--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you work in either journalism or…" description: "\"If you work in either journalism or politics... you will be flogged for being right and flogged for being wrong, and it hurts both ways-but it doesn't ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/hunter-s-thompson-278_being-wrong_if-you-work-in-either-journalism-or-poli_1090182.jpg" --- # If you work in either journalism or politics... you will… ![“If you work in either journalism or politics... you will be flogged for being right and flogged for being wrong, and it hurts both ways-but it doesn't hurt as much when you're right.” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/hunter-s-thompson-278_being-wrong_if-you-work-in-either-journalism-or-poli_1090182.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/hunter-s-thompson-278_being-wrong_if-you-work-in-either-journalism-or-poli_1090182.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/hunter-s-thompson-278_being-wrong_if-you-work-in-either-journalism-or-poli_1090182.jpg) > “If you work in either journalism or politics... you will be flogged for being right and flogged for being wrong, and it hurts both ways-but it doesn't hurt as much when you're right.” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being correct in contentious fields invites criticism from all sides, yet the pain of being wrong is greater. **In simple terms:** Right or wrong, criticism hurts, but being wrong hurts more. Key Takeaway Accept criticism, but verify facts. Themes journalism politics truth criticism pain Mood frustrated reflective cautious Type advice observational cautionary When to use this quote - political reporting - media analysis - public speaking - debate - policy making Key Concepts confirmation bias public scrutiny cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle criticism when you know you're right? - What strategies reduce the impact of being wrong? A Different Perspective Being right can still cause damage; the stakes are higher when wrong. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Newspapers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspapers/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Today, much of journalism and politics are in a kind of collusion to oversimplify and personalize issues. No room for ambivalence. Plenty of room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/today-much-of-journalism-and-politics-are-in-a-kind-of-collusion-to/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [“It’s funny that when you decide you want to do creative work—journalism or music or films or whatever—nobody tells you how much of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-biewen/it-s-funny-that-when-you-decide-you-want-to-do-creative-work/) John Biewen > [Many times, when you do what I do or work in journalism in general, people try to not explicitly present their opinions on topics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/many-times-when-you-do-what-i-do-or-work-in-journalism-in-general/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [“For all its faults, our political process is a good one, and the means by which much meaningful change is made. That is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-campbell/for-all-its-faults-our-political-process-is-a-good-one-and-the-means/) [Alastair Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-campbell/) > [Sometimes I'm afraid to be happy because every I'm happy , something goes wrong , and hurts me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-lock/sometimes-i-m-afraid-to-be-happy-because-every-i-m-happy-something/) Diana Lock > [I could be right, I could be wrong, it hurts so bad, it's been so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-could-be-right-i-could-be-wrong-it-hurts-so-bad-it-s-been-so-long/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember me as... the girl you hurt in the past. see me now as... the grl who's telling you to kiss her ass. you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meeeee/remember-me-as-the-girl-you-hurt-in-the-past-see-me-now-as-the-grl/) [MEEEEE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meeeee/) > [Sometimes, Im afraid to be happy because every time Im happy, something goes wrong, and hurts me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-im-afraid-to-be-happy-because-every-time-im-happy-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here I am, standing in the night time, waiting for the right time, to come along, there I was, laying in the day light,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/here-i-am-standing-in-the-night-time-waiting-for-the-right-time-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes, I'm afraid to be happy. Because everytime I'm happy, something goes wrong and hurts me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-m-afraid-to-be-happy-because-everytime-i-m-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I don’t think love is ever wrong, even if it hurts, even if it scares you. You learn from it, become a better person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-mayer/i-don-t-think-love-is-ever-wrong-even-if-it-hurts-even-if-it-scares/) [Shannon Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-mayer/) > [Sometimes, I'm afraid to be happy because every time I'm happy, something goes wrong, and hurts me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-m-afraid-to-be-happy-because-every-time-i-m-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We must each learn to feel comfortable in our own uniqueness by rising above the fear of being wrong and the aversion to being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-must-each-learn-to-feel-comfortable-in-our-own-uniqueness-by/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [People say your heart will lead you home, not always the case my heart let me down in a few occasions. Go with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-riley/people-say-your-heart-will-lead-you-home-not-always-the-case-my-heart/) [Dominic Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-riley/) > [It's easy to be painted a monster, when the devil is doing the painting!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-v/it-s-easy-to-be-painted-a-monster-when-the-devil-is-doing-the-painting/) [Wendell V](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-v/) ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More Being wrong quotes > [It's easy to be painted a monster, when the devil is doing the painting!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-v/it-s-easy-to-be-painted-a-monster-when-the-devil-is-doing-the-painting/) [Wendell V](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-v/) > [People say your heart will lead you home, not always the case my heart let me down in a few occasions. Go with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-riley/people-say-your-heart-will-lead-you-home-not-always-the-case-my-heart/) [Dominic Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-riley/) > [We must each learn to feel comfortable in our own uniqueness by rising above the fear of being wrong and the aversion to being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-must-each-learn-to-feel-comfortable-in-our-own-uniqueness-by/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [There Is No Use Of Running Fast When You Are On The Wrong Road. So, First Choose The Correct Way In Your Life..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/there-is-no-use-of-running-fast-when-you-are-on-the-wrong-road-so/) Pacifiersucker > [Learn to ask for forgiveness for the wrongs you've done because you will not die if you swallow your pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/learn-to-ask-for-forgiveness-for-the-wrongs-you-ve-done-because-you/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [Whoever I end up with, is going to be one lucky person. Cause I've done so much stuff for the wrong people that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/telisa-mclaughlin/whoever-i-end-up-with-is-going-to-be-one-lucky-person-cause-i-ve-done/) [Telisa McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/telisa-mclaughlin/) > [When we aren't sure about the action we are about to perform and confused till the last moment, we are definitely up to something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/when-we-aren-t-sure-about-the-action-we-are-about-to-perform-and/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [Don't do something wrong. It seems like everyone hates u then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-do-something-wrong-it-seems-like-everyone-hates-u-then/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Apparently being right frustrates people who are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/apparently-being-right-frustrates-people-who-are-wrong/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No matter how many times I've been done wrong, I'll continue to be faithful, honest, and loving. Sooner or later someone will appreciate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/no-matter-how-many-times-i-ve-been-done-wrong-i-ll-continue-to-be/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [There are time whens you want to say or feel things but you don't, as we end up thinking if it's right or wrong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhi-saini/there-are-time-whens-you-want-to-say-or-feel-things-but-you-don-t-as/) [Nidhi Saini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhi-saini/) > [I know it is wrong, but that does not mean I am not in favor of it in the](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhaval/i-know-it-is-wrong-but-that-does-not-mean-i-am-not-in-favor-of-it-in/) [Dhaval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhaval/) > [“There is an inexplicable sense of relief in being proven wrong, which perhaps can only be realized by either a scientist or a philosopher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-is-an-inexplicable-sense-of-relief-in-being-proven-wrong-which/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [The problem in this case was you can't be a middle-aged virgin in America without something being wrong with you. People can't conceive of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/the-problem-in-this-case-was-you-can-t-be-a-middle-aged-virgin-in/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Never shortchange yourself for someone else, or else you will lose your own identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-shortchange-yourself-for-someone-else-or-else-you-will-lose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 336 Being wrong quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you work in either journalism or politics... you will be flogged for being right and flogged for being wrong, and it hurts both ways-but it doesn't hurt as much when you're right.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hunter S. 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