--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a literalist. I believe what people…" description: "\"I'm a literalist. I believe what people say. When they say it, I think they mean it.\" — Rush Limbaugh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/rush-limbaugh-28_believe_i-m-a-literalist-i-believe-what-people-s_2716806.jpg" --- # I'm a literalist. I believe what people say. When they say… ![“I'm a literalist. I believe what people say. When they say it, I think they mean it.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/rush-limbaugh-28_believe_i-m-a-literalist-i-believe-what-people-s_2716806.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/rush-limbaugh-28_believe_i-m-a-literalist-i-believe-what-people-s_2716806.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/rush-limbaugh-28_believe_i-m-a-literalist-i-believe-what-people-s_2716806.jpg) > “I'm a literalist. I believe what people say. When they say it, I think they mean it.” [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Literal interpretation of speech assumes speakers mean exactly what they say, ignoring nuance. **In simple terms:** Taking words at face value can be misleading. Key Takeaway Consider context before accepting statements. Themes communication interpretation literalism nuance Mood cautious analytical Type critical educational When to use this quote - news consumption - personal conversations - legal testimony - academic reading Key Concepts linguistics critical thinking philosophy Questions to Reflect On - When did you misinterpret a literal statement? - How can you detect nuance? A Different Perspective People often use figurative language; literalism may cause misunderstandings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I make quote to express how I feel, but most people still dont get my meaning, I guess thats just life its a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiid-gho5t/i-make-quote-to-express-how-i-feel-but-most-people-still-dont-get-my/) [KiiD Gho5t](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiid-gho5t/) > [Sometimes, when I think I'm being mean, I go look at some of the stupid comment conversations and think...No, No, I am not being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rayy/sometimes-when-i-think-i-m-being-mean-i-go-look-at-some-of-the-stupid/) Rayy > [I got a woman that's mean as she can be, sometimes I think she's almost as mean as me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-orbison/i-got-a-woman-that-s-mean-as-she-can-be-sometimes-i-think-she-s/) [Roy Orbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-orbison/) > [So don't be getting sensitive when you think I'm being mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-don-t-be-getting-sensitive-when-you-think-i-m-being-mean/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can be harsh but I don't think I'm mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cowherd/i-can-be-harsh-but-i-don-t-think-i-m-mean/) [Colin Cowherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cowherd/) > [It may be the coldest day of The year, what does he think of That? I mean, what do I? And if I do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-o-hara/it-may-be-the-coldest-day-of-the-year-what-does-he-think-of-that-i/) [Frank O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-o-hara/) > [STOP AND THINK... You mean the world to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhiess-krieg/stop-and-think-you-mean-the-world-to-someone/) [Jhiess Krieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhiess-krieg/) > [It's crazy how you actually think you mean something to someone, and then they prove you wrong;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-crazy-how-you-actually-think-you-mean-something-to-someone-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People think that I'm mean because I'm quiet, and I don't really go out places or because I don't really say too much. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/people-think-that-i-m-mean-because-i-m-quiet-and-i-don-t-really-go/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [Some people think I'm mean, until they get to know me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ortiz/some-people-think-i-m-mean-until-they-get-to-know-me/) [David Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ortiz/) > [You think I'm mean now, only if you knew the things I say in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-think-i-m-mean-now-only-if-you-knew-the-things-i-say-in-my-head/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to think not about what you mean but about what people hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/you-have-to-think-not-about-what-you-mean-but-about-what-people-hear/) [Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/) > [Say what you think; think what you mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/say-what-you-think-think-what-you-mean/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [If you're going to think mean things about me or not be a true friend, then we don't need to be friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-panabaker/if-you-re-going-to-think-mean-things-about-me-or-not-be-a-true-friend/) [Kay Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-panabaker/) > [When I say, I don't care what white people think, I mean that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/when-i-say-i-don-t-care-what-white-people-think-i-mean-that/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) ## More by Rush Limbaugh > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ I guarantee you \[Hillary Clinton\] is smoking in humiliation over the idea that she needs to heal and that \[Donald\] Trump's the guy to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-guarantee-you-hillary-clinton-is-smoking-in-humiliation-over-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [How do you, on the one hand, not object to Hillary Clinton being elected, and then, on the other hand, tell people, "Elect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/how-do-you-on-the-one-hand-not-object-to-hillary-clinton-being/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ The real leadership of the opposition is never, ever gonna do anything but continue to ramp up efforts to stop \[Donald\] Trump or destroy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-leadership-of-the-opposition-is-never-ever-gonna-do-anything/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can't see the Democrats working with Donald Trump on tax reform unless the rich get soaked. The thing about this that should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-can-t-see-the-democrats-working-with-donald-trump-on-tax-reform/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Once you convince people that they're victims, you really own them because you've just told them that whatever problems they have in life, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/once-you-convince-people-that-they-re-victims-you-really-own-them/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [People from all over the world came to America and assimilated into a single culture rooted in the founding, which is rooted in individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/people-from-all-over-the-world-came-to-america-and-assimilated-into-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The left wants to transform America away from founding ideals, and this is it. And they know it. And they're doing everything they, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-left-wants-to-transform-america-away-from-founding-ideals-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There is an all-out assault now on the Christian community in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-an-all-out-assault-now-on-the-christian-community-in-this/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ Four states where \[Democrats\] have the governorship and both houses of the legislature. That's it. They have lost seats. They are not gonna win… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/four-states-where-democrats-have-the-governorship-and-both-houses-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) [Explore all 2,819 Rush Limbaugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## 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": "I'm a literalist. I believe what people say. 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