--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought the whole idea of being a…" description: "\"I thought the whole idea of being a conservative was to keep the government from messing around in people's lives. And yet they say the government shou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/edward-zigler-27708_conservative_i-thought-the-whole-idea-of-being-a-cons_2232300.jpg" --- # I thought the whole idea of being a conservative was to… ![“I thought the whole idea of being a conservative was to keep the government from messing around in people's lives. And yet they say the government should be getting into people's families. That's messing pretty heavily where I come from.” quote by Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/edward-zigler-27708_conservative_i-thought-the-whole-idea-of-being-a-cons_2232300.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/edward-zigler-27708_conservative_i-thought-the-whole-idea-of-being-a-cons_2232300.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39a/edward-zigler-27708_conservative_i-thought-the-whole-idea-of-being-a-cons_2232300.jpg) > “I thought the whole idea of being a conservative was to keep the government from messing around in people's lives. And yet they say the government should be getting into people's families. That's messing pretty heavily where I come from.” [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Conservatives claim limited government yet support intrusive policies. **In simple terms:** Inconsistent government stance. Key Takeaway Question policy consistency. Themes politics government ideology Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - voting - public debate - policy analysis - civic engagement Key Concepts libertarianism policy paradox Questions to Reflect On - Is government involvement always negative? - How to reconcile ideology with practice? A Different Perspective Complex issues may require nuanced solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [You know, putting power in people's hands was the central idea of the conservative platform. And so, to me, the E.U. was the direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/you-know-putting-power-in-people-s-hands-was-the-central-idea-of-the/) [Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/) > [Voting Liberal is a non-thing. Historically, it might be a good idea to have a Conservative government, because change is a good thing. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/voting-liberal-is-a-non-thing-historically-it-might-be-a-good-idea-to/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [We would never prop up a Conservative government, ever. And underline that and put that in bold. But of course if Labour do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/we-would-never-prop-up-a-conservative-government-ever-and-underline/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [I think that if we get back to some basic fundamental principles, we can make sure that we resolve the issues. And I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/i-think-that-if-we-get-back-to-some-basic-fundamental-principles-we/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [A conservative government survives essentially by dampening expectations and subduing hopes. Conservatism is basically pessimistic, reformism is basically optimistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/a-conservative-government-survives-essentially-by-dampening/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [It is the mission of the next Conservative Government to build the Responsible Society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hague/it-is-the-mission-of-the-next-conservative-government-to-build-the/) [William Hague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hague/) > [A Conservative Government is an organized hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/a-conservative-government-is-an-organized-hypocrisy/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [When New Labour came to power, we got a Right-wing Conservative government. I came to realise that voting Labour wasn't in Scotland's interests any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-reid/when-new-labour-came-to-power-we-got-a-right-wing-conservative/) [Jimmy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-reid/) > [There is nothing more important for a government than getting its budget through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annastacia-palaszczuk/there-is-nothing-more-important-for-a-government-than-getting-its/) [Annastacia Palaszczuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annastacia-palaszczuk/) > [Laws could be passed to keep the leader of a government from getting too much power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/laws-could-be-passed-to-keep-the-leader-of-a-government-from-getting/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [In city government, it's about getting things done, not being judged on a scorecard of whether you said yes or no on a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-wu/in-city-government-it-s-about-getting-things-done-not-being-judged-on/) [Michelle Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-wu/) > [There are lots of levels of fear and complaint about the government getting involved in business. First and foremost, of course, is incompetence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/there-are-lots-of-levels-of-fear-and-complaint-about-the-government/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Obviously, whenever the government is getting involved with speech, it gives me a lot of pause. I have a background as a journalist, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-wu/obviously-whenever-the-government-is-getting-involved-with-speech-it/) [Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/) > [We need to keep a very keen eye on our own government. It's getting too rich and redistributing wealth is a sure way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pipes/we-need-to-keep-a-very-keen-eye-on-our-own-government-it-s-getting/) [Richard Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pipes/) > [I think the prospect of bringing back grammar schools has always been wrong and I've never supported it. And I don't think any Conservative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-think-the-prospect-of-bringing-back-grammar-schools-has-always-been/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) ## More by Edward Zigler > [ Kids do better, frankly \[when the economy is strong\]. Jobs make great years for kids. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/kids-do-better-frankly-when-the-economy-is-strong-jobs-make-great/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [I guess if you're doing God's work, whatever you do is in His name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/i-guess-if-you-re-doing-god-s-work-whatever-you-do-is-in-his-name/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [It's also the environment that determines a considerable part of the growth and development of children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/it-s-also-the-environment-that-determines-a-considerable-part-of-the/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [Most mothers and fathers will shop more for a TV set than they will for a child care center for their child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/most-mothers-and-fathers-will-shop-more-for-a-tv-set-than-they-will/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [Get kids out of poverty. Poverty is devastating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/get-kids-out-of-poverty-poverty-is-devastating/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [I know all the problems of the schools. They're rigid, they're bureaucratic, they've got a lot of problems. But it's such an important institution,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/i-know-all-the-problems-of-the-schools-they-re-rigid-they-re/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [We have to stop harming children in child care. I'm trying to make us stop. I wouldn't know what to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/we-have-to-stop-harming-children-in-child-care-i-m-trying-to-make-us/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [The problem in child care, which really all of us are going to have to think hard on, is that there is no really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/the-problem-in-child-care-which-really-all-of-us-are-going-to-have-to/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [The best indicator of quality day care is the kid wants to go there, and doesn't want to go home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/the-best-indicator-of-quality-day-care-is-the-kid-wants-to-go-there/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [I don't think anything good is happening. I think we're paying the price for it. I think while crime in general is going down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/i-don-t-think-anything-good-is-happening-i-think-we-re-paying-the/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [I'm really not a partisan political person. I remember when I was in Washington they kept trying to get me to say whether I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/i-m-really-not-a-partisan-political-person-i-remember-when-i-was-in/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [A kid's emotions and personality are just as important as I.Q.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/a-kid-s-emotions-and-personality-are-just-as-important-as-i-q/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [I teach child development and social policy as an undergraduate course, and I tell my students, "Look, on any of these issues, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/i-teach-child-development-and-social-policy-as-an-undergraduate/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [You win what you can win when you can win it, and keep pushing - all the time. And that's how this game is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/you-win-what-you-can-win-when-you-can-win-it-and-keep-pushing-all-the/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) > [I study children, and they're my subjects in my studies. They're my colleagues, really, all these little kids. And I owe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zigler/i-study-children-and-they-re-my-subjects-in-my-studies-they-re-my/) [Edward Zigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) [Explore all 20 Edward Zigler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zigler/) ## 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": "I thought the whole idea of being a conservative was to keep the government from messing around in people's lives. And yet they say the government should be getting into people's families. 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