--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Neither conservatives nor humorists…" description: "\"Neither conservatives nor humorists believe man is good. But left-wingers do.\" — P. J. O'Rourke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/p-j-o-rourke-184_believe_neither-conservatives-nor-humorists-beli_374915.png" --- # Neither conservatives nor humorists believe man is good… ![“Neither conservatives nor humorists believe man is good. But left-wingers do.” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/p-j-o-rourke-184_believe_neither-conservatives-nor-humorists-beli_374915.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/p-j-o-rourke-184_believe_neither-conservatives-nor-humorists-beli_374915.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/p-j-o-rourke-184_believe_neither-conservatives-nor-humorists-beli_374915.png) > “Neither conservatives nor humorists believe man is good. But left-wingers do.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author claims conservatives and humorists doubt human goodness, while left‑wingers affirm it. **In simple terms:** Conservatives and humorists doubt goodness; left‑wingers affirm it. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about political moral narratives. Themes politics human nature ideology philosophy psychology skepticism Mood skeptical critical Type analytical provocative When to use this quote - political debates - media commentary - academic discourse Key Concepts moral relativism political bias social trust Questions to Reflect On - Do you think political labels accurately reflect moral beliefs? - How might humorists differ from conservatives on this point? A Different Perspective The statement oversimplifies complex moral views across groups. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatives/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Humorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorists/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Left-wingers and right-wingers come together when they become extreme enough. The Nazi Party was called National Socialism, very similar to Stalin's Communism, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/left-wingers-and-right-wingers-come-together-when-they-become-extreme/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [Just one Bush justice on the court means left-wingers might have to start actually winning votes for their wacky ideas; a prescription for liberal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-severin/just-one-bush-justice-on-the-court-means-left-wingers-might-have-to/) Jay Severin > [Left-wingers are incapable of conspiring because they are all egomaniacs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/left-wingers-are-incapable-of-conspiring-because-they-are-all/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [In the early 1970s in Washington, a small group of young conservative activists came together to try and change American politics. They called themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-curtis/in-the-early-1970s-in-washington-a-small-group-of-young-conservative/) [Adam Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-curtis/) > [I am having nothing to do with this so-called civil rights bill. The liberal left-wingers have passed it. Now let them employ some pinknik…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/i-am-having-nothing-to-do-with-this-so-called-civil-rights-bill-the/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [ I'm sure that a previous generation of Jews who published radical newspapers and journals would be critical of \[David\] Simon's projects. These were left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/i-m-sure-that-a-previous-generation-of-jews-who-published-radical/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [Extreme right-wingers are known for giving God a bad name; extreme left-wingers are known for giving God a weak name. He's not as simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/extreme-right-wingers-are-known-for-giving-god-a-bad-name-extreme/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [There's a lot of left-wingers out there that are socialist, that are communist, that refuse to criticize Cuba because Cuba is a communist country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-travis/there-s-a-lot-of-left-wingers-out-there-that-are-socialist-that-are/) [Clay Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-travis/) > [Lampoon was exactly the opposite. The work was a lot of fun, but the office environment was hell. You cannot put 20 humorists together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/lampoon-was-exactly-the-opposite-the-work-was-a-lot-of-fun-but-the/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Bob Wallace was my editor at Rolling Stone when I first started writing there, and he's a wonderful editor. I was in the Philippines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/bob-wallace-was-my-editor-at-rolling-stone-when-i-first-started/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [There aren't many political humorists. Dave Barry is excellent, but he doesn't do it much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/there-aren-t-many-political-humorists-dave-barry-is-excellent-but-he/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [ \[Al\] Franken is left-wing and funny. He's a pretty good political humorist. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/al-franken-is-left-wing-and-funny-he-s-a-pretty-good-political/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [A humorist doesn't really do that much note-taking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/a-humorist-doesn-t-really-do-that-much-note-taking/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [No humorist is under any obligation to provide answers and probably if you were to delve into the literary history of humour it's probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/no-humorist-is-under-any-obligation-to-provide-answers-and-probably/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [ \[ I'm\] humorist, I guess. Or really more of a reporter. A reporter who reports on funny things. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-humorist-i-guess-or-really-more-of-a-reporter-a-reporter-who/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [My whole family can talk. They are all car salesmen. They are all funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/my-whole-family-can-talk-they-are-all-car-salesmen-they-are-all-funny/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Explore all 983 P. J. O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Neither conservatives nor humorists believe man is good. But left-wingers do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P. J. O'Rourke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/neither-conservatives-nor-humorists-believe-man-is-good-but-left/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/neither-conservatives-nor-humorists-believe-man-is-good-but-left/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/p-j-o-rourke-184_believe_neither-conservatives-nor-humorists-beli_374915.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/p-j-o-rourke-184_believe_neither-conservatives-nor-humorists-beli_374915.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/p-j-o-rourke-184_believe_neither-conservatives-nor-humorists-beli_374915.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Neither conservatives nor humorists believe man is good. But left-wingers do.” — P. J. O'Rourke", "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": "P. J. O'Rourke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Neither conservatives nor humorists believe man...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/neither-conservatives-nor-humorists-believe-man-is-good-but-left/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/neither-conservatives-nor-humorists-believe-man-is-good-but-left/#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 } } ] } ```