---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to have a phrase: Liberalism is…"
description: "\"I used to have a phrase: Liberalism is spreading misery equally. And now the ruling class throughout Washington seems to have adopted this.\" — Rush Lim..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/rush-limbaugh-28_adopted_i-used-to-have-a-phrase-liberalism-is-sp_2532290.jpg"
---

#  I used to have a phrase: Liberalism is spreading misery…

![“I used to have a phrase: Liberalism is spreading misery equally. And now the ruling class throughout Washington seems to have adopted this.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/rush-limbaugh-28_adopted_i-used-to-have-a-phrase-liberalism-is-sp_2532290.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/rush-limbaugh-28_adopted_i-used-to-have-a-phrase-liberalism-is-sp_2532290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/rush-limbaugh-28_adopted_i-used-to-have-a-phrase-liberalism-is-sp_2532290.jpg)

> “I used to have a phrase: Liberalism is spreading misery equally. And now the ruling class throughout Washington seems to have adopted this.”

[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.

Critiques liberalism for causing widespread suffering, suggesting the elite now embraces this view.

**In simple terms:** Liberalism spreads misery; elites now adopt it.

Key Takeaway

Question the impact of policies on all classes.

Themes

politics critique inequality

Mood

skeptical critical

Type

opinion political

When to use this quote

- policy analysis
- public debate
- media commentary

Key Concepts

economic theory social justice

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence supports or refutes this claim?
- How do we balance critique with nuance?

A Different Perspective

Oversimplifies complex issues, may ignore benefits.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adopted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adopted/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Liberalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalism/) [Liberalism Spreading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalism-spreading-1354109/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Misery Equally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery-equally-1354112/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Phrase Liberalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phrase-liberalism-1354110/) [Phrases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phrases/) [Ruling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling/) [Ruling class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling-class/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Spreading Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spreading-misery-1354111/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/)

## Related quotes

> [Liberals like to achieve fairness by spreading the misery. Conservatives seek to expand opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/liberals-like-to-achieve-fairness-by-spreading-the-misery/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [The Republican establishment, the Democrat establishment agree and accept that the media is an equal player in the ruling class. Trump has blown all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-republican-establishment-the-democrat-establishment-agree-and/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [Men in excess of happiness or misery are equally inclined to severity. Witness conquerors and monks! It is mediocrity alone, and a mixture of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/men-in-excess-of-happiness-or-misery-are-equally-inclined-to-severity/)

[Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/)

> [A pirate spreading misery and ruin over the face of the ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-pirate-spreading-misery-and-ruin-over-the-face-of-the-ocean/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [As Brooks Adams put it, the sole problem of our ruling class is whether to coerce or to bribe the powerless majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/as-brooks-adams-put-it-the-sole-problem-of-our-ruling-class-is/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [That's all very well as an abstract moral principle, Avril, a coffee-table theoretical construct, but there's no denying the sheer gratuitous pleasure to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/that-s-all-very-well-as-an-abstract-moral-principle-avril-a-coffee/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [Our democracies are increasingly captured by a ruling class that seeks to perpetuate its privileges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/our-democracies-are-increasingly-captured-by-a-ruling-class-that/)

[Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/)

> [Because you look at it, you know, and there's basically one set of rules that protect that industrial ruling class. That's what the governments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/because-you-look-at-it-you-know-and-there-s-basically-one-set-of/)

[John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/)

> [But in view of the constitution, in the eye of the law, there is in this country no superior, dominant, ruling class of citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marshall-harlan/but-in-view-of-the-constitution-in-the-eye-of-the-law-there-is-in/)

[John Marshall Harlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marshall-harlan/)

> [The ruling class doesn't care about public safety. Having made it very difficult for States and localities to police themselves, having left ordinary citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wallop/the-ruling-class-doesn-t-care-about-public-safety-having-made-it-very/)

[Malcolm Wallop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wallop/)

> [Chuck Schumer is the face of the ruling class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-long/chuck-schumer-is-the-face-of-the-ruling-class/)

[Wendy Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-long/)

