--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not a liberal, I'm a radical!" description: "\"I'm not a liberal, I'm a radical!\" — Mort Sahl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/mort-sahl-7819_radical_i-m-not-a-liberal-i-m-a-radical-2142460_2142460.jpg" --- # I'm not a liberal, I'm a radical! ![“I'm not a liberal, I'm a radical!” quote by Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/mort-sahl-7819_radical_i-m-not-a-liberal-i-m-a-radical-2142460_2142460.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/mort-sahl-7819_radical_i-m-not-a-liberal-i-m-a-radical-2142460_2142460.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/mort-sahl-7819_radical_i-m-not-a-liberal-i-m-a-radical-2142460_2142460.jpg) > “I'm not a liberal, I'm a radical!” [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 self‑identification that rejects moderate politics in favor of deep, transformative change. **In simple terms:** I'm not a liberal, I'm a radical. Key Takeaway Embrace bold, systemic change. Themes politics identity radicalism Mood defiant provocative Type political philosophical When to use this quote - campaigns - social movements - grassroots organizing Key Concepts activism ideology personal conviction Questions to Reflect On - What does “radical” mean to you? - How can radicals build broad coalitions? A Different Perspective Radicalism can alienate moderate allies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Liberal Radical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal-radical-1224325/) [Radical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radical/) ## Related quotes > [I was never a liberal. I was radical. I was cynical. I was negative. But, I was never a liberal. I always saw that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-was-never-a-liberal-i-was-radical-i-was-cynical-i-was-negative-but/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [No man can call himself liberal, or radical, or even a conservative advocate of fair play, if his work depends in any way on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/no-man-can-call-himself-liberal-or-radical-or-even-a-conservative/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [By the end, everybody had a label - pig, liberal, radical, revolutionary... If you had everything but a gun, you were a radical but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rubin/by-the-end-everybody-had-a-label-pig-liberal-radical-revolutionary-if/) [Jerry Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rubin/) > [The Wahhabi movement is a form of radical Islam that people here say did not exist before in Bosnia, where Islam had co-existed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmila-zbanic/the-wahhabi-movement-is-a-form-of-radical-islam-that-people-here-say/) [Jasmila Zbanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmila-zbanic/) > [The liberal uses the radical's language to achieve the conservative's aim: the preservation of the capitalist system, and the traditional ethnic/racial hierarchy within society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manning-marable/the-liberal-uses-the-radical-s-language-to-achieve-the-conservative-s/) [Manning Marable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manning-marable/) > [“There were those few, and there will be more, who really liked people, loved people—all people. They were the human torches setting aflame the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/there-were-those-few-and-there-will-be-more-who-really-liked-people/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [With the development of industrial capitalism, a new and unanticipated system of injustice, it is libertarian socialism that has preserved and extended the radical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/with-the-development-of-industrial-capitalism-a-new-and-unanticipated/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [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/) > [Trump is more conservative on individual rights, domestic issues, economic issues and defense. On the other hand, Clinton is quite liberal and wishes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabrizio-moreira/trump-is-more-conservative-on-individual-rights-domestic-issues/) [Fabrizio Moreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabrizio-moreira/) > [Wherever there is a jackboot stomping on a human face there will be a well-heeled Western liberal to explain that the face does, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/wherever-there-is-a-jackboot-stomping-on-a-human-face-there-will-be-a/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [It's almost comical how un-liberal liberal Hollywood is when it comes to fighting gender and racial bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/it-s-almost-comical-how-un-liberal-liberal-hollywood-is-when-it-comes/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [I want to reclaim 'liberal.' I'm a liberal, and I think most Americans are liberals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-want-to-reclaim-liberal-i-m-a-liberal-and-i-think-most-americans/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I'm a liberal, but I'm not biased. Seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-a-liberal-but-i-m-not-biased-seriously/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I would say I'm a fiscal conservative and a social liberal, if that contradiction can make sense, because in Bolivia, we have a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/i-would-say-i-m-a-fiscal-conservative-and-a-social-liberal-if-that/) [Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/) > [I became an MP in 2017 and have been around to watch Liberal Democrat party membership