--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Conservatives believe that a…" description: "\"Conservatives believe that a self-governing society depends on individuals taking responsibility for their actions, and those of their family and commu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/margaret-hoover-4164_blame_conservatives-believe-that-a-self-govern_504433.jpg" --- # Conservatives believe that a self-governing society… ![“Conservatives believe that a self-governing society depends on individuals taking responsibility for their actions, and those of their family and community. They deride others, especially American liberals, who fall short of this standard, who blame anything other than themselves for personal…” quote by Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/margaret-hoover-4164_blame_conservatives-believe-that-a-self-govern_504433.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/margaret-hoover-4164_blame_conservatives-believe-that-a-self-govern_504433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/margaret-hoover-4164_blame_conservatives-believe-that-a-self-govern_504433.jpg) > “Conservatives believe that a self-governing society depends on individuals taking responsibility for their actions, and those of their family and community. They deride others, especially American liberals, who fall short of this standard, who blame anything other than themselves for personal transgressions or failures.” [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Conservatives stress personal responsibility for self and family, criticizing liberals for blaming external factors. **In simple terms:** Personal responsibility is emphasized. Key Takeaway Own your actions. Themes responsibility politics individualism Mood critical thoughtful Type political analytical When to use this quote - political debates - parenting - community service - policy making Key Concepts self-governance blame culture family values Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance personal and systemic responsibility? - Are blame assignments fair across political lines? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on individual blame can ignore systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Conservatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatives/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Liberals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberals/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Taking responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [Whereas all liberals are thought to erupt self-righteously whenever they feel like it, conservatives believe that they themselves are never permitted to say what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/whereas-all-liberals-are-thought-to-erupt-self-righteously-whenever/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [American liberals are an external part of Israel's conscience, and when it disdains them, it becomes a harder and more isolated place. The support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-weisberg/american-liberals-are-an-external-part-of-israel-s-conscience-and/) [Jacob Weisberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-weisberg/) > [Marxism is what has seduced American liberals - well, liberals worldwide, communists, all leftists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/marxism-is-what-has-seduced-american-liberals-well-liberals-worldwide/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Forgive me for noting that conservatives seem to believe that the rich will work harder if we give them more, and the poor will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/forgive-me-for-noting-that-conservatives-seem-to-believe-that-the/) [E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/) > [No one is guaranteed happiness. You can pursue it, but if you happen to find success along the way on that road to happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/no-one-is-guaranteed-happiness-you-can-pursue-it-but-if-you-happen-to/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [Conservatives believe in providing Constitutional rights to our citizens, not to enemy combatants like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/conservatives-believe-in-providing-constitutional-rights-to-our/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Only conservatives believe that subversion is still being carried on in the arts and that society is being shaken by it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-rosenberg/only-conservatives-believe-that-subversion-is-still-being-carried-on/) [Harold Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-rosenberg/) > [We Conservatives believe not in big, interventionist, centralized government. But in small and limited government, government as close to the people as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxime-bernier/we-conservatives-believe-not-in-big-interventionist-centralized/) [Maxime Bernier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxime-bernier/) > [Consistent conservatives believe people should keep more of the money they work so hard to earn - not because the vulnerable don't deserve assistance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-grenell/consistent-conservatives-believe-people-should-keep-more-of-the-money/) [Richard Grenell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-grenell/) > [Conservatives believe in smaller government and in the power of the electorate. So I think that we're less likely to try to use a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/conservatives-believe-in-smaller-government-and-in-the-power-of-the/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [Conservatives believe the economy functions better if the rich have more money and everyone else has less. But they're wrong. It's just the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/conservatives-believe-the-economy-functions-better-if-the-rich-have/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Conservatives believe in equality of opportunity. Liberals believe in equality of outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rosen/conservatives-believe-in-equality-of-opportunity-liberals-believe-in/) Mike Rosen > [Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us. Society is stronger when we make vows to each other and we support each other. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/conservatives-believe-in-the-ties-that-bind-us-society-is-stronger/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [When American liberals go to the UK they see the Tories as the Washington Generals, and they see the Labor Party as the Harlem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/when-american-liberals-go-to-the-uk-they-see-the-tories-as-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [As long as American liberals are going to keep announcing that they're embarrassed for their country, how about being embarrassed by our public schools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/as-long-as-american-liberals-are-going-to-keep-announcing-that-they/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) ## More by Margaret Hoover > [In my mid-20s I worked at the White House Office of Management and Budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/in-my-mid-20s-i-worked-at-the-white-house-office-of-management-and/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [I think the Tea Party has brought enormous strength to the Republican Party and I absolutely support its fiscal responsibility message, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/i-think-the-tea-party-has-brought-enormous-strength-to-the-republican/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [The