--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a really classic cliche every…" description: "\"There's a really classic cliche every time you switch the TV on - you see cops arguing. I have spent a day a week for many years in the presence of pol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/peter-james-11589_arguing_there-s-a-really-classic-cliche-every-ti_2166668.png" --- # There's a really classic cliche every time you switch the… ![“There's a really classic cliche every time you switch the TV on - you see cops arguing. I have spent a day a week for many years in the presence of police and I have never seen them argue. It's a military hierarchy. They do what they're told. There's no bickering.” quote by Peter James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/peter-james-11589_arguing_there-s-a-really-classic-cliche-every-ti_2166668.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/peter-james-11589_arguing_there-s-a-really-classic-cliche-every-ti_2166668.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/peter-james-11589_arguing_there-s-a-really-classic-cliche-every-ti_2166668.png) > “There's a really classic cliche every time you switch the TV on - you see cops arguing. I have spent a day a week for many years in the presence of police and I have never seen them argue. It's a military hierarchy. They do what they're told. There's no bickering.” [Peter James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Police rarely argue publicly because hierarchical structure enforces obedience and suppresses visible conflict. **In simple terms:** Police follow orders, so you don’t see fights. Key Takeaway Recognize that hierarchy can mask underlying tensions. Themes authority discipline media perception Mood critical observational Type analytical explanatory When to use this quote - law enforcement training - media analysis - public expectations - team dynamics Key Concepts military hierarchy organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How does hierarchy affect open communication? - What are the costs of suppressing dissent? A Different Perspective The lack of visible conflict may hide unaddressed issues or power imbalances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argue Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argue-military-4621653/) [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Bickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bickering/) [Classic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classic/) [Cliche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cliche/) [Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cop/) [Cops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cops/) [Cops Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cops-arguing-4621651/) [Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Seen Argue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seen-argue-2650511/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tv Cops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv-cops-4621652/) [Tvs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tvs/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [“Here is your law enforcement and media question of the day: Was the TV show COPS real or BS? 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In another, without the least effort, every discussion goes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-buxton/in-one-family-every-little-plan-or-question-is-discussed-amid/) [Charles Buxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-buxton/) ## More by Peter James > [We're full of electricity, and the walls and floor of a building contain carbon - the same makeup as a video tape - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-james/we-re-full-of-electricity-and-the-walls-and-floor-of-a-building/) [Peter James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-james/) > [“banshee continued, mixed with terrified”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-james/banshee-continued-mixed-with-terrified/) [Peter James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-james/) > [I like dogs. Dogs don't judge people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-james/i-like-dogs-dogs-don-t-judge-people/) [Peter James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-james/) > [“The world is a dangerous place (...) 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That's how they operate. if you want a longterm relationship with a man you've got to understand it's going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-james/all-men-lie-that-s-how-they-operate-if-you-want-a-longterm/) [Peter James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-james/) > [“Sure you’re not going to miss it, Roy?’ ‘I’ll miss the camaraderie, but not the politics. Too much of that, these days. Know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-james/sure-you-re-not-going-to-miss-it-roy-i-ll-miss-the-camaraderie-but/) [Peter James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-james/) > [“Folks called this city Tinseltown because so much here was a glittery illusion where, like the facelifts of fading stars, nothing was permanent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-james/folks-called-this-city-tinseltown-because-so-much-here-was-a-glittery/) [Peter James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-james/) > [I travel abroad constantly on book promotion and research, and the Internet is invaluable to me for accessing U.K. news in places such as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-james/i-travel-abroad-constantly-on-book-promotion-and-research-and-the/) [Peter James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-james/) > [My day starts with Radio 4's Today live or 'listen again' wherever I am in the world, thanks to digital radio - I even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-james/my-day-starts-with-radio-4-s-today-live-or-listen-again-wherever-i-am/) [Peter James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-james/) > [“I'm sure that's when you really know you are happy - when you wake up wanting to embrace your future, rather than trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-james/i-m-sure-that-s-when-you-really-know-you-are-happy-when-you-wake-up/) [Peter James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-james/) > [Most good police officers are very open-minded. 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