---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing about Republicans is that they…"
description: "\"The thing about Republicans is that they don't care so much about respect, but they love fear, at least in others.\" — Jane Smiley"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/jane-smiley-2120_care_the-thing-about-republicans-is-that-they_2662960.png"
---

#  The thing about Republicans is that they don't care so…

![“The thing about Republicans is that they don't care so much about respect, but they love fear, at least in others.” quote by Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/jane-smiley-2120_care_the-thing-about-republicans-is-that-they_2662960.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/jane-smiley-2120_care_the-thing-about-republicans-is-that-they_2662960.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/jane-smiley-2120_care_the-thing-about-republicans-is-that-they_2662960.png)

> “The thing about Republicans is that they don't care so much about respect, but they love fear, at least in others.”

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Republicans prioritize fear over respect, using intimidation as a tool.

**In simple terms:** They value fear more than respect.

Key Takeaway

Recognize fear‑based tactics in discourse.

Themes

politics psychology power dynamics

Mood

analytical concerned

Type

political observational

When to use this quote

- campaigns
- media commentary
- public debates

Key Concepts

sociology communication political theory

Questions to Reflect On

- How does fear influence voter behavior?
- Can respect be restored in politics?

A Different Perspective

Not all Republicans fit this view.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear of love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Republicans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republicans/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/)

## Related quotes

> [Mitt Romney has a fund-raiser. He's going to get in the ring and fight Evander Holyfield. This is the dumbest thing Republicans have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/mitt-romney-has-a-fund-raiser-he-s-going-to-get-in-the-ring-and-fight/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [One thing Republicans understand: In American elections, you have to choose from among only two people - not between the perfect and the good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/one-thing-republicans-understand-in-american-elections-you-have-to/)

[Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/)

> [“The fear of love can be replaced by the love of fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-biondi/the-fear-of-love-can-be-replaced-by-the-love-of-fear/)

[Michael Biondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-biondi/)

> [Presents of love fear not to be ill taken of strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/presents-of-love-fear-not-to-be-ill-taken-of-strangers/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [I have been continuously surprised by people who come to me and say they are afraid of love. What is the fear of love?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/i-have-been-continuously-surprised-by-people-who-come-to-me-and-say/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [There are rocks deep enough in this earth that no matter what the rupture, they will never see the surface. There is, I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/there-are-rocks-deep-enough-in-this-earth-that-no-matter-what-the/)

[Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/)

> [I would rather you love me, but if not love, fear will do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-would-rather-you-love-me-but-if-not-love-fear-will-do/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [I love Fear Factor, but I think they're running out of fears. It's only a matter of time before they're sitting around doing shots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-attell/i-love-fear-factor-but-i-think-they-re-running-out-of-fears-it-s-only/)

[Dave Attell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-attell/)

> [When ya gotta goNow we know what we are here for. We are not here to love fear and serve any old bearded but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brion-gysin/when-ya-gotta-gonow-we-know-what-we-are-here-for-we-are-not-here-to/)

[Brion Gysin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brion-gysin/)

> [There are only two emotions. Love and fear… Love and fear is all there is == Everything else is just an offshoot motivated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/there-are-only-two-emotions-love-and-fear-love-and-fear-is-all-there/)

[Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/)

> [You love fear. The ending of fear is death, and you don't want that to happen. I am not talking of wiping out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-g-krishnamurti/you-love-fear-the-ending-of-fear-is-death-and-you-don-t-want-that-to/)

[U.G. Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u-g-krishnamurti/)

> [Love endures everything, love is stronger than death, love fears nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-faustina-kowalska/love-endures-everything-love-is-stronger-than-death-love-fears-nothing/)

[Mary Faustina Kowalska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-faustina-kowalska/)

> [Fear's the only obstacle that gets in the way of doing what we love. Fear holds us back from living the lives we're made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/fear-s-the-only-obstacle-that-gets-in-the-way-of-doing-what-we-love/)

[Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/)

> [“He glanced up in my direction and I froze. Quickly I turned away. There are rocks deep enough in this earth that no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/he-glanced-up-in-my-direction-and-i-froze-quickly-i-turned-away-there/)

[Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/)

> [To fear love is to fear life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/to-fear-love-is-to-fear-life/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

