--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my own experience, I have been amazed…" description: "\"In my own experience, I have been amazed to see how unrealistic are the bases for political opinion in general. Only rarely have I found a person who h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38b/joost-meerloo-30477_amazed_in-my-own-experience-i-have-been-amazed_2925910.jpg" --- # In my own experience, I have been amazed to see how… ![“In my own experience, I have been amazed to see how unrealistic are the bases for political opinion in general. Only rarely have I found a person who has chosen any particular political party - democratic or totalitarian - through study and comparison of principles.” quote by Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38b/joost-meerloo-30477_amazed_in-my-own-experience-i-have-been-amazed_2925910.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38b/joost-meerloo-30477_amazed_in-my-own-experience-i-have-been-amazed_2925910.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38b/joost-meerloo-30477_amazed_in-my-own-experience-i-have-been-amazed_2925910.jpg) > “In my own experience, I have been amazed to see how unrealistic are the bases for political opinion in general. Only rarely have I found a person who has chosen any particular political party - democratic or totalitarian - through study and comparison of principles.” [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political opinions often lack deep study; few choose parties after comparing principles. **In simple terms:** Most people pick politics without analysis. Key Takeaway Encourage critical examination of political beliefs. Themes politics critical thinking ideology Mood cautious analytical Type philosophical inquisitive When to use this quote - voting - public debate - education curricula Key Concepts cognitive bias information overload Questions to Reflect On - Why do we cling to party labels? - How can education improve political reasoning? A Different Perspective People may resist deep analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Comparison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparison/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political opinions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-opinions/) [Political parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-parties/) [Political party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-party/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [I am more than ever convinced of the dangers to which the free and unbiased exercise of political opinion - the only sure foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/i-am-more-than-ever-convinced-of-the-dangers-to-which-the-free-and/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [My principles, and those always received by the republicans, do not admit to removing any person from office merely for a difference of political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-principles-and-those-always-received-by-the-republicans-do-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I'm a guy with a strong political opinion but I'm not a white nationalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/i-m-a-guy-with-a-strong-political-opinion-but-i-m-not-a-white/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [Just as a man's denominational orientation is the result of upbringing, and only the religious need as such slumbers in his soul, the political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/just-as-a-man-s-denominational-orientation-is-the-result-of/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [In every political community there are varying shades of political opinion. One of the shadiest of these is the liberals. An outspoken group on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/in-every-political-community-there-are-varying-shades-of-political/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [I don't want anybody to accuse me of taking advantage of the situation to pursue a particular political agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/i-don-t-want-anybody-to-accuse-me-of-taking-advantage-of-the/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [And this may be hard to swallow for those deeply embedded in a particular political philosophy, but I think most people - whatever their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharyl-attkisson/and-this-may-be-hard-to-swallow-for-those-deeply-embedded-in-a/) [Sharyl Attkisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharyl-attkisson/) > [I don't have a particular go-to political blog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-amash/i-don-t-have-a-particular-go-to-political-blog/) [Justin Amash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-amash/) > [I've never heard of a situation where, because somebody had a particular political belief, they didn't get a part. I think it's a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-ve-never-heard-of-a-situation-where-because-somebody-had-a/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [I'm not tied to any particular political line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hewson/i-m-not-tied-to-any-particular-political-line/) [John Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hewson/) > [Usually, whatever people's particular political leaning is, they either think I'm just like them or the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/usually-whatever-people-s-particular-political-leaning-is-they-either/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [“Agree with the positive; ignore the negative was the rule. Don’t volunteer anything from your personal life, and never express a political opinion, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrie-todd/agree-with-the-positive-ignore-the-negative-was-the-rule-don-t/) Terrie Todd > [I also see an undercurrent - and perhaps the Indigo Children are another aspect of this â€" that's moving in the right direction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/i-also-see-an-undercurrent-and-perhaps-the-indigo-children-are/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I'm always surprised on my social accounts that people assume that because you have a job in television you don't have a political opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimmern/i-m-always-surprised-on-my-social-accounts-that-people-assume-that/) [Andrew Zimmern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimmern/) > [Mr. Ware has no right to discharge any of his laborers on account of their political opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-merrill/mr-ware-has-no-right-to-discharge-any-of-his-laborers-on-account-of/) Charles E. Merrill ## More by Joost Meerloo > [Puzzlement and doubt are, however, already crimes in the totalitarian state. The mind that is open for questions is open for dissent. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/puzzlement-and-doubt-are-however-already-crimes-in-the-totalitarian/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [The big lie and monotonously repeated nonsense have more emotional appeal in a cold war than logic and reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/the-big-lie-and-monotonously-repeated-nonsense-have-more-emotional/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [He who dictates and formulates the words and phrases we use, he who is master of the press and radio, is master of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/he-who-dictates-and-formulates-the-words-and-phrases-we-use-he-who-is/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [Pavlov's findings were that some animals learned more quickly if rewarded (by affection, by food, by stroking) each time they showed the right response,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/pavlov-s-findings-were-that-some-animals-learned-more-quickly-if/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [Confusing a targeted audience is one of the necessary ingredients for effective mind control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/confusing-a-targeted-audience-is-one-of-the-necessary-ingredients-for/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [. . . well publicized facts are always the bane to the mind controllers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/well-publicized-facts-are-always-the-bane-to-the-mind-controllers/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [Ready made opinions can be distributed day by day through the press, radio, and so on, again and again, till they reach the nerve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/ready-made-opinions-can-be-distributed-day-by-day-through-the-press/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [The tension of a mysterious danger is even more unbearable than danger itself. People hate the vacuum of an unknown situation. They want security.