--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: American public opinion is like an ocean…" description: "\"American public opinion is like an ocean, it cannot be stirred by a teaspoon.\" — Hubert H. Humphrey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_american-public_american-public-opinion-is-like-an-ocean_426937.jpg" --- # American public opinion is like an ocean, it cannot be… ![“American public opinion is like an ocean, it cannot be stirred by a teaspoon.” quote by Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_american-public_american-public-opinion-is-like-an-ocean_426937.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_american-public_american-public-opinion-is-like-an-ocean_426937.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce9/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_american-public_american-public-opinion-is-like-an-ocean_426937.jpg) > “American public opinion is like an ocean, it cannot be stirred by a teaspoon.” [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public opinion is massive and resistant to small influences. **In simple terms:** Public opinion is huge, hard to change with tiny actions. Key Takeaway Seek larger platforms to shift public views. Themes public opinion influence politics Mood determined serious Type political motivational When to use this quote - campaigns - policy debates - media coverage - social media trends Key Concepts mass media grassroots movements Questions to Reflect On - What larger actions can you take to influence opinion? - How can you amplify your voice? A Different Perspective A single small action rarely moves the needle. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-public/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Public opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-opinion/) ## Related quotes > [ American public opinion, as you can see in the polls, radically changed from being against airstrikes to being heavily in favor that \[President Obama\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/american-public-opinion-as-you-can-see-in-the-polls-radically-changed/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [For all is like an ocean, all flows and connects; touch it in one place and it echoes at the other end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-all-is-like-an-ocean-all-flows-and-connects-touch-it-in-one-place/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Geniuses are like ocean liners: they should never meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-aragon/geniuses-are-like-ocean-liners-they-should-never-meet/) [Louis Aragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-aragon/) > [I was told love is like a ocean the momment you sink your lost in it ..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fad-ibra/i-was-told-love-is-like-a-ocean-the-momment-you-sink-your-lost-in-it/) [Fad Ibra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fad-ibra/) > [He reached out and pushed some hair behind her ears. The gesture was tender, but it hit her with an unexpected force, like when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/he-reached-out-and-pushed-some-hair-behind-her-ears-the-gesture-was/) [Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/) > [My love, i would like even more; to be an ocean if you are the wave; to be a wave, if you are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-guillen/my-love-i-would-like-even-more-to-be-an-ocean-if-you-are-the-wave-to/) [Nicolas Guillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-guillen/) > [Love like the ocean- Never Ending!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dendendiayko/love-like-the-ocean-never-ending/) [DenDenDiayKo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dendendiayko/) > [“Time is like the ocean; you can only hold a little in your hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-pyke/time-is-like-the-ocean-you-can-only-hold-a-little-in-your-hands/) Josh Pyke > [God is like the ocean and we're like that glass of water. We try to sustain life and do all that the source tells…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/god-is-like-the-ocean-and-we-re-like-that-glass-of-water-we-try-to/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Like the ocean is your god-self; It remains for ever undefiled. And like the ether it lifts but the winged. Even like the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/like-the-ocean-is-your-god-self-it-remains-for-ever-undefiled-and/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [I miss the ocean. I miss diving into the cold water and coming out a new man. On the road it's hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-stone/i-miss-the-ocean-i-miss-diving-into-the-cold-water-and-coming-out-a/) Angus Stone > [Love is an element which though physically unseen is as real as air or water. It is an acting, living, moving force... it moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prentice-mulford/love-is-an-element-which-though-physically-unseen-is-as-real-as-air/) [Prentice Mulford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prentice-mulford/) > [“Must the Earth forever be arranged like an ocean steamer, with large, luxurious rooms and luxurious food for a select few, and underneath in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/various/must-the-earth-forever-be-arranged-like-an-ocean-steamer-with-large/) Various > [Life is like an ocean. It can be calm or still and rough or rigid. But in the end, it's always beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justice-cabral/life-is-like-an-ocean-it-can-be-calm-or-still-and-rough-or-rigid-but/) [Justice Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justice-cabral/) > [Life is like the ocean. It can be calm and still or rough and rigid but in the end, it is always beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-the-ocean-it-can-be-calm-and-still-or-rough-and-rigid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Hubert H. Humphrey > [Life's unfairness is not irrevocable; we can help balance the scales for others, if not always for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/life-s-unfairness-is-not-irrevocable-we-can-help-balance-the-scales/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [The pursuit of peace resembles the building of a great cathedral. It is the work of a generation. In concept it requires a mater-architect;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-pursuit-of-peace-resembles-the-building-of-a-great-cathedral-it/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears. Things are not only what they are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/in-real-life-unlike-in-shakespeare-the-sweetness-of-the-rose-depends/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Until racial justice and freedom is a reality in this land, our union will remain profoundly imperfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/until-racial-justice-and-freedom-is-a-reality-in-this-land-our-union/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Foreign policy is really domestic policy with its hat on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/foreign-policy-is-really-domestic-policy-with-its-hat-on/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [The gap between the rich and the poor is the most dangerous threat to world peace we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-gap-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-is-the-most-dangerous-threat-to/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Anyone who thinks that