real action in Washington now is actually going to be on the - from the center to the center-right to the right. Part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/the-real-action-in-washington-now-is-actually-going-to-be-on-the-from/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [Less money in your wallet equals less economic freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/less-money-in-your-wallet-equals-less-economic-freedom/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [Hoover also loved new media the way Millennials do now. He was the first person to ever appear on television. As commerce secretary, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/hoover-also-loved-new-media-the-way-millennials-do-now-he-was-the/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [I'm always trying to see the forest for the trees. I try to look at broader brushstrokes and focus on what we can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/i-m-always-trying-to-see-the-forest-for-the-trees-i-try-to-look-at/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [To effectively debate ideas and discuss complicated issues takes time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/to-effectively-debate-ideas-and-discuss-complicated-issues-takes-time/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [In any civil society, there's a serious problem when confidence in the rule of law is shaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/in-any-civil-society-there-s-a-serious-problem-when-confidence-in-the/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [Some Republicans support gay rights, but prefer progress through legislative action or majority rule at the ballot box, rather than judicial action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/some-republicans-support-gay-rights-but-prefer-progress-through/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [Pragmatic and nonpartisan solutions will increase confidence in law enforcement and support good police while offering more transparency and accountability to citizens who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/pragmatic-and-nonpartisan-solutions-will-increase-confidence-in-law/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [I run a gay-rights organization from the Republican side of the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/i-run-a-gay-rights-organization-from-the-republican-side-of-the-aisle/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [I'm not suggesting that we promote a homosexual lifestyle and we impose it on people, but I am suggesting that it is important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/i-m-not-suggesting-that-we-promote-a-homosexual-lifestyle-and-we/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [I think there's an extraordinary overlap between - sort of philosophically, and even in terms of their supporters - between Ted Cruz and Donald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/i-think-there-s-an-extraordinary-overlap-between-sort-of/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [Hoovers didn't like Democrats because of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's libelous partisan attacks on my great-grandfather Herbert Hoover, tethering him to the Great Depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/hoovers-didn-t-like-democrats-because-of-franklin-delano-roosevelt-s/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [While the reigning stereotype is that Republicans are opposed to gay rights, growing Republican support in state-by-state fights belies this perception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/while-the-reigning-stereotype-is-that-republicans-are-opposed-to-gay/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) [Explore all 115 Margaret Hoover quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) ## More Blame quotes > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Me mum used to always have the radio on - even now she has it on in every room. Me girlfriend sort of blames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/me-mum-used-to-always-have-the-radio-on-even-now-she-has-it-on-in/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-the-great/i-like-to-praise-and-reward-loudly-to-blame-quietly/) [Catherine the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-the-great/) > [Some of the things that I said I hated to say, but blame yourself mother fucker you made it this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedi-mind-tricks/some-of-the-things-that-i-said-i-hated-to-say-but-blame-yourself/) [Jedi Mind Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedi-mind-tricks/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In places where government priorities and market imperatives create a world so capricious that to help a neighbor is to risk your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/in-places-where-government-priorities-and-market-imperatives-create-a/) [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) > [“Stop Blaming Others For Your Own Actions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/stop-blaming-others-for-your-own-actions/) [Alexis G. Roldan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-g-roldan/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't blame anyone .. I did this to myself .. It's my fault .. Everything is my FAULT ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nurnizz95/i-don-t-blame-anyone-i-did-this-to-myself-it-s-my-fault-everything-is/) Nurnizz95 > [“They would congratulate themselves every morning on keeping their integrity, and blame themselves each night for that missed opportunity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/they-would-congratulate-themselves-every-morning-on-keeping-their/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I try to live my life where I end up at a point where I have no regrets. So I try to choose the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-aronofsky/i-try-to-live-my-life-where-i-end-up-at-a-point-where-i-have-no/) [Darren Aronofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-aronofsky/) > [How come you don't feel that magic in the air? I guess I knew you'll never be there. I guess I knew you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-come-you-don-t-feel-that-magic-in-the-air-i-guess-i-knew-you-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am down mentally. I can't understand how it happened and who is to blame? I don't know why the ground was rolled before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yeasin-khan/i-am-down-mentally-i-can-t-understand-how-it-happened-and-who-is-to/) Yeasin Khan > [A refusal to admit one's mistake & not accepting responsibility for that mistake by blaming everyone else, is d beginning of one's decline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-refusal-to-admit-one-s-mistake-not-accepting-responsibility-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listen, the guy was not created by coverage from MSNBC and CNN. If you want to blame us for making Donald Trump president because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-tur/listen-the-guy-was-not-created-by-coverage-from-msnbc-and-cnn-if-you/) [Katy Tur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-tur/) Browse all 3,779 Blame quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Conservatives believe that a self-governing society depends on individuals taking responsibility for their actions, and those of their family and community. 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