--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most Americans don't live their lives…" description: "\"Most Americans don't live their lives solely as Democrats or Republicans or conservatives or liberals. Most Americans live their lives that are just a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/435/jon-stewart-455_bits_most-americans-don-t-live-their-lives-so_1320748.jpg" --- # Most Americans don't live their lives solely as Democrats… ![“Most Americans don't live their lives solely as Democrats or Republicans or conservatives or liberals. Most Americans live their lives that are just a little bit late for something they have to do. Often it's something they do not want to do, but they do it. Impossible things get done every day…” quote by Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/435/jon-stewart-455_bits_most-americans-don-t-live-their-lives-so_1320748.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/435/jon-stewart-455_bits_most-americans-don-t-live-their-lives-so_1320748.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/435/jon-stewart-455_bits_most-americans-don-t-live-their-lives-so_1320748.jpg) > “Most Americans don't live their lives solely as Democrats or Republicans or conservatives or liberals. Most Americans live their lives that are just a little bit late for something they have to do. Often it's something they do not want to do, but they do it. Impossible things get done every day that are only made possible by the little, reasonable compromises.” [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Americans constantly make small compromises to accomplish necessary tasks, despite personal reluctance. **In simple terms:** Everyday life requires practical compromises. Key Takeaway Accept and manage necessary compromises. Themes pragmatism politics daily life Mood thoughtful analytical Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - workplace - family obligations - government policy - community projects - personal errands Key Concepts compromise cognitive dissonance social contract Questions to Reflect On - Which compromises feel essential versus unnecessary? - How can you align compromises with core values? A Different Perspective Compromises may erode personal values over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Impossible things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-things/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) ## Related quotes > [What we need to recognize, less than 1 percent of the people organized around issues that are already supported by conservatives and liberals, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/what-we-need-to-recognize-less-than-1-percent-of-the-people-organized/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [You always want to have a mix of conservatives and liberals on a panel, especially on election night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-zimmer/you-always-want-to-have-a-mix-of-conservatives-and-liberals-on-a/) [Constance Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-zimmer/) > [It will not just be conservatives or liberals, Republicans or Democrats, people of faith or unbelievers that restore America. It will be individuals from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-baldwin/it-will-not-just-be-conservatives-or-liberals-republicans-or/) [Chuck Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-baldwin/) > [Both conservatives and liberals watch 'Parks and Recreation,' and they each think the show is for them, which is really cool. 'SNL' was totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/both-conservatives-and-liberals-watch-parks-and-recreation-and-they/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [“when conservatives, but not liberals, are instructed to use reappraisal techniques (e.g., “Try to view the images in a detached, unemotional way”), they express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/when-conservatives-but-not-liberals-are-instructed-to-use-reappraisal/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Since Aureliano at that time had very confused notions about the difference between Conservatives and Liberals, his father in law gave him some schematic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/since-aureliano-at-that-time-had-very-confused-notions-about-the/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [Free your mind from the colonization of thinking within the obtuse parameters of 'right' and 'left', of conservatives and liberals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tripp-york/free-your-mind-from-the-colonization-of-thinking-within-the-obtuse/) [Tripp York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tripp-york/) > [When you practice reporting for as long as I have, you keep yourself at a distance from True Believers. Either conservatives or liberals or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/when-you-practice-reporting-for-as-long-as-i-have-you-keep-yourself/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [I am not a conservative but I have spoken out for years against the staggering amount blind hatred directed at black conservatives by liberals.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-am-not-a-conservative-but-i-have-spoken-out-for-years-against-the/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [The general difference between conservatives and liberals is that liberals like pretty pictures and conservatives like to build bridges that people can drive across.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-general-difference-between-conservatives-and-liberals-is-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [But perhaps the most important difference between conservatives and liberals can be found in the area of national security. Conservatives saw the savagery of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/but-perhaps-the-most-important-difference-between-conservatives-and/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [I believe that the real difference in the American church is not between conservatives and liberals, fundamentalists and charismatics, nor between Republicans and Democrats.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/i-believe-that-the-real-difference-in-the-american-church-is-not/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Conservatives and liberals are kindred spirits as far as government spending is concerned. First, let's make sure we understand what government spending is. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/conservatives-and-liberals-are-kindred-spirits-as-far-as-government/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [I've learned in Congress it's not necessarily Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals. It's those that do math and those that don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-learned-in-congress-it-s-not-necessarily-republicans-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Personnely I think that conservatives & liberals should move towards the middle of the road. Makes it easier to run'em over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/personnely-i-think-that-conservatives-liberals-should-move-towards/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) ## More by Jon Stewart > [Clearly, I'm way older than everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/clearly-i-m-way-older-than-everyone/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I don't think marijuana should be illegal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-think-marijuana-should-be-illegal/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I reject the idea there are just two sides. I think that with the amount of ideas and thoughts there are, it's not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-reject-the-idea-there-are-just-two-sides-i-think-that-with-the/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Megachurches. I can't be the only one frightened when our houses of worship sound like they could take on Godzilla.