the vice-president can take a position independent of the president of his administration simply has no knowledge of politics or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/anyone-who-thinks-that-the-vice-president-can-take-a-position/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [You cannot go around and keep score. If you keep score on the good things and the bad things, you'll find out that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/you-cannot-go-around-and-keep-score-if-you-keep-score-on-the-good/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [There is no such thing as an acceptable level of unemployment, because hunger is not acceptable, poverty is not acceptable, poor health is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-acceptable-level-of-unemployment-because/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [National isolation breeds national neurosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/national-isolation-breeds-national-neurosis/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Profit and morality are a hard combination to beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/profit-and-morality-are-a-hard-combination-to-beat/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [There are not enough jails, not enough police, not enough courts to enforce a law not supported by the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/there-are-not-enough-jails-not-enough-police-not-enough-courts-to/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [You can always debate about what you should have done. The question is what are you going to do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/you-can-always-debate-about-what-you-should-have-done-the-question-is/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Behind every successful man is a proud wife and a surprised mother-in-law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/behind-every-successful-man-is-a-proud-wife-and-a-surprised-mother-in/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [I believe that each of us can make a difference. That what is wrong can be made right. That people possess the basic wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/i-believe-that-each-of-us-can-make-a-difference-that-what-is-wrong/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) [Explore all 132 Hubert H. Humphrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) ## More American public quotes > [It used to be that whenever I introduced myself to people and told them I was a psychologist, they would shrink away from me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/it-used-to-be-that-whenever-i-introduced-myself-to-people-and-told/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [Let's focus on how we can take someone who is being poorly educated in an American public school and how they are poorly trained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-steele/let-s-focus-on-how-we-can-take-someone-who-is-being-poorly-educated/) [Michael Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-steele/) > [Americans need to educate themselves, from elementary school onward, about what their country has done abroad. And they need to play a more active…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/americans-need-to-educate-themselves-from-elementary-school-onward/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [Presidents going live from the Oval Office have used that platform to inform the American public, and also to do one of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-buttigieg/presidents-going-live-from-the-oval-office-have-used-that-platform-to/) [Pete Buttigieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-buttigieg/) > [Because of a mass media more interested in gossip and sensationalism than real issues, I would say a vast majority of the American public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/because-of-a-mass-media-more-interested-in-gossip-and-sensationalism/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [You know for many elected officials they all started in the same place. You know marriage is between a man and a woman, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgreevey/you-know-for-many-elected-officials-they-all-started-in-the-same/) [James McGreevey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgreevey/) > [The American Public is who I'm interested in. Ultimately, if they think I'm good and they think I'm entertaining that's all that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-angel/the-american-public-is-who-i-m-interested-in-ultimately-if-they-think/) [Criss Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-angel/) > [58% of the American public are with us. We're preaching to the choir, but the choir's not singing, if all of the 58% started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/58-of-the-american-public-are-with-us-we-re-preaching-to-the-choir/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [Today enormous effort goes into convincing the American public that we're just consumers of media manipulation and sound-bites and spin doctors. That we care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardine-dohrn/today-enormous-effort-goes-into-convincing-the-american-public-that/) [Bernardine Dohrn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardine-dohrn/) > [We of the soft-crooning radio type of singer are giving the people what they want. The American public as a whole does not care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-vallee/we-of-the-soft-crooning-radio-type-of-singer-are-giving-the-people/) [Rudy Vallee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-vallee/) > [I wanted the American public to know that not everyone in Iraq and Afghanistan were targets that needed to be neutralized, but rather people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-manning/i-wanted-the-american-public-to-know-that-not-everyone-in-iraq-and/) [Chelsea Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-manning/) > [There’s nothing more embarrassing than a person who tries to guess what the great American public would like, makes a compromise for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/there-s-nothing-more-embarrassing-than-a-person-who-tries-to-guess/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [The American public's a lot more sophisticated than we all give them credit for. And on complicated issues, I'm going to give them straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-american-public-s-a-lot-more-sophisticated-than-we-all-give-them/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The attitude of the American public toward the external projection of American power has been much more ambivalent. The public supported America's engagement in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-attitude-of-the-american-public-toward-the-external-projection-of/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [I think the American public can accept the fact if you tell them that every time you pick up the phone it's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/i-think-the-american-public-can-accept-the-fact-if-you-tell-them-that/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) [Browse all 121 American public quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-public/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "American public opinion is like an ocean, it cannot be stirred by a teaspoon.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hubert H. 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