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/the-tension-of-a-mysterious-danger-is-even-more-unbearable-than/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [Numbing the senses by monotonously repeating an assertion is a key element in utilizing mind control techniques.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/numbing-the-senses-by-monotonously-repeating-an-assertion-is-a-key/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [Demoralization of the target audience is yet another step in successful mind control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/demoralization-of-the-target-audience-is-yet-another-step-in/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [The bulk of the totalitarian-minded in the democratic societies are men and women who are attracted to this destructive way of life for inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/the-bulk-of-the-totalitarian-minded-in-the-democratic-societies-are/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [The continual intrusion into our minds of the hammering noises of arguments and propaganda can lead to two kinds of reactions. It may lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/the-continual-intrusion-into-our-minds-of-the-hammering-noises-of/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [If men can be made to understand that society, with its rigid codes and stratifications, is in its confused infancy rather than in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/if-men-can-be-made-to-understand-that-society-with-its-rigid-codes/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [Between two beings there is always the barrier of words. Man has so many ears and speaks so many languages. Should it nevertheless be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/between-two-beings-there-is-always-the-barrier-of-words-man-has-so/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) > [It's among the intelligentsia that we often find the glib compulsion to explain everything and to understand nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/it-s-among-the-intelligentsia-that-we-often-find-the-glib-compulsion/) [Joost Meerloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) [Explore all 17 Joost Meerloo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/) ## More Amazed quotes > [You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/you-will-never-cease-to-be-the-most-amazed-person-on-earth-at-what/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [You'd be amazed at pain and tears a single smile hides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-vasquez/you-d-be-amazed-at-pain-and-tears-a-single-smile-hides/) [Christian Vasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-vasquez/) > [“I am amazed at how being with him changes everything for me, socially speaking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/i-am-amazed-at-how-being-with-him-changes-everything-for-me-socially/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [I'm endlessly amazed by what people are capable of, and incapable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/i-m-endlessly-amazed-by-what-people-are-capable-of-and-incapable-of/) [Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/) > [Souls love. That’s what souls do. Egos don’t, but souls do. Become a soul, look around, and you’ll be amazed-all the beings around you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/souls-love-that-s-what-souls-do-egos-don-t-but-souls-do-become-a-soul/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Contrary to a common myth, while there are general guidelines, there is no exact 'right' way to run ... I am amazed by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/contrary-to-a-common-myth-while-there-are-general-guidelines-there-is/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [I'm always amazed by writers who tell me they plan everything at the beginning. I feel their writing days must be very bland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-tremain/i-m-always-amazed-by-writers-who-tell-me-they-plan-everything-at-the/) [Rose Tremain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-tremain/) > [What I am telling you is that you do not need to know to love, and it is right that you feel it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/what-i-am-telling-you-is-that-you-do-not-need-to-know-to-love-and-it/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [My father was truly a great man. I remember one day putting my feet in my father's shoes. I was amazed at the size.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/my-father-was-truly-a-great-man-i-remember-one-day-putting-my-feet-in/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [J. Budziszewski is perhaps the clearest and most eloquent natural lawyer writing today. When reading his works I often find myself amazed by his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-j-beckwith/j-budziszewski-is-perhaps-the-clearest-and-most-eloquent-natural/) [Francis J. Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-j-beckwith/) > [I've never ceased to be amazed at the survival skills of poor children. I've learned how much children can actually do for themselves if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-pearson/i-ve-never-ceased-to-be-amazed-at-the-survival-skills-of-poor/) Landon Pearson > [Mystical experiences (unlike scientific conclusions) cannot be communicated from one person to another. Philosophers and little children are continually amazed that we, unaccountably, find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/mystical-experiences-unlike-scientific-conclusions-cannot-be/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [As soon as I arrived I made an attempt to find my host but the two or three people of whom I asked his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/as-soon-as-i-arrived-i-made-an-attempt-to-find-my-host-but-the-two-or/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [I don't know why, but I'm continually amazed to think that two and a half billion of us around the world are connected to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kovacs/i-don-t-know-why-but-i-m-continually-amazed-to-think-that-two-and-a/) [Gary Kovacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kovacs/) > [The key to contentment is to consider. Consider who you are and be satisfied with that. Consider what you have and be satisfied with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luci-swindoll/the-key-to-contentment-is-to-consider-consider-who-you-are-and-be/) [Luci Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luci-swindoll/) Browse all 776 Amazed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In my own experience, I have been amazed to see how unrealistic are the bases for political opinion in general. Only rarely have I found a person who has chosen any particular political party - democratic or totalitarian - through study and comparison of principles.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joost Meerloo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/in-my-own-experience-i-have-been-amazed-to-see-how-unrealistic-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amazed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/in-my-own-experience-i-have-been-amazed-to-see-how-unrealistic-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38b/joost-meerloo-30477_amazed_in-my-own-experience-i-have-been-amazed_2925910.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38b/joost-meerloo-30477_amazed_in-my-own-experience-i-have-been-amazed_2925910.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38b/joost-meerloo-30477_amazed_in-my-own-experience-i-have-been-amazed_2925910.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In my own experience, I have been amazed to see how unrealistic are the bases for political opinion in…” — Joost Meerloo", "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": "Joost Meerloo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joost-meerloo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In my own experience, I have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/in-my-own-experience-i-have-been-amazed-to-see-how-unrealistic-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-meerloo/in-my-own-experience-i-have-been-amazed-to-see-how-unrealistic-are/#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 } } ] } ```