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/megachurches-i-can-t-be-the-only-one-frightened-when-our-houses-of/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [While opponents label (Howard) Dean a throwback liberal, The New York Times recently noted that as governor, Dean cut income taxes, reformed welfare and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/while-opponents-label-howard-dean-a-throwback-liberal-the-new-york/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [You just have to keep trying to do good work, and hope that it leads to more good work. I want to look back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-just-have-to-keep-trying-to-do-good-work-and-hope-that-it-leads/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [You know, in Saudi Arabia, you're innocent until proven Jewish. Female. Guilty! They're guilty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-know-in-saudi-arabia-you-re-innocent-until-proven-jewish-female/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [The unfortunate, yet truly exciting thing about your life, is that there is no core curriculum. The entire place is an elective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-unfortunate-yet-truly-exciting-thing-about-your-life-is-that/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [A guy who says what people who aren't thinking are thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/a-guy-who-says-what-people-who-aren-t-thinking-are-thinking/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Do you guys have to sell everything? I'd like to buy the Earth's core.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/do-you-guys-have-to-sell-everything-i-d-like-to-buy-the-earth-s-core/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Christmas and the New Year are actually two holidays. So there is a plural, which in the English language, necessitates the use of 's.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/christmas-and-the-new-year-are-actually-two-holidays-so-there-is-a/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [We're going to do a challenge. I'm going to try and download every movie ever made and you are going to try to sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/we-re-going-to-do-a-challenge-i-m-going-to-try-and-download-every/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Our culture is just a series of checks and balances. The whole idea that we're in a battle between tyranny and freedom - it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/our-culture-is-just-a-series-of-checks-and-balances-the-whole-idea/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [For me it was just exciting to see fake news catching on like that. We don't you know, it's interesting. I think we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/for-me-it-was-just-exciting-to-see-fake-news-catching-on-like-that-we/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) [Explore all 545 Jon Stewart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) ## More Americans quotes > [“People – Americans, mostly – realise how attached they are to material comforts when they arrive in India.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-william-roberts/people-americans-mostly-realise-how-attached-they-are-to-material/) Paul William Roberts > [Music has an intrinsic value that touches Americans - they love their music, and want more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-rosen/music-has-an-intrinsic-value-that-touches-americans-they-love-their/) [Hilary Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-rosen/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [Just because the Americans are so good at rattling out accessible and cheap junk food, nobody looks twice when it comes to their food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/just-because-the-americans-are-so-good-at-rattling-out-accessible-and/) [Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/) > [My parents don't care what Americans think of us; we just care what the other Indian people in our community think of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himanshu-suri/my-parents-don-t-care-what-americans-think-of-us-we-just-care-what/) [Himanshu Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himanshu-suri/) > [When Americans, who have no idea who I am, laugh at my jokes, it's exactly the same if someone loves you even if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/when-americans-who-have-no-idea-who-i-am-laugh-at-my-jokes-it-s/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We Americans tend to be a prodigal lot. We are as careless with our personal resources as we are with the resources of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crook-de-camp/we-americans-tend-to-be-a-prodigal-lot-we-are-as-careless-with-our/) [Catherine Crook de Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crook-de-camp/) > [Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/americans-will-put-up-with-anything-provided-it-doesn-t-block-traffic/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [Most Americans believe in fairness; we believe that people should work hard but there should be a safety net. We believe in saving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-maclean/most-americans-believe-in-fairness-we-believe-that-people-should-work/) [Nancy MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-maclean/) > [“Using a wide variety of media, we could demonstrate for our fellow Americans their anxieties, desires, insufficiencies, and frustrations--and how to assuage them all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/using-a-wide-variety-of-media-we-could-demonstrate-for-our-fellow/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-americans-say-that-we-are-ungrateful-but-i-ask-them-for-heaven-s/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [So many Korean Americans like me came to this country with the hope of achieving their own American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-steel/so-many-korean-americans-like-me-came-to-this-country-with-the-hope/) [Michelle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-steel/) > [You are Americans. You love this country. Together we are entrusted with the principles that represent mankind's greatest political and social achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/you-are-americans-you-love-this-country-together-we-are-entrusted/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) [Browse all 1,536 Americans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most Americans don't live their lives solely as Democrats or Republicans or conservatives or liberals. Most Americans live their lives that are just a little bit late for something they have to do. Often it's something they do not want to do, but they do it. 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