## More by Jane Smiley

> [Some novelists are luckier than others in the eras of their formative intellectual years, but all Weltanschauungs return, which means that most novelists have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/some-novelists-are-luckier-than-others-in-the-eras-of-their-formative/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [There can never be such a thing as a free market, because it is human nature to cheat, monopolize, and buy off others so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/there-can-never-be-such-a-thing-as-a-free-market-because-it-is-human/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [The only siblings I have are half-siblings. My nuclear family would have been an extra-suffocating threesome. Instead, I have an interesting brother and sister,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/the-only-siblings-i-have-are-half-siblings-my-nuclear-family-would/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [How will you know a good farmer when you meet him? He will not ask you for any favors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/how-will-you-know-a-good-farmer-when-you-meet-him-he-will-not-ask-you/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [You know what getting married is? It's agreeing to taking this person who right now is at the top of his form, full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/you-know-what-getting-married-is-it-s-agreeing-to-taking-this-person/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [Every first draft is perfect, because all a first draft has to do is exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/every-first-draft-is-perfect-because-all-a-first-draft-has-to-do-is/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [“We watched the swimmers and sunbathers and I thought about this. Had I faced all the facts? It seemed like I had, but actually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/we-watched-the-swimmers-and-sunbathers-and-i-thought-about-this-had-i/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [“They throw themselves on the waters of the world, and they know they will be borne up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/they-throw-themselves-on-the-waters-of-the-world-and-they-know-they/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [everything is toxic. That's the point. You can't avoid toxins. Thinking you can is just another symptom of the toxic overload stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/everything-is-toxic-that-s-the-point-you-can-t-avoid-toxins-thinking/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [“Shame is a distinct feeling. I couldn’t look at my hands around the coffee cup or hear my own laments without feeling appalled, wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/shame-is-a-distinct-feeling-i-couldn-t-look-at-my-hands-around-the/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [“She could not have created this moment, these lovely faces, these candles flickering, the flash of the silverware, the fragrances of the food hanging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/she-could-not-have-created-this-moment-these-lovely-faces-these/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [Horse racing is really much more intimidating than anything having to do with literature. When I had horses at the racetrack, I would wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/horse-racing-is-really-much-more-intimidating-than-anything-having-to/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [“Had I faced all the facts It seemed like I had but actually you never know just by remembering how many there were to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/had-i-faced-all-the-facts-it-seemed-like-i-had-but-actually-you-never/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [A theory of creativity is actually just a metaphor. A pool of ideas, a well of memories, a voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/a-theory-of-creativity-is-actually-just-a-metaphor-a-pool-of-ideas-a/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [There are hundreds of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings around the United States and in other countries, too. Wright lived into his 90s, and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/there-are-hundreds-of-frank-lloyd-wright-buildings-around-the-united/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

[Explore all 185 Jane Smiley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

## More Care quotes

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/)

[Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/)

[Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/)

[Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [What makes you care about nature, about the planet? Is it really that you're afraid of what's going to happen if you don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/what-makes-you-care-about-nature-about-the-planet-is-it-really-that/)

[Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/)

> [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/)

[James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/)

> [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/)

[Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/)

> [I don't care if you make a print on a bath mat, just as long as it is a good print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/i-don-t-care-if-you-make-a-print-on-a-bath-mat-just-as-long-as-it-is/)

[Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/)

> [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/)

[Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

[Browse all 19,019 Care quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The thing about Republicans is that they don't care so much about respect, but they love fear, at least in others.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jane Smiley"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/the-thing-about-republicans-is-that-they-don-t-care-so-much-about/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Care"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/the-thing-about-republicans-is-that-they-don-t-care-so-much-about/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/jane-smiley-2120_care_the-thing-about-republicans-is-that-they_2662960.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/jane-smiley-2120_care_the-thing-about-republicans-is-that-they_2662960.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70f/jane-smiley-2120_care_the-thing-about-republicans-is-that-they_2662960.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The thing about Republicans is that they don't care so much about respect, but they love fear, at least in…” — Jane Smiley",
                "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": "Jane Smiley",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The thing about Republicans is that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/the-thing-about-republicans-is-that-they-don-t-care-so-much-about/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/the-thing-about-republicans-is-that-they-don-t-care-so-much-about/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
