--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I certainly had qualms about writing my…" description: "\"I certainly had qualms about writing my piece in the first place, since I knew I couldn't express my disdain for many of Rev. Falwell's teachings. But ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/kevin-roose-20387_disagree_i-certainly-had-qualms-about-writing-my_2795121.jpg" --- # I certainly had qualms about writing my piece in the first… ![“I certainly had qualms about writing my piece in the first place, since I knew I couldn't express my disdain for many of Rev. Falwell's teachings. But I don't regret having written about the sides of Rev. Falwell that had nothing to do with politics or religion - his grandkids, his ministry for…” quote by Kevin Roose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/kevin-roose-20387_disagree_i-certainly-had-qualms-about-writing-my_2795121.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/kevin-roose-20387_disagree_i-certainly-had-qualms-about-writing-my_2795121.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/kevin-roose-20387_disagree_i-certainly-had-qualms-about-writing-my_2795121.jpg) > “I certainly had qualms about writing my piece in the first place, since I knew I couldn't express my disdain for many of Rev. Falwell's teachings. But I don't regret having written about the sides of Rev. Falwell that had nothing to do with politics or religion - his grandkids, his ministry for ex-alcoholics, his penchant for practical jokes. I think it's important to recognize the humanity in everyone, even those we strongly disagree with.” [Kevin Roose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-roose/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He initially hesitated to write about Falwell but realized showing humanity in opponents is vital. **In simple terms:** Show humanity even to those you disagree with. Key Takeaway Write with empathy and nuance. Themes empathy journalism humanity Mood reflective analytical Type journalistic thoughtful When to use this quote - Opinion pieces - profile writing - public discourse Key Concepts Media ethics biography Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure fairness in controversial profiles? - What risks arise from humanizing adversaries? A Different Perspective Bias can still color portrayal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disagree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disagree/) [Disdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disdain/) [Falwell Teachings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falwell-teachings-3408162/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Grandkids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandkids/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [Practical joke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practical-joke/) [Qualms Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualms-writing-3408163/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Strongly Disagree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strongly-disagree-717646/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [But on those occasions when I do strongly disagree with the Democrats and I don't say anything, I think I forfeit my right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/but-on-those-occasions-when-i-do-strongly-disagree-with-the-democrats/) [Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/) > [I guess I feel very strongly that I disagree with the notion of personalizing history and movements and big events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-guess-i-feel-very-strongly-that-i-disagree-with-the-notion-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I strongly disagree that you can't have a happy family life and a child as well as rock n' roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ashcroft/i-strongly-disagree-that-you-can-t-have-a-happy-family-life-and-a/) [Richard Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ashcroft/) > [Lucasfilm called me out of the blue, and I almost hung up because I thought it was a practical joke. 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I end up saying, “Oh, no, I'm joking, I'm joking .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-torv/i-m-terrible-at-practical-jokes-i-do-them-too-well-so-they-re-not/) [Anna Torv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-torv/) > [Penn & Teller stopped doing practical jokes, and the reason is we got much too good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/penn-teller-stopped-doing-practical-jokes-and-the-reason-is-we-got/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Life seemed to be an educator's practical joke in which you spent the first half learning and the second half learning that everything you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/life-seemed-to-be-an-educator-s-practical-joke-in-which-you-spent-the/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [If you make people laugh or cry about little black marks on sheets of white paper, what is that but a practical joke? 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Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) ## More by Kevin Roose > [That has been one of the pleasant surprises of my semester - finding that some of my Liberty friends are still my friends, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-roose/that-has-been-one-of-the-pleasant-surprises-of-my-semester-finding/) [Kevin Roose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-roose/) > [“by blitzing students with information and making the application process as simple as dropping a résumé into a box, by following up relentlessly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-roose/by-blitzing-students-with-information-and-making-the-application/) [Kevin Roose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-roose/) > [“You sort of lose your nonfinance friends,” he said. “My friend might be in Teach for America, and they can’t afford to go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-roose/you-sort-of-lose-your-nonfinance-friends-he-said-my-friend-might-be/) [Kevin Roose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-roose/) > [“At most schools, the social, intellectual, and spiritual components are confined to separate experiential spheres. 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