is-still-being-carried-on/) [Harold Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-rosenberg/) > [Whereas all liberals are thought to erupt self-righteously whenever they feel like it, conservatives believe that they themselves are never permitted to say what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/whereas-all-liberals-are-thought-to-erupt-self-righteously-whenever/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [We Conservatives believe not in big, interventionist, centralized government. But in small and limited government, government as close to the people as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxime-bernier/we-conservatives-believe-not-in-big-interventionist-centralized/) [Maxime Bernier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxime-bernier/) > [Consistent conservatives believe people should keep more of the money they work so hard to earn - not because the vulnerable don't deserve assistance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-grenell/consistent-conservatives-believe-people-should-keep-more-of-the-money/) [Richard Grenell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-grenell/) > [Conservatives believe in smaller government and in the power of the electorate. So I think that we're less likely to try to use a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/conservatives-believe-in-smaller-government-and-in-the-power-of-the/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [Conservatives believe that a self-governing society depends on individuals taking responsibility for their actions, and those of their family and community. They deride others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/conservatives-believe-that-a-self-governing-society-depends-on/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [Conservatives believe the economy functions better if the rich have more money and everyone else has less. But they're wrong. It's just the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/conservatives-believe-the-economy-functions-better-if-the-rich-have/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Conservatives believe in equality of opportunity. Liberals believe in equality of outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rosen/conservatives-believe-in-equality-of-opportunity-liberals-believe-in/) [Mike Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rosen/) > [It is harder for a poor man to be successful than it is for a rich man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-nunn/it-is-harder-for-a-poor-man-to-be-successful-than-it-is-for-a-rich-man/) [Gregory Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-nunn/) > [It's harder to be a poor person than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-calvin/it-s-harder-to-be-a-poor-person-than-anything-else/) [Kathy Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-calvin/) > [It is harder to be poor without complaining than to be rich without boasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinese-proverbs/it-is-harder-to-be-poor-without-complaining-than-to-be-rich-without/) [Chinese Proverbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinese-proverbs/) > [In a way, no one's harder on the poor than the poor themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-desmond/in-a-way-no-one-s-harder-on-the-poor-than-the-poor-themselves/) [Matthew Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-desmond/) ## More by E. J. Dionne > [We have pursued public policies that kind of hold the recovery back, but the private economy is really starting to roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/we-have-pursued-public-policies-that-kind-of-hold-the-recovery-back/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [What's really striking here is that a candidate who ran as the Paladin of the working class who'd deliver them picks a guy who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/what-s-really-striking-here-is-that-a-candidate-who-ran-as-the/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [The New York Times had a headline on its website - Trump Turning To Ultra Wealthy To Steer Economic Policy. This doesn't sound very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/the-new-york-times-had-a-headline-on-its-website-trump-turning-to/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [The money matters. And secret money is corrupting, secret money is dangerous, secret money leads to scandal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/the-money-matters-and-secret-money-is-corrupting-secret-money-is/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [ I think this is a scary thing \[hacking\] that does have to be taken out of a partisan context. And one of the best… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/i-think-this-is-a-scary-thing-hacking-that-does-have-to-be-taken-out/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [Here you had John McCain and Lindsey Graham in a very principled way standing up and defending Barack Obama. You had people like Gene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/here-you-had-john-mccain-and-lindsey-graham-in-a-very-principled-way/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [ \[ Donald Trump is\] candidate who said he has more confidence in Vladimir Putin's strength than in Barack Obama's strength. His closeness to Putin… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/donald-trump-is-candidate-who-said-he-has-more-confidence-in-vladimir/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [ When \[Republicans\] say they can reduce taxes and trim deficits at the same time, they are either deluded or deceptive, and they are playing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/when-republicans-say-they-can-reduce-taxes-and-trim-deficits-at-the/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [The madman theory can work, but it only works if it's strategic. And I think one of the problems that President Trump faces is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/the-madman-theory-can-work-but-it-only-works-if-it-s-strategic-and-i/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [ You have this all the way through this cabinet so that I think there are a lot of other things to worry about \[Donald\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/you-have-this-all-the-way-through-this-cabinet-so-that-i-think-there/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [ I wish we had more \[Dwight\] Eisenhower Republicans in this \[Donald\]Trump cabinet. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/i-wish-we-had-more-dwight-eisenhower-republicans-in-this-donald-trump/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [On the question of opposition, I think there are - when you want to send a signal if you're on the Democratic side that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/on-the-question-of-opposition-i-think-there-are-when-you-want-to-send/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [ It sure looks like \[Vladimir\] Putin did this \[hack DNS site\]. And we all need to take this seriously. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/it-sure-looks-like-vladimir-putin-did-this-hack-dns-site-and-we-all/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [ I think there are a lot of Americans who are very scared, scared that \[Vladimir\] Putin manipulated us, worried about Rex Tillerson, the winner… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/i-think-there-are-a-lot-of-americans-who-are-very-scared-scared-that/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [God forbid that Americans earning, say, more than $1 million a year be asked to pony up a little more in taxes to support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/god-forbid-that-americans-earning-say-more-than-1-million-a-year-be/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) [Explore all 35 E. J. Dionne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. 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