--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never sit on a fence. I am either on…" description: "\"I never sit on a fence. I am either on one side or another.\" — Harry S. Truman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2b/harry-s-truman-898_fence_i-never-sit-on-a-fence-i-am-either-on-on_2320883.jpg" --- # I never sit on a fence. I am either on one side or another. ![“I never sit on a fence. I am either on one side or another.” quote by Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2b/harry-s-truman-898_fence_i-never-sit-on-a-fence-i-am-either-on-on_2320883.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2b/harry-s-truman-898_fence_i-never-sit-on-a-fence-i-am-either-on-on_2320883.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2b/harry-s-truman-898_fence_i-never-sit-on-a-fence-i-am-either-on-on_2320883.jpg) > “I never sit on a fence. I am either on one side or another.” [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Declares a decisive stance, rejecting indecision and urging clear alignment with principles. **In simple terms:** No fence‑sitting; choose a side. Key Takeaway Commit firmly to your beliefs. Themes politics integrity decisiveness leadership Mood assertive principled Type ethical strategic When to use this quote - voting - policy advocacy - public debate - personal decisions Key Concepts Moral clarity binary thinking courage Questions to Reflect On - When is compromise preferable? - How to handle dissent while staying firm? A Different Perspective Complex issues may need nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think we can sit on the fence anymore. We have to make up our minds. And if one wants to choose the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seal/i-don-t-think-we-can-sit-on-the-fence-anymore-we-have-to-make-up-our/) [Seal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seal/) > [I try and sit on the fence because as soon as you voice any kind of opinion, people begin to think you're an idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-harris/i-try-and-sit-on-the-fence-because-as-soon-as-you-voice-any-kind-of/) [Calvin Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-harris/) > [In any organization there ought to be the possibility of discussion... fence sitting is an art, and it's difficult, and it's important to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/in-any-organization-there-ought-to-be-the-possibility-of-discussion/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [You can choose not to sit on the fence. You can choose not to criticise. You must stand as guard at the door of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-kelly/you-can-choose-not-to-sit-on-the-fence-you-can-choose-not-to/) [Gail Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-kelly/) > [“Don't sit on the fence; break it and move out! Don’t be confined to the little things you do; the sky should be below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/don-t-sit-on-the-fence-break-it-and-move-out-don-t-be-confined-to-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [India cannot sit on the fence anymore. It may have to make a choice. Either way it is going face problems,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/india-cannot-sit-on-the-fence-anymore-it-may-have-to-make-a-choice/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [“Sometimes in life, we have to take a stand. It does not help to sit on the fence, even if we have to hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chika-unigwe/sometimes-in-life-we-have-to-take-a-stand-it-does-not-help-to-sit-on/) [Chika Unigwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chika-unigwe/) > [We’ve all seen the same situation happen to two people. One looks for the lesson, sets their shoulders back and presses on while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-kelly/we-ve-all-seen-the-same-situation-happen-to-two-people-one-looks-for/) [Gail Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-kelly/) > [A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-politician-is-an-animal-which-can-sit-on-a-fence-and-yet-keep-both/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [A politician is an animal who can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/a-politician-is-an-animal-who-can-sit-on-a-fence-and-yet-keep-both/) American Proverb > [We sit on the fence between hard rock and pop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/def-leppard/we-sit-on-the-fence-between-hard-rock-and-pop/) [Def Leppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/def-leppard/) > [I will support Ireland at rugby, but when England and Ireland are playing, I sit on the fence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-morgan/i-will-support-ireland-at-rugby-but-when-england-and-ireland-are/) [Eoin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-morgan/) > [If the grass on the other side of the fence is greener, try watering your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/if-the-grass-on-the-other-side-of-the-fence-is-greener-try-watering/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Life is not that simple. That is why it is called life. That word includes both lie and if. Time to figure out which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/life-is-not-that-simple-that-is-why-it-is-called-life-that-word/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [I have yet to see someone attack Obama over his report card. A lot of people I talk to from both sides of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/i-have-yet-to-see-someone-attack-obama-over-his-report-card-a-lot-of/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) ## More by Harry S. Truman > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [We can never tell what is in store for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/we-can-never-tell-what-is-in-store-for-us/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be remarked for their vices and follies than not be noticed at all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/men-often-mistake-notoriety-for-fame-and-would-rather-be-remarked-for/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [It is ignorance that causes most mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-is-ignorance-that-causes-most-mistakes/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Most of the time most people know the right thing to do ...its the doing of it that gives them trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/most-of-the-time-most-people-know-the-right-thing-to-do-its-the-doing/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/secrecy-and-a-free-democratic-government-don-t-mix/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [It can be lost, and it will be, if the time ever comes when these documents are regarded not as the supreme expression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-can-be-lost-and-it-will-be-if-the-time-ever-comes-when-these/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [On tight money: It reflects a reversion to the old idea that the tree can be fertilized at the top instead of at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/on-tight-money-it-reflects-a-reversion-to-the-old-idea-that-the-tree/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [The United States should not under any circumstances throw away our gun until we are sure the rest of the world cannot arm against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/the-united-states-should-not-under-any-circumstances-throw-away-our/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Democracy maintains that government is established for the benefit of the individual, and is charged with the responsibility of protecting the individual, and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-maintains-that-government-is-established-for-the-benefit-of/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Although I hold the highest civil honour in the world, I have always regarded my rank and title as a Past Grand Master of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/although-i-hold-the-highest-civil-honour-in-the-world-i-have-always/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Some of the presidents were great and some of them weren't. I can say that, because I wasn't one of the great presidents, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/some-of-the-presidents-were-great-and-some-of-them-weren-t-i-can-say/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [A person who is fundamentally honest doesn't need a code of ethics. The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount are all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/a-person-who-is-fundamentally-honest-doesn-t-need-a-code-of-ethics/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Our goal must not be peace in our time but peace for all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/our-goal-must-not-be-peace-in-our-time-but-peace-for-all-time/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) [Explore all 336 Harry S. Truman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## More Fence quotes > [ By profession a biologist, \[Thomas Henry Huxley\] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-huxley-covered-in-fact-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [I have yet to see someone attack Obama over his report card. A lot of people I talk to from both sides of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/i-have-yet-to-see-someone-attack-obama-over-his-report-card-a-lot-of/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [She was gone, and all that was left was the space where you'd grown around her, like a tree that grows around a fence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/she-was-gone-and-all-that-was-left-was-the-space-where-you-d-grown/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [I only wanted Uncle Vernon standing by his own car (a Hudson) on a clear day, I got him and the car. Ialso got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/i-only-wanted-uncle-vernon-standing-by-his-own-car-a-hudson-on-a/) [Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/) > [My loneliness...still comes over me sometimes...It's a liminal, lost sensation of having wandered wide, endless boulevards, among rows of orange trees, winter butterflies, seasons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-roth/my-loneliness-still-comes-over-me-sometimes-it-s-a-liminal-lost/) [Marco Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-roth/) > [Pedestrian's rights - because we live in California, I've got to address this issue. I don't know where on the fence I am about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/pedestrian-s-rights-because-we-live-in-california-i-ve-got-to-address/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Life is not that simple. That is why it is called life. That word includes both lie and if. Time to figure out which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/life-is-not-that-simple-that-is-why-it-is-called-life-that-word/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [The first time I played golf was in Flushing Meadows, Queens, when I was about 16 or 17. They had an 18-hole pitch-and-putt. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/the-first-time-i-played-golf-was-in-flushing-meadows-queens-when-i/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [Coffee arrived and the espresso was excellent, like an aromatic electric fence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/coffee-arrived-and-the-espresso-was-excellent-like-an-aromatic/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground, And swallows circling with their shimmering sound; And frogs in the pool singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/there-will-come-soft-rains-and-the-smell-of-the-ground-and-swallows/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [May the state fence in the harmless mentally ill solely to save its citizens from exposure to those whose ways are different? One might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/may-the-state-fence-in-the-harmless-mentally-ill-solely-to-save-its/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [I can't give you the white picket fence, and if I did, you'd set it on fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-can-t-give-you-the-white-picket-fence-and-if-i-did-you-d-set-it-on/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Most folks are like a barb-wire fence. They have their good points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/texas-bix-bender/most-folks-are-like-a-barb-wire-fence-they-have-their-good-points/) [Texas Bix Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/texas-bix-bender/) > [“I ran straight into the wooden fence at the foot of the field. I was lucky that it had been a rail fence, rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keeble/i-ran-straight-into-the-wooden-fence-at-the-foot-of-the-field-i-was/) [Helen Keeble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keeble/) Browse all 673 Fence quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never sit on a fence. I am either on one side or another.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry S. 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