--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A conservative is someone who believes in…" description: "\"A conservative is someone who believes in reform. But not now.\" — Mort Sahl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/mort-sahl-7819_conservative_a-conservative-is-someone-who-believes-i_1392008.jpg" --- # A conservative is someone who believes in reform. But not… ![“A conservative is someone who believes in reform. But not now.” quote by Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/mort-sahl-7819_conservative_a-conservative-is-someone-who-believes-i_1392008.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/mort-sahl-7819_conservative_a-conservative-is-someone-who-believes-i_1392008.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/mort-sahl-7819_conservative_a-conservative-is-someone-who-believes-i_1392008.jpg) > “A conservative is someone who believes in reform. But not now.” [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A conservative supports reform but resists immediate change, reflecting tension between ideals and practicality. **In simple terms:** Support for reform with caution. Key Takeaway Balance ideals with timing. Themes politics conservatism reform Mood critical thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - legislative processes - strategic planning Key Concepts incremental change pragmatism Questions to Reflect On - When is patience harmful? - How to act reform responsibly? A Different Perspective Change may be delayed too long. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believes/) [Believes Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believes-reform-4854189/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Conservative Believes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative-believes-1143294/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) ## Related quotes > [A conservative believes nothing should be done for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-fuller/a-conservative-believes-nothing-should-be-done-for-the-first-time/) [Thomas Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-fuller/) > [I'm a Conservative who believes in lower taxes. They lead to a more enterprising economy. But I'm not somebody who believes you can fund…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/i-m-a-conservative-who-believes-in-lower-taxes-they-lead-to-a-more/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [One other thing I think a conservative believes is that the parents, not government, are and should be responsible for the upbringing and behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyn-nofziger/one-other-thing-i-think-a-conservative-believes-is-that-the-parents/) [Lyn Nofziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyn-nofziger/) > [As a conservative who believes in limited government, I believe the only check on government power in real time is a free and independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/as-a-conservative-who-believes-in-limited-government-i-believe-the/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I'm a simple small 'c' conservative who believes in public service, serving others, and doing a good job for my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-m-a-simple-small-c-conservative-who-believes-in-public-service/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [As a conservative who believes in limited government, I believe that the only check on government power in real time is a free and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/as-a-conservative-who-believes-in-limited-government-i-believe-that/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [A liberal is a person who believes that water can be made to run uphill. A conservative is someone who believes everybody should pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/a-liberal-is-a-person-who-believes-that-water-can-be-made-to-run/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [The tone and tendency of liberalism...is to attack the institutions of the country under the name of reform and to make war on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-tone-and-tendency-of-liberalism-is-to-attack-the-institutions-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I think another crisis, which is being predicted now and which will be worse than what we saw in 2008, could bring the European…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/i-think-another-crisis-which-is-being-predicted-now-and-which-will-be/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [I believe that Europe without Britain at the heart will be less reform-driven, less open, less international Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-manuel-barroso/i-believe-that-europe-without-britain-at-the-heart-will-be-less/) [Jose Manuel Barroso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-manuel-barroso/) > [The shortest way to change a radical into a conservative, a liberal into a tyrant, a man into a beast, is to give him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/the-shortest-way-to-change-a-radical-into-a-conservative-a-liberal/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [Currently intellectuals in Western Europe and North America are extremely demoralized and shaken by the rise of a virulent conservative tendency (which some have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/currently-intellectuals-in-western-europe-and-north-america-are/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“But for a younger generation of conservative operatives who would soon rise to power... They were true believers who meant what they said, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/but-for-a-younger-generation-of-conservative-operatives-who-would/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“If your idea disturbs a conservative man, hang onto it," I said to myself. "It will probably lead to important discoveries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatema-mernissi/if-your-idea-disturbs-a-conservative-man-hang-onto-it-i-said-to/) [Fatema Mernissi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatema-mernissi/) > [I think that conservative principles have a broad appeal, and you should state them boldly, and the point of a Conservative election is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/i-think-that-conservative-principles-have-a-broad-appeal-and-you/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) ## More by Mort Sahl > [Remember that no matter how selfish, how cruel, how unfeeling you have been today, every time you take a breath, you make a flower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/remember-that-no-matter-how-selfish-how-cruel-how-unfeeling-you-have/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Comedians have to challenge the power. Comedians should be dangerous and devastating - and funny. That's the hardest part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/comedians-have-to-challenge-the-power-comedians-should-be-dangerous/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Too much comedy today is vulgar, not clever. I say that as a comedian and as a consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/too-much-comedy-today-is-vulgar-not-clever-i-say-that-as-a-comedian/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [“The beat generation is a coffeehouse full of people expectantly looking at their watches waiting for the beat generation to come on. \*1958”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/the-beat-generation-is-a-coffeehouse-full-of-people-expectantly/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [“I don't think crucifixion is the answer. I believe in the resurrection. I like that part of the story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/i-don-t-think-crucifixion-is-the-answer-i-believe-in-the-resurrection/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [My life needs editing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/my-life-needs-editing/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Every time the Russians throw an American in jail, the Committee throws an American in jail to get even.