soar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/i-became-an-mp-in-2017-and-have-been-around-to-watch-liberal-democrat/) [Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/) ## 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 Liberal quotes > [I became an MP in 2017 and have been around to watch Liberal Democrat party membership soar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/i-became-an-mp-in-2017-and-have-been-around-to-watch-liberal-democrat/) [Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/) > [I would say I'm a fiscal conservative and a social liberal, if that contradiction can make sense, because in Bolivia, we have a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/i-would-say-i-m-a-fiscal-conservative-and-a-social-liberal-if-that/) [Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/) > [I'm a liberal, but I'm not biased. Seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-a-liberal-but-i-m-not-biased-seriously/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I want to reclaim 'liberal.' I'm a liberal, and I think most Americans are liberals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-want-to-reclaim-liberal-i-m-a-liberal-and-i-think-most-americans/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [It's almost comical how un-liberal liberal Hollywood is when it comes to fighting gender and racial bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/it-s-almost-comical-how-un-liberal-liberal-hollywood-is-when-it-comes/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [Wherever there is a jackboot stomping on a human face there will be a well-heeled Western liberal to explain that the face does, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/wherever-there-is-a-jackboot-stomping-on-a-human-face-there-will-be-a/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [Trump is more conservative on individual rights, domestic issues, economic issues and defense. On the other hand, Clinton is quite liberal and wishes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabrizio-moreira/trump-is-more-conservative-on-individual-rights-domestic-issues/) [Fabrizio Moreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabrizio-moreira/) > [If Rob Ford decided he wanted to run for the Liberal Party in 2015, we'd say, 'No, sorry, the way you approach things, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/if-rob-ford-decided-he-wanted-to-run-for-the-liberal-party-in-2015-we/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [A liberal is only a bundle of prejudices until he has mastered, has understood, experienced the philosophy of Conservatism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/a-liberal-is-only-a-bundle-of-prejudices-until-he-has-mastered-has/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [We whites who position ourselves as liberal often opt to protect what we perceive as our moral reputationsrather than recognize or change our participation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/we-whites-who-position-ourselves-as-liberal-often-opt-to-protect-what/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [I guess blustery liberal Republicans flock together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-cuccinelli/i-guess-blustery-liberal-republicans-flock-together/) [Ken Cuccinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-cuccinelli/) > [I'm impressed by Jo Swinson. I think if I was living in a lot of constituencies I would lend my vote to the Liberal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/i-m-impressed-by-jo-swinson-i-think-if-i-was-living-in-a-lot-of/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [I always thought of myself as a moderate liberal, a fighter for peace and justice. I never thought of myself as being all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-moderate-liberal-a-fighter-for-peace/) [George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/) > [In reviewing films, people get quite liberal about saying "the script" this and "the script" that, when they've never read the script any more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/in-reviewing-films-people-get-quite-liberal-about-saying-the-script/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [A liberal is a man who is willing to spend somebody else's money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-glass/a-liberal-is-a-man-who-is-willing-to-spend-somebody-else-s-money/) [Carter Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-glass/) [Browse all 1,357 Liberal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not a liberal, I'm a radical!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mort Sahl" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/i-m-not-a-liberal-i-m-a-radical/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Liberal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/i-m-not-a-liberal-i-m-a-radical/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/mort-sahl-7819_radical_i-m-not-a-liberal-i-m-a-radical-2142460_2142460.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/mort-sahl-7819_radical_i-m-not-a-liberal-i-m-a-radical-2142460_2142460.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/mort-sahl-7819_radical_i-m-not-a-liberal-i-m-a-radical-2142460_2142460.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm not a liberal, I'm a radical!” — Mort Sahl", "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": "Mort Sahl", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm not a liberal, I'm a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/i-m-not-a-liberal-i-m-a-radical/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/i-m-not-a-liberal-i-m-a-radical/#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 } } ] } ```