--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that in politics, when people…" description: "\"I think that in politics, when people want to discredit a particular position, they say, \"Oh, they are liberals,\" or \"They are conservatives; we are ce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79d/robert-reich-1333_centrist_i-think-that-in-politics-when-people-wan_1094612.jpg" --- # I think that in politics, when people want to discredit a… ![“I think that in politics, when people want to discredit a particular position, they say, "Oh, they are liberals," or "They are conservatives; we are centrists." Everybody wants to be a centrist.” quote by Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79d/robert-reich-1333_centrist_i-think-that-in-politics-when-people-wan_1094612.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79d/robert-reich-1333_centrist_i-think-that-in-politics-when-people-wan_1094612.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79d/robert-reich-1333_centrist_i-think-that-in-politics-when-people-wan_1094612.jpg) > “I think that in politics, when people want to discredit a particular position, they say, "Oh, they are liberals," or "They are conservatives; we are centrists." Everybody wants to be a centrist.” [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People label opposing views as liberal or conservative to avoid nuanced debate; many claim centrism to appear balanced, but this can obscure real differences. **In simple terms:** Labels simplify politics, hiding true positions. Key Takeaway Question assumptions and seek nuanced understanding. Themes politics labeling centrism Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - public debates - policy analysis - media literacy workshops - community forums Key Concepts critical thinking political discourse Questions to Reflect On - Why do we gravitate toward centrist labels? - How can we foster more nuanced political conversations? A Different Perspective Centrism can be a false middle that avoids taking a stand. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Centrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centrist/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Most centrist Democrats... try to distance themselves from controversies that recall the 1960s. There are journalistic centrists as well, who avoid hard truths for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hayden/most-centrist-democrats-try-to-distance-themselves-from-controversies/) [Tom Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hayden/) > [“However, during the whole process of employing such provisional levels of analysis that may include what looks like autonomous reasoning to others, for Centrists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/however-during-the-whole-process-of-employing-such-provisional-levels/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [The inconvenient truth that our lazy media elites do so much to ignore is that Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders, and Warren are much closer in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/the-inconvenient-truth-that-our-lazy-media-elites-do-so-much-to/) [Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/) > [For too many years, those eligible to vote in primary or general elections did not bother to do so. Those sensible centrists who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-todd-whitman/for-too-many-years-those-eligible-to-vote-in-primary-or-general/) [Christine Todd Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-todd-whitman/) > [My audience is much more center right, or centrist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/my-audience-is-much-more-center-right-or-centrist/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [I'm getting a little tired of politicians trying to prove how 'moderate' and 'centrist' they are by taking more of my money and freedom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/i-m-getting-a-little-tired-of-politicians-trying-to-prove-how/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [My lesson from history is that if there is a strong moderate centrist party which can lead the country, there is no room for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-orban/my-lesson-from-history-is-that-if-there-is-a-strong-moderate-centrist/) [Viktor Orban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-orban/) > [Only in Washington can the pursuit of a conservative agenda, with centrist policies, be depicted as liberal reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/only-in-washington-can-the-pursuit-of-a-conservative-agenda-with/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [What I want to try to do is unify the two wings of the Democratic Party. What's considered the more progressive wing of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-i-want-to-try-to-do-is-unify-the-two-wings-of-the-democratic/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I am not a centrist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-abzug/i-am-not-a-centrist/) [Bella Abzug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-abzug/) > [Obama behaves like a centrist who leans tentatively left on certain social programs but boldly right on military force and civil liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-shipler/obama-behaves-like-a-centrist-who-leans-tentatively-left-on-certain/) [David K. Shipler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-shipler/) > [We're living in a world that's divided into two economies: the economy of the 1%, and the economy of the bottom 99%. I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/we-re-living-in-a-world-that-s-divided-into-two-economies-the-economy/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [I'm a true centrist: my beliefs put me in the middle... You know what happens to people who drive in the middle of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-m-a-true-centrist-my-beliefs-put-me-in-the-middle-you-know-what/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [Within the paradigm of Democratic politics, even though people probably think I'm a centrist, I'm more a liberal, except for abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politics-even-though-people/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [How is it that labels like 'centrist' and 'moderate,' which common sense tells us should reflect the views of a majority of Americans, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/how-is-it-that-labels-like-centrist-and-moderate-which-common-sense/) [Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/) ## More by Robert Reich > [The Democratic Party is DEAD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-democratic-party-is-dead/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [During three decades from 1947 to 1977, the nation implemented what might be called a basic bargain with American workers. Employers paid them enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/during-three-decades-from-1947-to-1977-the-nation-implemented-what/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [A leader is someone who steps back from the entire system and tries to build a more collaborative, more innovative system that will work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/a-leader-is-someone-who-steps-back-from-the-entire-system-and-tries/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [The faith that anyone could move from rags to riches - with enough guts and gumption, hard work and nose to the grindstone -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-faith-that-anyone-could-move-from-rags-to-riches-with-enough-guts/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [If you give up on politics, you're giving up on democracy. And if you give up on democracy, you're basically saying to the moneyed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/if-you-give-up-on-politics-you-re-giving-up-on-democracy-and-if-you/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Given that ever-broadening array of options and alternatives, as consumers and investors, we are often bewildered. We need guidance. That's where today's brands come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/given-that-ever-broadening-array-of-options-and-alternatives-as/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [I knew Hillary Clinton from undergraduate days and was enormously impressed with