--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wouldn't characterise myself as a…" description: "\"I wouldn't characterise myself as a bleeding heart liberal, whatever that is.\" — Keir Starmer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/keir-starmer-4888_bleeding-heart_i-wouldn-t-characterise-myself-as-a-blee_2057018.jpg" --- # I wouldn't characterise myself as a bleeding heart… ![“I wouldn't characterise myself as a bleeding heart liberal, whatever that is.” quote by Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/keir-starmer-4888_bleeding-heart_i-wouldn-t-characterise-myself-as-a-blee_2057018.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/keir-starmer-4888_bleeding-heart_i-wouldn-t-characterise-myself-as-a-blee_2057018.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/keir-starmer-4888_bleeding-heart_i-wouldn-t-characterise-myself-as-a-blee_2057018.jpg) > “I wouldn't characterise myself as a bleeding heart liberal, whatever that is.” [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He distances himself from the label “bleeding‑heart liberal,” suggesting a more moderate stance. **In simple terms:** He isn’t a typical liberal. Key Takeaway Avoid self‑labeling; focus on policies. Themes politics identity moderation Mood defensive reflective Type political personal When to use this quote - campaign speeches - media interviews - policy debates Key Concepts center‑left political branding Questions to Reflect On - How do you define your political values? - Do labels help or hinder public perception? A Different Perspective Label may oversimplify nuanced positions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bleeding heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bleeding-heart/) [Characterise Bleeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characterise-bleeding-3905288/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-liberal-1012139/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Whatever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whatever/) [Wouldn Characterise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wouldn-characterise-3905287/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a 'bleeding-heart liberal,' one of those card-carrying Democrats that Rush Limbaugh thinks is a communist. And I'm proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-garner/i-m-a-bleeding-heart-liberal-one-of-those-card-carrying-democrats/) [James Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-garner/) > [I was a bleeding-heart liberal, until I got a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/i-was-a-bleeding-heart-liberal-until-i-got-a-job/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [I'm an unapologetic, bleeding heart liberal who thinks the world should be fairer and kinder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kira-permunian/i-m-an-unapologetic-bleeding-heart-liberal-who-thinks-the-world/) [Kira Permunian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kira-permunian/) > [So many people there are in politics that they're overly cautious about laughing at stuff. They're so damned concerned about what everyone else is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/so-many-people-there-are-in-politics-that-they-re-overly-cautious/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [Good for you, you have a heart, you can be a liberal. Now, couple your heart with your brain, and you can be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/good-for-you-you-have-a-heart-you-can-be-a-liberal-now-couple-your/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [Most Americans, in their heart, are liberal and progressive. It's just a small minority of people who hate, they hate, they exist in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/most-americans-in-their-heart-are-liberal-and-progressive-it-s-just-a/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [A liberal education is at the heart of a civil society, and at the heart of a liberal education is the act of teaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-bartlett-giamatti/a-liberal-education-is-at-the-heart-of-a-civil-society-and-at-the/) [A. Bartlett Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-bartlett-giamatti/) > [I must warn you right here and now that I am a 'wet leftie,' a 'leftist' and also a member of the 'bleeding heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/i-must-warn-you-right-here-and-now-that-i-am-a-wet-leftie-a-leftist/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [The heart of the liberal philosophy is a belief in the dignity of the individual, in his freedom to make the most of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-heart-of-the-liberal-philosophy-is-a-belief-in-the-dignity-of-the/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [The heart of the liberal philosophy is a belief in the dignity of the individual, in his freedom to make the most of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-heart-of-the-liberal-philosophy-is-a-belief-in-the-dignity-of-the-2/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I do take for granted, probably, the fact that I grew up in New York City, one of the most liberal places on earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/i-do-take-for-granted-probably-the-fact-that-i-grew-up-in-new-york/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [We need to have the mind of a conservative and the heart of a liberal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/we-need-to-have-the-mind-of-a-conservative-and-the-heart-of-a-liberal/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make life so, right in the middle of it we die, lose a leg,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/life-is-not-orderly-no-matter-how-we-try-to-make-life-so-right-in-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [“Art is the magical act of one bleeding heart healing another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akash-mandal/art-is-the-magical-act-of-one-bleeding-heart-healing-another/) [Akash Mandal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akash-mandal/) > [If all these guys think that nothing is going to come out for 100 years, they're going to act a whole lot more boldly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/if-all-these-guys-think-that-nothing-is-going-to-come-out-for-100/) [Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/) ## More by Keir Starmer > [We have to call out terrorism for what it is, and I have always done that, and the Labour Party has always done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/we-have-to-call-out-terrorism-for-what-it-is-and-i-have-always-done/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [If you lose your job because there has been an influx of labour from another country, that is a legitimate cause for concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/if-you-lose-your-job-because-there-has-been-an-influx-of-labour-from/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [When I was the director of public prosecutions between 2008 and 2013, I had staff working at the Eurojust HQ in The Hague 24/7.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/when-i-was-the-director-of-public-prosecutions-between-2008-and-2013/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [As we exit the E.U., there must be a new approach to immigration that has the consent of the British people and is managed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/as-we-exit-the-e-u-there-must-be-a-new-approach-to-immigration-that/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [So if you want a really effective criminal justice strategy, you don't build bigger prisons, you invest money in young kids - and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/so-if-you-want-a-really-effective-criminal-justice-strategy-you-don-t/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [I think the first what would happen in the immediate wake of a hard Brexit is a lack of confidence in UK economy. Business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/i-think-the-first-what-would-happen-in-the-immediate-wake-of-a-hard/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [Surveillance legislation fit for the 21st century, which strikes the right balance between privacy, security and democracy is a prize worth fighting for, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/surveillance-legislation-fit-for-the-21st-century-which-strikes-the/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [Labor party wants to make the economy fairer for everybody with a new industrial strategy and by investing in different parts of the UK.