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/every-time-the-russians-throw-an-american-in-jail-the-committee/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [you don't know what you think unless you say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/you-don-t-know-what-you-think-unless-you-say-it/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [I'm a radical, and I always have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/i-m-a-radical-and-i-always-have-been/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Those who the gods would make rich and famous on TV, they first drive mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/those-who-the-gods-would-make-rich-and-famous-on-tv-they-first-drive/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Obama says his recreation consists of reading the Constitution... looking for a loophole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/obama-says-his-recreation-consists-of-reading-the-constitution/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [There's a great feeling of powerlessness in America. When I express ideas to people, they say, 'That's terrific, but do you think it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/there-s-a-great-feeling-of-powerlessness-in-america-when-i-express/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [If you can't join them, beat them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/if-you-can-t-join-them-beat-them/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [One thing about being narrow-minded: you'll never be lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/one-thing-about-being-narrow-minded-you-ll-never-be-lonely/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Nixon's the kind of guy that if you were drowning fifty feet off shore, he'd throw you a thirty foot rope. Then Kissinger would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/nixon-s-the-kind-of-guy-that-if-you-were-drowning-fifty-feet-off/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) [Explore all 87 Mort Sahl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) ## More Believes quotes > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) [Ludwig Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-erhard/) > [Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/only-he-who-believes-is-obedient-and-only-he-who-is-obedient-believes/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [If she gives you her heart she believes you are all she needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-jush/if-she-gives-you-her-heart-she-believes-you-are-all-she-needs/) [El Jush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-jush/) > [“He is a missionary and believes in God, intensely I mean, but it takes all kinds to make a world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/he-is-a-missionary-and-believes-in-god-intensely-i-mean-but-it-takes/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [I see myself as a man who is searching for meaning in life. This is rather different from being a staunch believer in something.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aharon-appelfeld/i-see-myself-as-a-man-who-is-searching-for-meaning-in-life-this-is/) [Aharon Appelfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aharon-appelfeld/) > [I don't think she doesn't believe she can die. I think, just like you always did, she believes there are things worth dying for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-don-t-think-she-doesn-t-believe-she-can-die-i-think-just-like-you/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [A frnd iz d one who believes in u even at that time when u believe in urself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-frnd-iz-d-one-who-believes-in-u-even-at-that-time-when-u-believe-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you design a building, you start from a general philosophy, and you come down, and you start from detail and come up. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renzo-piano/when-you-design-a-building-you-start-from-a-general-philosophy-and/) [Renzo Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renzo-piano/) > [I believe in myself like a five-year-old believes in himself. They say look at me, look at me! Then they do a flip in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-believe-in-myself-like-a-five-year-old-believes-in-himself-they-say/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [“By night an atheist half believes in God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/by-night-an-atheist-half-believes-in-god/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [President Clinton not only benefits by gay and lesbian votes, but he benefits by showing the nation that he is a strong leader who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mixner/president-clinton-not-only-benefits-by-gay-and-lesbian-votes-but-he/) [David Mixner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mixner/) > [Cynicism, I contend, is the wailing of someone who believes that things are, or should be, or could be, much, much better than they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-becker/cynicism-i-contend-is-the-wailing-of-someone-who-believes-that-things/) [Walter Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-becker/) > [“Everyone believes very easily whatever he fears or desires.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/everyone-believes-very-easily-whatever-he-fears-or-desires/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [“The God I believe in believes in me and won’t silence my heart or others based on a paycheck at the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-alder/the-god-i-believe-in-believes-in-me-and-won-t-silence-my-heart-or/) [Shannon Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-alder/) > [It's hard to come across genuine people now a days and no one believes in the truth anymore either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-hard-to-come-across-genuine-people-now-a-days-and-no-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 736 Believes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A conservative is someone who believes in reform. 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