--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All politics are based on the…" description: "\"All politics are based on the indifference of the majority.\" — James Reston" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/james-reston-37064_indifference_all-politics-are-based-on-the-indifferen_2260541.png" --- # All politics are based on the indifference of the majority. ![“All politics are based on the indifference of the majority.” quote by James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/james-reston-37064_indifference_all-politics-are-based-on-the-indifferen_2260541.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/james-reston-37064_indifference_all-politics-are-based-on-the-indifferen_2260541.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/james-reston-37064_indifference_all-politics-are-based-on-the-indifferen_2260541.png) > “All politics are based on the indifference of the majority.” [James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. States that political systems often rely on the majority's lack of concern. **In simple terms:** Politics thrives on public indifference. Key Takeaway Encourage civic engagement and awareness. Themes politics public apathy democracy Mood urgent inquisitive Type civic educational When to use this quote - voting - community organizing - public debates Key Concepts Social contract political theory Questions to Reflect On - What motivates people to care about politics? - How can media reduce indifference? A Different Perspective Changing majority opinion is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [I don't decide my politics based on the flavour of the month.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nandan-nilekani/i-don-t-decide-my-politics-based-on-the-flavour-of-the-month/) [Nandan Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nandan-nilekani/) > [I have an ethics background. It doesn't mean you're perfect. But I tried to set an entirely different bar for politics in D.C. that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brat/i-have-an-ethics-background-it-doesn-t-mean-you-re-perfect-but-i/) [Dave Brat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brat/) > [There are people who kind of gravitate towards running politics based on new ideas and issues, and that was what the secret was for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podesta/there-are-people-who-kind-of-gravitate-towards-running-politics-based/) [John Podesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podesta/) > [You have to look beyond your known limited experience. Politics should be based on compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swara-bhaskar/you-have-to-look-beyond-your-known-limited-experience-politics-should/) [Swara Bhaskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swara-bhaskar/) > [Politics is based on social identity, and so, again, there is going to be differences between rural and urban and between left and right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/politics-is-based-on-social-identity-and-so-again-there-is-going-to/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [The people and the warmakers are two distinct groups. We must never say 'we' when discussing the US government's foreign policy. For one thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/llewellyn-rockwell/the-people-and-the-warmakers-are-two-distinct-groups-we-must-never/) [Llewellyn Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/llewellyn-rockwell/) > [We're never all going to agree with each other. We have to learn to value the diversity. It's one of the presumable principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/we-re-never-all-going-to-agree-with-each-other-we-have-to-learn-to/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [Cricket, politics, and cinema is what a majority in our country are most passionate about. They have the power to divide the best of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-deverakonda/cricket-politics-and-cinema-is-what-a-majority-in-our-country-are/) [Vijay Deverakonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-deverakonda/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. 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Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [Indifference is harder to fight than hostility, and there is nothing that kills an agitation like having everybody admit that it is fundamentally right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-eastman/indifference-is-harder-to-fight-than-hostility-and-there-is-nothing/) [Crystal Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-eastman/) > [“Courage did not come from the need to survive, or from a brute indifference inherited from someone else, but from a driving need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/courage-did-not-come-from-the-need-to-survive-or-from-a-brute/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [Love and hate, despite their polar opposites, are both feelings that are induced by passion. I can handle that. It's the indifference I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/love-and-hate-despite-their-polar-opposites-are-both-feelings-that/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) ## More by James Reston > [A government is the only vessel that leaks from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/a-government-is-the-only-vessel-that-leaks-from-the-top/) [James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) > [The rising power of the United States in world affairs requires, not a more compliant press, but a relentless barrage of facts and criticism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/the-rising-power-of-the-united-states-in-world-affairs-requires-not-a/) [James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) > [Europe has a press that stresses opinions; America a press, radio, and television that emphasize news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/europe-has-a-press-that-stresses-opinions-america-a-press-radio-and/) [James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) > [If it's far away, it's news, but if it's close at home, it's sociology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/if-it-s-far-away-it-s-news-but-if-it-s-close-at-home-it-s-sociology/) [James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) > [The ship of state is the only known vessel that leaks from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/the-ship-of-state-is-the-only-known-vessel-that-leaks-from-the-top/) [James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) > [This is the very devilish thing about foreign affairs: they are foreign and will not always conform to our