> [I am running to fix the economy, restore the constitutional system of checks and balances and to end this game of crony capitalism by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brat/i-am-running-to-fix-the-economy-restore-the-constitutional-system-of/)

[Dave Brat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brat/)

> [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/)

[Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/)

## 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 Adopted quotes

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/)

[Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/)

> [Azerbaijan unleashed the war, and was defeated in that war; Azerbaijan asked for truce (including from the Commander of Karabakh's forces) and later started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serzh-sargsyan/azerbaijan-unleashed-the-war-and-was-defeated-in-that-war-azerbaijan/)

[Serzh Sargsyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serzh-sargsyan/)

> [I'm not at all against white people adopting black children, because we're all human beings who need to give love and be nurtured in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-m-not-at-all-against-white-people-adopting-black-children-because/)

[Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/)

> [Susan, an only child who never had any roots, and I, a lone wolf who got married 20 years to late, were adopted by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpo-marx/susan-an-only-child-who-never-had-any-roots-and-i-a-lone-wolf-who-got/)

[Harpo Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpo-marx/)

> [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/)

[Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/)

> [A son or daughter in any human family is either born to or adopted by the parents. By definition, a child can't be both.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/a-son-or-daughter-in-any-human-family-is-either-born-to-or-adopted-by/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [. . . by natural selection our mind has adapted itself to the conditions of the external world. It has adopted the geometry most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/by-natural-selection-our-mind-has-adapted-itself-to-the-conditions-of/)

[Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/)

> [I was adopted my black Americans, I feel that I'm a 'Hybrid'. When I'm around Africans'I suddenly feel very black American. And when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-was-adopted-my-black-americans-i-feel-that-i-m-a-hybrid-when-i-m/)

[Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/)

> [I did this one movie with a great director named Wayne Kramer. It was 'Crossing Over,' and Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-chon/i-did-this-one-movie-with-a-great-director-named-wayne-kramer-it-was/)

[Justin Chon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-chon/)

> [I had severed relations with the Romanian exiles who had become politically conservative and even extremely right wing; I was giving chess lessons to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dumitru-tepeneag/i-had-severed-relations-with-the-romanian-exiles-who-had-become/)

[Dumitru Tepeneag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dumitru-tepeneag/)

> [People, the common people, can genuinely see what I'm doing. Moreover, people know that I have adopted four principles in living my life: simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-sattar-edhi/people-the-common-people-can-genuinely-see-what-i-m-doing-moreover/)

[Abdul Sattar Edhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-sattar-edhi/)

> [To a large extent, the American church has become merged with the world. It has adopted so many of the world's ideals and standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/to-a-large-extent-the-american-church-has-become-merged-with-the/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [When you're adopted, no matter what, you've got issues with unconditional love. And you find out you're the product of the worst situation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/when-you-re-adopted-no-matter-what-you-ve-got-issues-with/)

[Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/)

> [Capitalism justified itself and was adopted as an economic principle on the express ground that it provides selfish motives for doing good, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/capitalism-justified-itself-and-was-adopted-as-an-economic-principle/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

[Browse all 735 Adopted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adopted/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I used to have a phrase: Liberalism is spreading misery equally. And now the ruling class throughout Washington seems to have adopted this.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rush Limbaugh"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-used-to-have-a-phrase-liberalism-is-spreading-misery-equally-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adopted"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-used-to-have-a-phrase-liberalism-is-spreading-misery-equally-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/rush-limbaugh-28_adopted_i-used-to-have-a-phrase-liberalism-is-sp_2532290.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/rush-limbaugh-28_adopted_i-used-to-have-a-phrase-liberalism-is-sp_2532290.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/rush-limbaugh-28_adopted_i-used-to-have-a-phrase-liberalism-is-sp_2532290.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I used to have a phrase: Liberalism is spreading misery equally. And now the ruling class throughout…” — Rush Limbaugh",
                "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": "Rush Limbaugh",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I used to have a phrase:...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-used-to-have-a-phrase-liberalism-is-spreading-misery-equally-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-used-to-have-a-phrase-liberalism-is-spreading-misery-equally-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
