--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Liberals and conservatives disagree over…" description: "\"Liberals and conservatives disagree over what are the most important sins. For conservatives, the sins that matter are personal irresponsibility, the f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/e-j-dionne-18102_disagree_liberals-and-conservatives-disagree-over_2066387.jpg" --- # Liberals and conservatives disagree over what are the most… ![“Liberals and conservatives disagree over what are the most important sins. For conservatives, the sins that matter are personal irresponsibility, the flight from family life, sexual permissiveness, the failure of individuals to work hard. For liberals, the gravest sins are intolerance, a lack of…” quote by E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/e-j-dionne-18102_disagree_liberals-and-conservatives-disagree-over_2066387.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/e-j-dionne-18102_disagree_liberals-and-conservatives-disagree-over_2066387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/e-j-dionne-18102_disagree_liberals-and-conservatives-disagree-over_2066387.jpg) > “Liberals and conservatives disagree over what are the most important sins. For conservatives, the sins that matter are personal irresponsibility, the flight from family life, sexual permissiveness, the failure of individuals to work hard. For liberals, the gravest sins are intolerance, a lack of generosity toward the needy, narrow-mindedness toward social and racial minorities.” [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. Liberals and conservatives prioritize different moral failures, reflecting deeper ideological values about personal and social duties. **In simple terms:** Different sins, same goal of moral order. Key Takeaway Recognize opposing moral frameworks. Themes politics morality ideology social values Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - policy debate - community dialogue - media analysis - educational curricula Key Concepts political science ethics cultural studies Questions to Reflect On - Which moral issues bridge the partisan divide? - How can dialogue address both personal and collective responsibilities? A Different Perspective Focusing on sins can polarize; common ground may be missed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservatives Disagree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatives-disagree-3967801/) [Conservatives Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatives-sins-3967800/) [Disagree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disagree/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Family life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-life/) [Flight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flight/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-sins-3967802/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance/) [Irresponsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irresponsibility/) [Liberals Conservatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberals-conservatives-536379/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Minorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minorities/) [Narrow mindedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrow-mindedness/) [Needy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needy/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sins Conservatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins-conservatives-3967799/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [Liberals believe government should take people's earnings to give to poor people. Conservatives disagree. They think government should confiscate people's earnings and give them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/liberals-believe-government-should-take-people-s-earnings-to-give-to/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [This always confuses liberals, that conservatives like the military and don't like the bureaucracy. That's because the military has their guns pointed out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/this-always-confuses-liberals-that-conservatives-like-the-military/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [Most Americans will let liberals and conservatives play their games because most Americans don't pay attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/most-americans-will-let-liberals-and-conservatives-play-their-games/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [Liberals, conservatives, Muslims, Jews, Christians, and I find - I think education is something that can bring us together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/liberals-conservatives-muslims-jews-christians-and-i-find-i-think/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [Liberals and conservatives are opponents in the most literal sense, each using the myth of pure evil to demonize the other side and unite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/liberals-and-conservatives-are-opponents-in-the-most-literal-sense/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [The main difference between liberals and conservatives is that conservatives are honest about it. We're kind of dorks about it. We are kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/the-main-difference-between-liberals-and-conservatives-is-that/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [The difference between the Liberals and the Conservatives is that the Conservatives are being honest that what they're planning to do is not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/the-difference-between-the-liberals-and-the-conservatives-is-that-the/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [I'm going to guess Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, all want clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. I'm sure most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-m-going-to-guess-republicans-and-democrats-liberals-and/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Not a lot of conservatives on this list. Are more liberals than conservatives screwing up America?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lauer/not-a-lot-of-conservatives-on-this-list-are-more-liberals-than/) [Matt Lauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lauer/) > [“The left loses most policy debates, leading them to engage in the politics of personal destruction. Many liberals do not see conservatives as human,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-golub/the-left-loses-most-policy-debates-leading-them-to-engage-in-the/) [Eric Golub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-golub/) > [One of the most distinguishing differences between liberals and conservatives in America is that the average Liberal feels that we should have little reservation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/one-of-the-most-distinguishing-differences-between-liberals-and/) [Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/) > [“That stuff Jesus warned us to beware of, the yeast of the Pharisees, is so infectious today in the camps of both liberals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/that-stuff-jesus-warned-us-to-beware-of-the-yeast-of-the-pharisees-is/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [I write about power, that's my real subject - how you get it, what you do with it, how you abuse it. I'm equally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-balcer/i-write-about-power-that-s-my-real-subject-how-you-get-it-what-you-do/) [Rene Balcer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-balcer/) > [“Like most so-called debates between liberals and conservatives, they weren’t interested in listening or responding to each other. They were solely concerned with making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-frey/like-most-so-called-debates-between-liberals-and-conservatives-they/) [Bob Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-frey/) > [Liberals. Conservatives. Let us call a truce for the next 27 hours. Happy Labor Day everyone!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/liberals-conservatives-let-us-call-a-truce-for-the-next-27-hours/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by E. J. Dionne > [Forgive me for noting that conservatives seem to believe that the rich will work harder if we give them more, and the poor will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/forgive-me-for-noting-that-conservatives-seem-to-believe-that-the/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) [Explore all 35 E. J. Dionne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) ## More Disagree quotes > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. 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I understood it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/but-most-important-of-all-she-explained-that-it-was-all-right-to-say/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [Cannes is a sort of gladiators' arena, and that's the fun part of it. When you accept to come here to open the festival,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-dahan/cannes-is-a-sort-of-gladiators-arena-and-that-s-the-fun-part-of-it/) [Olivier Dahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-dahan/) > [I think that, honestly, people's censorship issues are personal but I disagree with most of those personal choices that I see others make. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/i-think-that-honestly-people-s-censorship-issues-are-personal-but-i/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) [Browse all 1,116 Disagree quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disagree/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Liberals and conservatives disagree over what are the most important sins. For conservatives, the sins that matter are personal irresponsibility, the flight from family life, sexual permissiveness, the failure of individuals to work hard. For liberals, the gravest sins are intolerance, a lack of generosity toward the needy, narrow-mindedness toward social and racial minorities.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E. J. 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