her. She was a terrific energy and enthusiasm, and a great organizer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-knew-hillary-clinton-from-undergraduate-days-and-was-enormously/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Public employees should have the right to bargain for better wages and working conditions, just like all employees do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/public-employees-should-have-the-right-to-bargain-for-better-wages/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Limits should be placed on how big big banks can become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/limits-should-be-placed-on-how-big-big-banks-can-become/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Every organization, no matter who it is, just follow the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/every-organization-no-matter-who-it-is-just-follow-the-money/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Community colleges are great bargains. They avoid the fancy amenities four-year liberal arts colleges need in order to lure the children of the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/community-colleges-are-great-bargains-they-avoid-the-fancy-amenities/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Any bank that is too big to fail is too big. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/any-bank-that-is-too-big-to-fail-is-too-big-period/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Today, for good or ill, people are thinking about many social problems from the standpoint of their own kitchen tables. I think the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/today-for-good-or-ill-people-are-thinking-about-many-social-problems/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [There's sort of a chilling effect on non-profits and the media and a lot of other places because the establishment is so powerful. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/there-s-sort-of-a-chilling-effect-on-non-profits-and-the-media-and-a/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [We already have an annual wealth tax on homes, the major asset of the middle class. It's called the property tax. Why not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/we-already-have-an-annual-wealth-tax-on-homes-the-major-asset-of-the/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) [Explore all 255 Robert Reich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) ## More Centrist quotes > [How is it that labels like 'centrist' and 'moderate,' which common sense tells us should reflect the views of a majority of Americans, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/how-is-it-that-labels-like-centrist-and-moderate-which-common-sense/) [Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/) > [Within the paradigm of Democratic politics, even though people probably think I'm a centrist, I'm more a liberal, except for abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politics-even-though-people/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [I'm a true centrist: my beliefs put me in the middle... You know what happens to people who drive in the middle of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-m-a-true-centrist-my-beliefs-put-me-in-the-middle-you-know-what/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [We're living in a world that's divided into two economies: the economy of the 1%, and the economy of the bottom 99%. I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/we-re-living-in-a-world-that-s-divided-into-two-economies-the-economy/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [Obama behaves like a centrist who leans tentatively left on certain social programs but boldly right on military force and civil liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-shipler/obama-behaves-like-a-centrist-who-leans-tentatively-left-on-certain/) [David K. Shipler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-shipler/) > [I am not a centrist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-abzug/i-am-not-a-centrist/) [Bella Abzug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-abzug/) > [What I want to try to do is unify the two wings of the Democratic Party. What's considered the more progressive wing of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-i-want-to-try-to-do-is-unify-the-two-wings-of-the-democratic/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Only in Washington can the pursuit of a conservative agenda, with centrist policies, be depicted as liberal reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/only-in-washington-can-the-pursuit-of-a-conservative-agenda-with/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [My lesson from history is that if there is a strong moderate centrist party which can lead the country, there is no room for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-orban/my-lesson-from-history-is-that-if-there-is-a-strong-moderate-centrist/) [Viktor Orban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-orban/) > [I'm getting a little tired of politicians trying to prove how 'moderate' and 'centrist' they are by taking more of my money and freedom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/i-m-getting-a-little-tired-of-politicians-trying-to-prove-how/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [My audience is much more center right, or centrist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/my-audience-is-much-more-center-right-or-centrist/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [I think that what's actually happening is the collapse of the Center - the centrist semi-coalitions, mildly social-democrat, mildly conservative, that have been running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-think-that-what-s-actually-happening-is-the-collapse-of-the-center/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Centrist voters typically decide general elections, so hard-left or hard-right platforms don't help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-daley/centrist-voters-typically-decide-general-elections-so-hard-left-or/) [William M. Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-daley/) > [I feel like a centrist, an issue-specific person. I'm pretty conservative fiscally and pretty liberal on social issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gordon/i-feel-like-a-centrist-an-issue-specific-person-i-m-pretty/) [Howard Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gordon/) > [I consider my voice to be a centrist moderate voice among the nine Democratic candidates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-graham/i-consider-my-voice-to-be-a-centrist-moderate-voice-among-the-nine/) [Bob Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-graham/) [Browse all 55 Centrist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centrist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that in politics, when people want to discredit a particular position, they say, \"Oh, they are liberals,\" or \"They are conservatives; we are centrists.\" Everybody wants to be a centrist.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Reich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-think-that-in-politics-when-people-want-to-discredit-a-particular/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Centrist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-think-that-in-politics-when-people-want-to-discredit-a-particular/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79d/robert-reich-1333_centrist_i-think-that-in-politics-when-people-wan_1094612.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79d/robert-reich-1333_centrist_i-think-that-in-politics-when-people-wan_1094612.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79d/robert-reich-1333_centrist_i-think-that-in-politics-when-people-wan_1094612.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that in politics, when people want to discredit a particular position, they say, \"Oh, they are…” — Robert Reich", "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": "Robert Reich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that in politics, when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-think-that-in-politics-when-people-want-to-discredit-a-particular/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-think-that-in-politics-when-people-want-to-discredit-a-particular/#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 } } ] } ```