--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They are nattering nabobs of negativism." description: "\"“They are nattering nabobs of negativism.”\" — John W. Dean" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/john-w-dean-24242_negativism_they-are-nattering-nabobs-of-negativism_3152076.jpg" --- # They are nattering nabobs of negativism. ![“They are nattering nabobs of negativism.” quote by John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/john-w-dean-24242_negativism_they-are-nattering-nabobs-of-negativism_3152076.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/john-w-dean-24242_negativism_they-are-nattering-nabobs-of-negativism_3152076.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/john-w-dean-24242_negativism_they-are-nattering-nabobs-of-negativism_3152076.jpg) > ““They are nattering nabobs of negativism.”” [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes opponents as overly negative and unproductive. **In simple terms:** Negative people hinder progress. Key Takeaway Avoid negativity. Themes politics communication optimism Mood cautious critical Type political rhetorical When to use this quote - campaign strategy - team meetings - public debates Key Concepts negativism propaganda critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn criticism into constructive feedback? - When is skepticism useful? A Different Perspective Negativity can sometimes highlight valid concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nabobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nabobs-5230675/) [Nabobs Negativism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nabobs-negativism-1274020/) [Nattering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nattering-5230677/) [Nattering Nabobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nattering-nabobs-5230673/) [Nattering Nabobs Of Negativism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nattering-nabobs-of-negativism-220647/) [Negativism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negativism/) ## Related quotes > [... nattering nabobs of negativism ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/nattering-nabobs-of-negativism/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [Nixon's own protection from the assassin's bullet... nattering nabobs of negativism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/nixon-s-own-protection-from-the-assassin-s-bullet-nattering-nabobs-of/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [In the United States today, we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/in-the-united-states-today-we-have-more-than-our-share-of-the-2/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [In the United States today, we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism. They have formed their own 4-H Club…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/in-the-united-states-today-we-have-more-than-our-share-of-the/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [What I am suggesting is that each of us turn from the negativism that permeates our society and look for the remarkable good among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/what-i-am-suggesting-is-that-each-of-us-turn-from-the-negativism-that/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“Negativism is the most harmful disease in the world. They spread much faster and does not go away. There are no antibiotics to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santoshkumar-shukla/negativism-is-the-most-harmful-disease-in-the-world-they-spread-much/) [Santoshkumar Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santoshkumar-shukla/) > [“I am drowning in negativism, self-hate, doubt, madness - and even I am not strong enough to deny the routine, the rote, to simplify.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-am-drowning-in-negativism-self-hate-doubt-madness-and-even-i-am-not/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging. Negativism to the pain and ferocity of life is negativism to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/opportunities-to-find-deeper-powers-within-ourselves-come-when-life-2/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [To recognize negativism as a force of creation is to give up the creative standpoint altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-twitchell/to-recognize-negativism-as-a-force-of-creation-is-to-give-up-the/) [Paul Twitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-twitchell/) > [We must remember when we speak of the "negativism" of the toddler that this is also the child who is intoxicated with the discoveries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/we-must-remember-when-we-speak-of-the-negativism-of-the-toddler-that/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [“Every observer has noted that the younger the child, the less sense he has of his own ego. From the intellectual point of view,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/every-observer-has-noted-that-the-younger-the-child-the-less-sense-he/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) ## More by John W. Dean > [“• They travel in tight circles of likeminded people. • Their thinking is more likely based on what authorities have told them rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/they-travel-in-tight-circles-of-likeminded-people-their-thinking-is/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“Social Dominators—Leaders: • typically men • dominating\* • opposes equality\* • desirous of personal power\* • amoral\* • intimidating and bullying • faintly hedonistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/social-dominators-leaders-typically-men-dominating-opposes-equality/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“Conservatives without conscience do not have horns and tails; if they did they would be easier to identify. Many of them can be quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/conservatives-without-conscience-do-not-have-horns-and-tails-if-they/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“But on a more pedestrian level, he found it difficult for most right-wingers to talk about any subject about which they felt strongly without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/but-on-a-more-pedestrian-level-he-found-it-difficult-for-most-right/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“American-style despotism is possible only if it has a large and influential base, and that potential exists in the religious right’s active role in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/american-style-despotism-is-possible-only-if-it-has-a-large-and/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“how have conservatives succeeded in coalescing as a political force? The simple answer is through the power of negative thinking, and specifically, the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/how-have-conservatives-succeeded-in-coalescing-as-a-political-force/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“Now, on the investigation, you know, the Democratic break-in thing,” Haldeman