---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dominant narrative is so overwhelming in…"
description: "\"Dominant narrative is so overwhelming in politics. The smallest gaffe when the momentum is against you is a disaster. But when it is with you, everyone..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/ed-miliband-13504_disaster_dominant-narrative-is-so-overwhelming-in_1773820.jpg"
---

#  Dominant narrative is so overwhelming in politics. The…

![“Dominant narrative is so overwhelming in politics. The smallest gaffe when the momentum is against you is a disaster. But when it is with you, everyone just ignores it.” quote by Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/ed-miliband-13504_disaster_dominant-narrative-is-so-overwhelming-in_1773820.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/ed-miliband-13504_disaster_dominant-narrative-is-so-overwhelming-in_1773820.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/ed-miliband-13504_disaster_dominant-narrative-is-so-overwhelming-in_1773820.jpg)

> “Dominant narrative is so overwhelming in politics. The smallest gaffe when the momentum is against you is a disaster. But when it is with you, everyone just ignores it.”

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Powerful narratives shape public perception; mistakes are magnified when opposing the prevailing story, but ignored when aligned.

**In simple terms:** Narratives dominate politics; errors matter only if they clash with the story.

Key Takeaway

Align your message with the dominant narrative to minimize fallout.

Themes

politics communication perception

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

strategic critical

When to use this quote

- campaign strategy
- public speaking
- crisis management
- media relations

Key Concepts

narrative bias media framing

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you test a narrative before fully adopting it?
- What safeguards prevent complacency when everyone agrees?

A Different Perspective

Even with a supportive narrative, errors can still erode trust over time.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Dominant Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominant-narrative-1803401/) [Gaffe Momentum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaffe-momentum-1803402/) [Momentum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/momentum/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Narrative Overwhelming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative-overwhelming-1803403/) [Overwhelming Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelming-politics-1803400/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Politics Smallest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-smallest-1803404/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/)

## Related quotes

> [I think all writing is an attempt to complicate and subvert the dominant narrative. Writing personalizes statistics. It puts a face and a name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-laird/i-think-all-writing-is-an-attempt-to-complicate-and-subvert-the/)

[Nick Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-laird/)

> [There was an event called the World Transformed, which was set up by Momentum, and people from across the political spectrum have had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/there-was-an-event-called-the-world-transformed-which-was-set-up-by/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [As ISIS begins to gain momentum beyond where they already are, it really does create - but you see the surge of refugees and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/as-isis-begins-to-gain-momentum-beyond-where-they-already-are-it/)

[William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/)

> [I always think the really unfortunate thing about the Australian film industry is its lack of momentum. And I don't mean this in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-pearce/i-always-think-the-really-unfortunate-thing-about-the-australian-film/)

[Guy Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-pearce/)

> [The supply chain industry in our Commonwealth continues to gain momentum, in large part due to The Port of Virginia's unparalleled infrastructure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-northam/the-supply-chain-industry-in-our-commonwealth-continues-to-gain/)

[Ralph Northam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-northam/)

> [I think the government lost control over fiscal policy in UPA-2. But it is possible to suggest that the momentum of the populism of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjaya-baru/i-think-the-government-lost-control-over-fiscal-policy-in-upa-2-but/)

[Sanjaya Baru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjaya-baru/)

> [The momentum of production keeps you from giving up, so it's really the editing and writing phases where things can look bleakest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rian-johnson/the-momentum-of-production-keeps-you-from-giving-up-so-it-s-really/)

[Rian Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rian-johnson/)

> [I think momentum is huge in sport, especially in a series like the Ashes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stokes/i-think-momentum-is-huge-in-sport-especially-in-a-series-like-the/)

[Ben Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stokes/)

> [There's always a momentum in how users do stuff. Making small changes can have huge knock-on effects for whole companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-stamos/there-s-always-a-momentum-in-how-users-do-stuff-making-small-changes/)

[Alex Stamos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-stamos/)

> [You try to take advantage of taking control of the game when you know you may have guys on base and counts aren't in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cain/you-try-to-take-advantage-of-taking-control-of-the-game-when-you-know/)

[Matt Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cain/)

> [I hope that basketball gains momentum and kids understand that you can actually make a living from it. Not just the N.B.A. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-hope-that-basketball-gains-momentum-and-kids-understand-that-you/)

[Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/)

> [“When you’re stuck your momentum stops, but if you use the goal as your guide you’re more likely to keep moving forwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hunt-davis/when-you-re-stuck-your-momentum-stops-but-if-you-use-the-goal-as-your/)

[Ben Hunt-Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hunt-davis/)

> [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/)

[John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/)

> [But when you have to deal with notes, and to be able to make a full definition of what a sound is - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-brown/but-when-you-have-to-deal-with-notes-and-to-be-able-to-make-a-full/)

[Dennis Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-brown/)

> [With the Capital One Bowl, the average fan might think whoopty do. But if you are a team member, you win that game and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/with-the-capital-one-bowl-the-average-fan-might-think-whoopty-do-but/)

[Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/)

