--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A conservative is a liberal who's been…" description: "\"A conservative is a liberal who's been mugged, and a libertarian is a conservative who's been indicted.\" — Jack Abramoff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/jack-abramoff-10031_been_a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-m_493314.jpg" --- # A conservative is a liberal who's been mugged, and a… ![“A conservative is a liberal who's been mugged, and a libertarian is a conservative who's been indicted.” quote by Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/jack-abramoff-10031_been_a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-m_493314.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/jack-abramoff-10031_been_a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-m_493314.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/jack-abramoff-10031_been_a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-m_493314.jpg) > “A conservative is a liberal who's been mugged, and a libertarian is a conservative who's been indicted.” [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Conservatives and libertarians are portrayed as victims of political attacks, suggesting cynicism about ideological labels. **In simple terms:** Political groups are seen as being unfairly targeted. Key Takeaway Recognize bias in political labeling. Themes politics ideology cynicism Mood critical ironic Type satirical commentary When to use this quote - campaigns - public debates - policy analysis Key Concepts political identity media framing Questions to Reflect On - How do labels shape your political views? - Can ideology be truly independent of criticism? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex political views. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) ## Related quotes > [It is one of the truisms of politics that a conservative is often enough a former liberal who has been 'mugged by reality.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/it-is-one-of-the-truisms-of-politics-that-a-conservative-is-often/) [Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/) > [If a conservative is a liberal who's been mugged, a liberal is a conservative who's been arrested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/if-a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-mugged-a-liberal-is-a/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [It is said that a neo-conservative is a liberal who has been mugged by reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stockwell-day/it-is-said-that-a-neo-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-has-been-mugged/) [Stockwell Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stockwell-day/) > [A conservative is a liberal mugged by reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kristol/a-conservative-is-a-liberal-mugged-by-reality/) [Irving Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kristol/) > [A libertarian is a conservative who got mugged by his government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-libertarian-is-a-conservative-who-got-mugged-by-his-government/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A conservative is a liberal who got mugged the night before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-rizzo/a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-got-mugged-the-night-before/) [Frank Rizzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-rizzo/) > [A neoconservative is a liberal who's been mugged by reality. A neoliberal is a liberal who's been mugged by reality but has refused to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kristol/a-neoconservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-mugged-by-reality-a/) [Irving Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kristol/) > [I think Tierney is also more libertarian than he is conservative in the conventional sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-okrent/i-think-tierney-is-also-more-libertarian-than-he-is-conservative-in/) [Daniel Okrent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-okrent/) > [I would say to people of a libertarian conservative position on an issue, do not do a taped interview. You're going to come out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/i-would-say-to-people-of-a-libertarian-conservative-position-on-an/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [The difference between Libertarian and Conservative is that Conservatives understand this, and know that unregulated capitalism will eventually end with human meat sold in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pournelle/the-difference-between-libertarian-and-conservative-is-that/) [Jerry Pournelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pournelle/) > [The Road To Serfdom was written during WWII, and basically it's an anti-Nazi, anti-communist thing, but also it's an anti-Conservative and anti-Labor-party thing aimed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-road-to-serfdom-was-written-during-wwii-and-basically-it-s-an/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'm a libertarian-conservative. I believe the state should focus on defending lives, rights, and property instead of depriving its citizens of their God-given liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/i-m-a-libertarian-conservative-i-believe-the-state-should-focus-on/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [Well, I'm a libertarian conservative, so I believe in limited government/maximum individual freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/well-i-m-a-libertarian-conservative-so-i-believe-in-limited/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [My personal credo as a libertarian conservative: I think all attempts to reform your fellow-citizens or tell them how to live their lives are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/my-personal-credo-as-a-libertarian-conservative-i-think-all-attempts/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [I got mugged about six months ago. The oddest thing about the entire situation, though, was that I wasn't afraid, which is strange because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-got-mugged-about-six-months-ago-the-oddest-thing-about-the-entire/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) ## More by Jack Abramoff > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [Lobbying is not a bad thing. I'm not trying to say that we shouldn't have lobbyists or we shouldn't have lobbying to petition our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/lobbying-is-not-a-bad-thing-i-m-not-trying-to-say-that-we-shouldn-t/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [I'm a human being. I'm not perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-a-human-being-i-m-not-perfect/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [Having gone through what I went through, watching my family be torn to shreds and my children suffer immensely, I can't be the agent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/having-gone-through-what-i-went-through-watching-my-family-be-torn-to/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [I'm a hypercompetitive individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-a-hypercompetitive-individual/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [I can't afford to be a member of a golf course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-can-t-afford-to-be-a-member-of-a-golf-course/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [I mean, money is a tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-mean-money-is-a-tool/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [Words will not be able to ever express how sorry I am for this, and I have profound regret and sorrow for the multitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/words-will-not-be-able-to-ever-express-how-sorry-i-am-for-this-and-i/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [Well, I don't think most Americans are playing the super-PAC game. I think what you have is elites on both sides playing the super-PAC…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/well-i-don-t-think-most-americans-are-playing-the-super-pac-game-i/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [All I want is for people not to see me as this cartoon monster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/all-i-want-is-for-people-not-to-see-me-as-this-cartoon-monster/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [Washington's a dangerous place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/washington-s-a-dangerous-place/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [One of my personality defects, perhaps, is that I'm rather ADD, and I work on a bunch of things at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/one-of-my-personality-defects-perhaps-is-that-i-m-rather-add-and-i/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [I don't pay much attention to sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-don-t-pay-much-attention-to-sports/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The reason there are tens of thousands of lobbyists is because the ever-expanding federal government creates ever-increasing opportunities for abuse. The more the federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/the-reason-there-are-tens-of-thousands-of-lobbyists-is-because-the/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [I did this within a philosophical framework, and a moral and legal framework. And I have been turned into a cartoon of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-did-this-within-a-philosophical-framework-and-a-moral-and-legal/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) [Explore all 68 Jack Abramoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. 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Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A conservative is a liberal who's been mugged, and a libertarian is a conservative who's been indicted.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jack Abramoff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-mugged-and-a-libertarian-is-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Been" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-mugged-and-a-libertarian-is-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/jack-abramoff-10031_been_a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-m_493314.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/jack-abramoff-10031_been_a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-m_493314.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/jack-abramoff-10031_been_a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-m_493314.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A conservative is a liberal who's been mugged, and a libertarian is a conservative who's been indicted.” — Jack Abramoff", "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": "Jack Abramoff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A conservative is a liberal who's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-mugged-and-a-libertarian-is-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/a-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-s-been-mugged-and-a-libertarian-is-a/#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 } } ] } ```