whim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/this-is-the-very-devilish-thing-about-foreign-affairs-they-are/) [James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) > [In foreign policy you have to wait twenty-five years to see how it comes out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/in-foreign-policy-you-have-to-wait-twenty-five-years-to-see-how-it/) [James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) > [In any war, the first casualty is common sense, and the second is free and open discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/in-any-war-the-first-casualty-is-common-sense-and-the-second-is-free/) [James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) > [“In 1487 alone, two hundred heretics had-in one of the greatest euphemisms in the history of language-"relaxed," that is, burned at the stake. Dogs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/in-1487-alone-two-hundred-heretics-had-in-one-of-the-greatest/) [James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) > [A government is the only known vessel that leaks from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/a-government-is-the-only-known-vessel-that-leaks-from-the-top/) [James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) > [Americans have always been able to handle austerity and even adversity. Prosperity is what is doing us in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/americans-have-always-been-able-to-handle-austerity-and-even/) [James Reston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) [Explore all 12 James Reston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/) ## More Indifference quotes > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [“Courage did not come from the need to survive, or from a brute indifference inherited from someone else, but from a driving need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/courage-did-not-come-from-the-need-to-survive-or-from-a-brute/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [Indifference is harder to fight than hostility, and there is nothing that kills an agitation like having everybody admit that it is fundamentally right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-eastman/indifference-is-harder-to-fight-than-hostility-and-there-is-nothing/) [Crystal Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-eastman/) > [Love and hate, despite their polar opposites, are both feelings that are induced by passion. I can handle that. It's the indifference I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/love-and-hate-despite-their-polar-opposites-are-both-feelings-that/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I wasn't sure which I appreciated less—the insincere concern or the genuine indifference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-graham/i-wasn-t-sure-which-i-appreciated-less-the-insincere-concern-or-the/) Arthur Graham > [If I were entering adulthood now instead of in the environment of fifty years ago, I would choose a career that kept me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/if-i-were-entering-adulthood-now-instead-of-in-the-environment-of/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Desire is half of life, indifference is half of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/desire-is-half-of-life-indifference-is-half-of-death/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What's wrong with death sir? What are we so mortally afraid of? Why can't we treat death with a certain amount of humanity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/what-s-wrong-with-death-sir-what-are-we-so-mortally-afraid-of-why-can/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I'm not very interested in people. I recognize it in myself - there is a basic indifference toward people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-m-not-very-interested-in-people-i-recognize-it-in-myself-there-is-a/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [Adorn thyself with simplicity and with indifference towards the things which lie between virtue and vice. Love mankind. Follow God. The poet says that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/adorn-thyself-with-simplicity-and-with-indifference-towards-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [One's own troubles can be borne with fortitude; only a monster of indifference can bear the sufferings of others with fortitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/one-s-own-troubles-can-be-borne-with-fortitude-only-a-monster-of/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [Many men without morals have attacked religion because it was contrary to their inclinations. Many wise men have despised it because it seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/many-men-without-morals-have-attacked-religion-because-it-was/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [Indifference to one's own faith is no proof of tolerance. Loyalty to one's own is part of a larger loyalty to faith generally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-hillel-silver/indifference-to-one-s-own-faith-is-no-proof-of-tolerance-loyalty-to/) Abba Hillel Silver > [I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-know-well-monsieur-how-much-you-have-to-endure-in-your-present-duty/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) [Browse all 1,128 Indifference quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All politics are based on the indifference of the majority.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Reston" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/all-politics-are-based-on-the-indifference-of-the-majority/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Indifference" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/all-politics-are-based-on-the-indifference-of-the-majority/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/james-reston-37064_indifference_all-politics-are-based-on-the-indifferen_2260541.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/james-reston-37064_indifference_all-politics-are-based-on-the-indifferen_2260541.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/030/james-reston-37064_indifference_all-politics-are-based-on-the-indifferen_2260541.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All politics are based on the indifference of the majority.” — James Reston", "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": "James Reston", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-reston/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All politics are based on the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/all-politics-are-based-on-the-indifference-of-the-majority/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-reston/all-politics-are-based-on-the-indifference-of-the-majority/#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 } } ] } ```