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/labor-party-wants-to-make-the-economy-fairer-for-everybody-with-a-new/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [For far too long, victims' rights have been discussed only in the context of sentencing. Sentencing is very important, but the debate obscures something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/for-far-too-long-victims-rights-have-been-discussed-only-in-the/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [In the absence of honesty from the Conservative party leadership, it is Labour's duty to spell out the very real consequences of a no-deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/in-the-absence-of-honesty-from-the-conservative-party-leadership-it/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [Just when we need a strong government, what do we see? Division. Chaos. And failure. No credible plan for Brexit, no solution to prevent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/just-when-we-need-a-strong-government-what-do-we-see-division-chaos/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [I believe Britain's response to Brexit must be based on core progressive values: internationalism, cooperation, social justice and the rule of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/i-believe-britain-s-response-to-brexit-must-be-based-on-core/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [There is a world of difference between not disclosing fine detail and relying on broad and generalised assertions. The first may be understandable; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/there-is-a-world-of-difference-between-not-disclosing-fine-detail-and/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [The key to understanding the impact of the Human Rights Act in the U.K. is to appreciate that civil liberties and human rights are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/the-key-to-understanding-the-impact-of-the-human-rights-act-in-the-u/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [You don't win elections by telling people what you're against. We're very good at listing things we don't much like about what the Tories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/you-don-t-win-elections-by-telling-people-what-you-re-against-we-re/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) [Explore all 105 Keir Starmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) ## More Bleeding heart quotes > [If all these guys think that nothing is going to come out for 100 years, they're going to act a whole lot more boldly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-gup/if-all-these-guys-think-that-nothing-is-going-to-come-out-for-100/) [Ted Gup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-gup/) > [“Art is the magical act of one bleeding heart healing another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akash-mandal/art-is-the-magical-act-of-one-bleeding-heart-healing-another/) [Akash Mandal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akash-mandal/) > [Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make life so, right in the middle of it we die, lose a leg,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/life-is-not-orderly-no-matter-how-we-try-to-make-life-so-right-in-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I'm an unapologetic, bleeding heart liberal who thinks the world should be fairer and kinder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kira-permunian/i-m-an-unapologetic-bleeding-heart-liberal-who-thinks-the-world/) [Kira Permunian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kira-permunian/) > [“Puppy, I am getting so tired of listening to you whine about this,” he snarled at Zeke. “This isn’t rocket science. If you don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/puppy-i-am-getting-so-tired-of-listening-to-you-whine-about-this-he/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [I'm a 'bleeding-heart liberal,' one of those card-carrying Democrats that Rush Limbaugh thinks is a communist. And I'm proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-garner/i-m-a-bleeding-heart-liberal-one-of-those-card-carrying-democrats/) [James Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-garner/) > [Soon the purple dark must bruise Lily and bleeding-heart and rose, And the little Cupid lose Eyes and ears and chin and nose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-justice/soon-the-purple-dark-must-bruise-lily-and-bleeding-heart-and-rose-and/) [Donald Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-justice/) > [“Then we had the irises, rising beautiful and cool on their tall stalks, like blown glass, like pastel water momentarily frozen in a splash,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/then-we-had-the-irises-rising-beautiful-and-cool-on-their-tall-stalks/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“A mind can bleed a heart to death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/a-mind-can-bleed-a-heart-to-death/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [If you look hard at it, if you look hard at the bleeding heart attitude to always throw money at issues, throw money at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-forrest/if-you-look-hard-at-it-if-you-look-hard-at-the-bleeding-heart/) [Andrew Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-forrest/) > [I must warn you right here and now that I am a 'wet leftie,' a 'leftist' and also a member of the 'bleeding heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/i-must-warn-you-right-here-and-now-that-i-am-a-wet-leftie-a-leftist/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [I was a bleeding-heart liberal, until I got a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/i-was-a-bleeding-heart-liberal-until-i-got-a-job/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [My austerities, fasting and prayers are, I know, of no value if I rely upon them for reforming me. My penance is the prayer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-austerities-fasting-and-prayers-are-i-know-of-no-value-if-i-rely/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“There is a delicate-looking plant native to North America called bleeding heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-aterovis/there-is-a-delicate-looking-plant-native-to-north-america-called/) [Josh Aterovis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-aterovis/) > [“I'd rather have a bleeding heart than no heart at all”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-ingro/i-d-rather-have-a-bleeding-heart-than-no-heart-at-all/) [Jessica Ingro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-ingro/) [Browse all 70 Bleeding heart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bleeding-heart/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wouldn't characterise myself as a bleeding heart liberal, whatever that is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Keir Starmer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/i-wouldn-t-characterise-myself-as-a-bleeding-heart-liberal-whatever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bleeding heart" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/i-wouldn-t-characterise-myself-as-a-bleeding-heart-liberal-whatever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/keir-starmer-4888_bleeding-heart_i-wouldn-t-characterise-myself-as-a-blee_2057018.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/keir-starmer-4888_bleeding-heart_i-wouldn-t-characterise-myself-as-a-blee_2057018.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/308/keir-starmer-4888_bleeding-heart_i-wouldn-t-characterise-myself-as-a-blee_2057018.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wouldn't characterise myself as a bleeding heart liberal, whatever that is.” — Keir Starmer", "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": "Keir Starmer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I wouldn't characterise myself as a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/i-wouldn-t-characterise-myself-as-a-bleeding-heart-liberal-whatever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/i-wouldn-t-characterise-myself-as-a-bleeding-heart-liberal-whatever/#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 } } ] } ```