## More by Ed Miliband

> [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [It's really important to say this. Often the faith schools were founded before the state provided education. I want good education in this country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/it-s-really-important-to-say-this-often-the-faith-schools-were/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [No one is going to persuade me that eight people arriving in South Shields is going to overwhelm the local system. I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/no-one-is-going-to-persuade-me-that-eight-people-arriving-in-south/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [The transition to a low-carbon economy will be one of the defining issues of the 21st century. This plan sets out a route-map for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/the-transition-to-a-low-carbon-economy-will-be-one-of-the-defining/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [Think of how we challenged the impression that we taxed for its own sake and that we were hostile to business. We were right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/think-of-how-we-challenged-the-impression-that-we-taxed-for-its-own/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [The most important lesson of New Labour is this: Every time we made progress we did it by challenging the conventional wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/the-most-important-lesson-of-new-labour-is-this-every-time-we-made/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [Over the next few days we want cities, towns and villages across the UK to send a message to Scotland: stay with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/over-the-next-few-days-we-want-cities-towns-and-villages-across-the/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [We do not have to accept the world as we find it. And we have a responsibility to leave our world a better place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/we-do-not-have-to-accept-the-world-as-we-find-it-and-we-have-a/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [One of the drivers of displacement and potential conflict over the next 10 to 20 years will be climate (change) - resource scarcity, climate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/one-of-the-drivers-of-displacement-and-potential-conflict-over-the/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [Do you defend free markets, or do you reform them? It's the same issue that Labour had in the mid-Seventies, and it's the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/do-you-defend-free-markets-or-do-you-reform-them-it-s-the-same-issue/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [Well you can be the son of a Marxist and not necessarily be a Marxist in all your views.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/well-you-can-be-the-son-of-a-marxist-and-not-necessarily-be-a-marxist/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [Let's start to have a grown up debate in this country about who we are and where we want to go and what kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/let-s-start-to-have-a-grown-up-debate-in-this-country-about-who-we/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [I've supported Jeremy Corbyn all the way along because I think that was the right thing to do. I've reluctantly reached the conclusion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/i-ve-supported-jeremy-corbyn-all-the-way-along-because-i-think-that/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [I come from a generation that suffered school lessons in portacabins and crumbling hospitals. I tell you one thing, for the eighteen years they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/i-come-from-a-generation-that-suffered-school-lessons-in-portacabins/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [One nation banking recognises that banks must not be isolated from the rest of the economy. Because banks and small businesses must succeed or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/one-nation-banking-recognises-that-banks-must-not-be-isolated-from/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

[Explore all 50 Ed Miliband quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

## More Disaster quotes

> [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/)

[Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/)

> [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/)

[Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/)

> [One of the undervalued contributors to Trump's stunning 2016 victory was the masterful performance Pence had in his debate against Hillary Clinton running mate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/one-of-the-undervalued-contributors-to-trump-s-stunning-2016-victory/)

[Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/)

> [You know, we can't beat ISIS. We can't do anything. We can't take care of our vets. We can't have good health care. "Obama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-know-we-can-t-beat-isis-we-can-t-do-anything-we-can-t-take-care/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [My mind shrank from the menace sweeping down on us, as children's do from belief in death and misfortune, vainly clinging to the fancy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-pankhurst/my-mind-shrank-from-the-menace-sweeping-down-on-us-as-children-s-do/)

[Sylvia Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-pankhurst/)

> [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [You can't have people making decisions about the future of the world who are scientifically illiterate. That's a recipe for disaster. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/you-can-t-have-people-making-decisions-about-the-future-of-the-world/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [“She was—of course—perfectly normal— quiet and polite and reasonably intelligent and...normal and self destructive and lonely and terrified of every thing And she loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tah-the-trickster/she-was-of-course-perfectly-normal-quiet-and-polite-and-reasonably/)

[Tah the Trickster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tah-the-trickster/)

> [Obviously, it's my goal to be the top scorer in the Bundesliga, but it wouldn't be a disaster if I didn't achieve that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gomez/obviously-it-s-my-goal-to-be-the-top-scorer-in-the-bundesliga-but-it/)

[Mario Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gomez/)

> [Yes, life in Chechnya so far looks more like a life after a natural disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/yes-life-in-chechnya-so-far-looks-more-like-a-life-after-a-natural/)

[Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/)

> [Even disasters -- there are always disasters when you travel -- can be turned into adventures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/even-disasters-there-are-always-disasters-when-you-travel-can-be/)

[Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/)

> [We are always just one successful terrorist attack away from a nuclear disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/we-are-always-just-one-successful-terrorist-attack-away-from-a/)

[Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/)

> [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [Architects mostly work for privileged people, people who have money and power, Power and money are invisible, so people hire us to visualize their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigeru-ban/architects-mostly-work-for-privileged-people-people-who-have-money/)

[Shigeru Ban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shigeru-ban/)

> [The only aspect of our travels that is interesting to others is disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellmanmartha-gellman/the-only-aspect-of-our-travels-that-is-interesting-to-others-is/)

[Martha GellmanMartha Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellmanmartha-gellman/)

[Browse all 2,239 Disaster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Dominant narrative is so overwhelming in politics. The smallest gaffe when the momentum is against you is a disaster. But when it is with you, everyone just ignores it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ed Miliband"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/dominant-narrative-is-so-overwhelming-in-politics-the-smallest-gaffe/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Disaster"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/dominant-narrative-is-so-overwhelming-in-politics-the-smallest-gaffe/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/ed-miliband-13504_disaster_dominant-narrative-is-so-overwhelming-in_1773820.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/ed-miliband-13504_disaster_dominant-narrative-is-so-overwhelming-in_1773820.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/ed-miliband-13504_disaster_dominant-narrative-is-so-overwhelming-in_1773820.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Dominant narrative is so overwhelming in politics. The smallest gaffe when the momentum is against you is a…” — Ed Miliband",
                "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": "Ed Miliband",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Dominant narrative is so overwhelming in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/dominant-narrative-is-so-overwhelming-in-politics-the-smallest-gaffe/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/dominant-narrative-is-so-overwhelming-in-politics-the-smallest-gaffe/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