began, “we’re back to the problem area, because the FBI is not under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/now-on-the-investigation-you-know-the-democratic-break-in-thing/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“Probably about 20 to 25 percent of the adult American population is so right-wing authoritarian, so scared, so self-righteous, so ill-informed, and so dogmatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/probably-about-20-to-25-percent-of-the-adult-american-population-is/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/and-when-you-pray-do-not-be-like-the-hypocrites-for-they-love-to-pray/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“Research finds that authoritarian aggression is fueled by fear and encouraged by remarkable self-righteousness, which frees aggressive impulses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/research-finds-that-authoritarian-aggression-is-fueled-by-fear-and/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“What actually occurred was that the Supreme Court issued its abominable opinion in Dred Scott v. Sanford in 1857, asserting that slaves were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/what-actually-occurred-was-that-the-supreme-court-issued-its/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“Haldeman, it seemed, lived by Polonius’ advice to his son—“apparel oft proclaims the man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/haldeman-it-seemed-lived-by-polonius-advice-to-his-son-apparel-oft/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“the “queen of mean,” Ann Coulter,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/the-queen-of-mean-ann-coulter/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“Political scientist Clinton Rossiter, considered one of the first neoconservatives, answered this question head-on, and unlike his peers, honestly, in his early study Conservatism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/political-scientist-clinton-rossiter-considered-one-of-the-first/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) > [“Chris Matthews of MSNBC’s Hardball has made similar observations, and describes today’s Republicans as the “Daddy” party and Democrats as the “Mommy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/chris-matthews-of-msnbc-s-hardball-has-made-similar-observations-and/) [John W. Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) [Explore all 24 John W. Dean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/) ## More Negativism quotes > [Nixon's own protection from the assassin's bullet... nattering nabobs of negativism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/nixon-s-own-protection-from-the-assassin-s-bullet-nattering-nabobs-of/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [We must remember when we speak of the "negativism" of the toddler that this is also the child who is intoxicated with the discoveries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-fraiberg/we-must-remember-when-we-speak-of-the-negativism-of-the-toddler-that/) [Selma Fraiberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-fraiberg/) > [In the United States today, we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism. They have formed their own 4-H Club…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/in-the-united-states-today-we-have-more-than-our-share-of-the/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [What I am suggesting is that each of us turn from the negativism that permeates our society and look for the remarkable good among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/what-i-am-suggesting-is-that-each-of-us-turn-from-the-negativism-that/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“Negativism is the most harmful disease in the world. They spread much faster and does not go away. There are no antibiotics to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santoshkumar-shukla/negativism-is-the-most-harmful-disease-in-the-world-they-spread-much/) [Santoshkumar Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santoshkumar-shukla/) > [“Every observer has noted that the younger the child, the less sense he has of his own ego. From the intellectual point of view,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/every-observer-has-noted-that-the-younger-the-child-the-less-sense-he/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [“I am drowning in negativism, self-hate, doubt, madness - and even I am not strong enough to deny the routine, the rote, to simplify.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-am-drowning-in-negativism-self-hate-doubt-madness-and-even-i-am-not/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging. Negativism to the pain and ferocity of life is negativism to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/opportunities-to-find-deeper-powers-within-ourselves-come-when-life-2/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [To recognize negativism as a force of creation is to give up the creative standpoint altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-twitchell/to-recognize-negativism-as-a-force-of-creation-is-to-give-up-the/) [Paul Twitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-twitchell/) > [... nattering nabobs of negativism ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/nattering-nabobs-of-negativism/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [In the United States today, we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/in-the-united-states-today-we-have-more-than-our-share-of-the-2/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) [Browse all 12 Negativism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negativism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They are nattering nabobs of negativism.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John W. Dean" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/they-are-nattering-nabobs-of-negativism/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Negativism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/they-are-nattering-nabobs-of-negativism/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/john-w-dean-24242_negativism_they-are-nattering-nabobs-of-negativism_3152076.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/john-w-dean-24242_negativism_they-are-nattering-nabobs-of-negativism_3152076.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/john-w-dean-24242_negativism_they-are-nattering-nabobs-of-negativism_3152076.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They are nattering nabobs of negativism.” — John W. Dean", "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": "John W. Dean", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-dean/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“They are nattering nabobs of negativism.”", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/they-are-nattering-nabobs-of-negativism/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-dean/they-are-nattering-nabobs-of-negativism/#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 } } ] } ```