--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone is a liberal until they have…" description: "\"Everyone is a liberal until they have something to conserve. Then they become a conservative.\" — Ronald Reagan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/ronald-reagan-119_conservative_everyone-is-a-liberal-until-they-have-so_2836845.jpg" --- # Everyone is a liberal until they have something to… ![“Everyone is a liberal until they have something to conserve. Then they become a conservative.” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/ronald-reagan-119_conservative_everyone-is-a-liberal-until-they-have-so_2836845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/ronald-reagan-119_conservative_everyone-is-a-liberal-until-they-have-so_2836845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/313/ronald-reagan-119_conservative_everyone-is-a-liberal-until-they-have-so_2836845.jpg) > “Everyone is a liberal until they have something to conserve. Then they become a conservative.” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People tend to adopt conservative habits when resources become scarce, shifting priorities toward preservation. **In simple terms:** Scarcity makes people conservative. Key Takeaway Plan for resource scarcity. Themes economics psychology politics Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - budgeting - energy saving - food storage Key Concepts resource management behavioral change Questions to Reflect On - How does scarcity affect your spending? - Can you balance conservation with growth? A Different Perspective Conservatism may also stem from cultural values, not just scarcity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) ## Related quotes > [It is said that a neo-conservative is a liberal who has been mugged by reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stockwell-day/it-is-said-that-a-neo-conservative-is-a-liberal-who-has-been-mugged/) [Stockwell Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stockwell-day/) > [We as a nation have no choice but to conserve fuel to the best of our abilities or be prepared for harsh measures like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veerappa-moily/we-as-a-nation-have-no-choice-but-to-conserve-fuel-to-the-best-of-our/) [Veerappa Moily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veerappa-moily/) > [That's something I have to work on: to separate what really matters, to conserve energy by not worrying about what other people think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/that-s-something-i-have-to-work-on-to-separate-what-really-matters-to/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Conserve Water, Shower with me. ^\_^](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/conserve-water-shower-with-me/) [Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/) > [When you dance you need an awful lot of energy. Off stage, you learn to conserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/when-you-dance-you-need-an-awful-lot-of-energy-off-stage-you-learn-to/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [We must conserve our environment and pass it on to our children in as good or better condition than it was passed to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kennedy/we-must-conserve-our-environment-and-pass-it-on-to-our-children-in-as/) [Mark Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kennedy/) > [A living countryside is not a luxury but a necessity for the human population; if you let conservation go hang until your pockets are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-barnes/a-living-countryside-is-not-a-luxury-but-a-necessity-for-the-human/) [Simon Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-barnes/) > [Perhaps it matters little whether the international community chooses to celebrate crop diversity, but it profoundly matters that the international community takes action to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fowler/perhaps-it-matters-little-whether-the-international-community-chooses/) [Cary Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fowler/) > [Actually, I never really look at myself as a real radical activist; I am more the conservative. I mean, the conservatives are trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/actually-i-never-really-look-at-myself-as-a-real-radical-activist-i/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [Let's all try to conserve water. But it's OK to shower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-evangelista/let-s-all-try-to-conserve-water-but-it-s-ok-to-shower/) [Allen Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-evangelista/) > [“Preserve, Conserve, Inspire, Teach. Empowering children to be planet-citizens; to care about the planet, themselves and eachtother! Breath-of-fresh-air books that speak to the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lisa-tara/preserve-conserve-inspire-teach-empowering-children-to-be-planet/) Stephanie Lisa Tara > [Great books conserve time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/great-books-conserve-time/) [Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/) > [There are many things in America worth conserving. But I am one of those conservatives who believes the most important of those things is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyn-nofziger/there-are-many-things-in-america-worth-conserving-but-i-am-one-of/) [Lyn Nofziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyn-nofziger/) > [On the field, aggression can sometimes be a positive emotion. It boosts performance and can lift your game. But over the years, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virat-kohli/on-the-field-aggression-can-sometimes-be-a-positive-emotion-it-boosts/) [Virat Kohli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virat-kohli/) > [Now, the downside to conservation is that so much is done for the public, which almost always mars the environment that one wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-jacobsen/now-the-downside-to-conservation-is-that-so-much-is-done-for-the/) [Arne Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-jacobsen/) ## More by Ronald Reagan > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/professional-politicians-like-to-talk-about-the-value-of-experience/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's not that liberals aren't smart, it's just that so much of what they know isn't so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-not-that-liberals-aren-t-smart-it-s-just-that-so-much-of-what/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/love-your-country-not-for-her-power-or-wealth-but-for-her/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Explore all 1,244 Ronald Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More Conservative quotes > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [Progressive Conservative candidates from Quebec want to exert real power in Ottawa, not simply be content with playing a secondary role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-campbell/progressive-conservative-candidates-from-quebec-want-to-exert-real/) [Kim Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-campbell/) > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I am a conservative type of person, so sometimes when I'm chilling with myself, people always come ask me, 'What's wrong with you? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-wonder/i-am-a-conservative-type-of-person-so-sometimes-when-i-m-chilling/) [Wayne Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-wonder/) > [In the Tea Party era, it is the restless conservative Republican who has become passion's plaything, the toy of impetuous romance, an erotomania only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/in-the-tea-party-era-it-is-the-restless-conservative-republican-who/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [I'm a principle liberty, rule-of-law Conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/i-m-a-principle-liberty-rule-of-law-conservative/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [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/) > [My dad's quite a conservative person, and he brought me up to be very questioning of the commercial world. He looked down on pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/my-dad-s-quite-a-conservative-person-and-he-brought-me-up-to-be-very/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [To all conservative women out there: If you are so sure the embryo needed for stem cell research are precious human life that can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/to-all-conservative-women-out-there-if-you-are-so-sure-the-embryo/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [There are a lot of conservative people, a lot of moderate people, Republicans, Democrats, in Hollywood. It is just that the conservative people by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/there-are-a-lot-of-conservative-people-a-lot-of-moderate-people/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [“Those who consider themselves ‘Conservative’ frequently identify with family values, so they should consider carefully the fact that in 1960, only 18% of women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/those-who-consider-themselves-conservative-frequently-identify-with/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) > [A faithfully kept program of savings and conservative investments can give you more money and a better life than that of your neighbors who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bryant-quinn/a-faithfully-kept-program-of-savings-and-conservative-investments-can/) [Jane Bryant Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bryant-quinn/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [Conservative feminism is such an artificial term that doesn't mean much to me. For me conservatism means accepting reality. I acknowledge that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-schroder/conservative-feminism-is-such-an-artificial-term-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Kristina Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-schroder/) [Browse all 2,995 Conservative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone is a liberal until they have something to conserve. 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