--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Confronted with the choice, the American…" description: "\"Confronted with the choice, the American people would choose the policeman's truncheon over the anarchist's bomb.\" — Spiro T. Agnew" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/spiro-t-agnew-12707_american-people_confronted-with-the-choice-the-american_1310711.jpg" --- # Confronted with the choice, the American people would… ![“Confronted with the choice, the American people would choose the policeman's truncheon over the anarchist's bomb.” quote by Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/spiro-t-agnew-12707_american-people_confronted-with-the-choice-the-american_1310711.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/spiro-t-agnew-12707_american-people_confronted-with-the-choice-the-american_1310711.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/spiro-t-agnew-12707_american-people_confronted-with-the-choice-the-american_1310711.jpg) > “Confronted with the choice, the American people would choose the policeman's truncheon over the anarchist's bomb.” [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People would prefer forceful authority over chaotic rebellion in times of crisis. **In simple terms:** People choose order over anarchy. Key Takeaway Value stability and lawful authority. Themes politics order security Mood cautious reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - law enforcement decisions - emergency policies Key Concepts authoritarianism anarchy public safety Questions to Reflect On - Why do people fear chaos? - When is force justified? A Different Perspective May suppress legitimate dissent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) [Anarchist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchist/) [Bombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombs/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Native american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Policemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policemen/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [We are always confronted with choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/we-are-always-confronted-with-choice/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [All the Chicago demonstrators wanted to do was to sleep in the park and kick policemen with razor blades in their shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/all-the-chicago-demonstrators-wanted-to-do-was-to-sleep-in-the-park/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [Life is never boring, but some people choose to be bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/life-is-never-boring-but-some-people-choose-to-be-bored/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [To make a difference is not a matter of accident...People CHOOSE to make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/to-make-a-difference-is-not-a-matter-of-accident-people-choose-to/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [N this business you got different types of artists who are trying to get to the level of success; everybody graduates to where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/n-this-business-you-got-different-types-of-artists-who-are-trying-to/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [People will choose unhappiness over uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-will-choose-unhappiness-over-uncertainty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think often times when people choose to be part of a charity; it's usually because something is very personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berkley/i-think-often-times-when-people-choose-to-be-part-of-a-charity-it-s/) [Elizabeth Berkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berkley/) > [It's strange the times people choose to be generous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/it-s-strange-the-times-people-choose-to-be-generous/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [A strong marriage requires two people who choose to love each other even on those days when they struggle to like each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/a-strong-marriage-requires-two-people-who-choose-to-love-each-other/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [There's so many ways to play a bad guy, and usually people choose the obvious one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-statham/there-s-so-many-ways-to-play-a-bad-guy-and-usually-people-choose-the/) [Jason Statham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-statham/) > [Some people choose to stay alone, simply because they are tired of giving everything and ending up with nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherry-forever/some-people-choose-to-stay-alone-simply-because-they-are-tired-of/) Cherry Forever > [“When you’re in love with two people, always choose the second. The fact that you are constantly thinking of the second person makes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/when-you-re-in-love-with-two-people-always-choose-the-second-the-fact/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [The people I choose as models have a quality that seems to contain the past, the present, and the future all at once. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sherald/the-people-i-choose-as-models-have-a-quality-that-seems-to-contain/) [Amy Sherald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sherald/) > [many people choose, early on, their own truths from the large smorgasbord available. And once they've chosen them, for good reason or no reason,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-bracken/many-people-choose-early-on-their-own-truths-from-the-large/) [Peg Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-bracken/) > [If I was going to go into an office I wanted it to be with people I would choose to be around even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hsieh/if-i-was-going-to-go-into-an-office-i-wanted-it-to-be-with-people-i/) [Tony Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hsieh/) ## More by Spiro T. Agnew > [You can't hit my team in the groin and expect me to smile about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/you-can-t-hit-my-team-in-the-groin-and-expect-me-to-smile-about-it/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [Nixon's own protection from the assassin's bullet... nattering nabobs of negativism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/nixon-s-own-protection-from-the-assassin-s-bullet-nattering-nabobs-of/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [The student now goes to college to proclaim rather than to learn. A spirit of national masochism prevails, encouraged by an effete corps of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/the-student-now-goes-to-college-to-proclaim-rather-than-to-learn-a/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [Three things have been difficult to tame: the oceans, fools and women. We may soon be able to tame the oceans; fools and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/three-things-have-been-difficult-to-tame-the-oceans-fools-and-women/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [In the United States today, we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism. They have formed their own 4-H Club…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/in-the-united-states-today-we-have-more-than-our-share-of-the/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [If a theology student in lowa should get up at a PTA luncheon in Sioux City and attack the President's military policy, my guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/if-a-theology-student-in-lowa-should-get-up-at-a-pta-luncheon-in/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [... vicars of vacillation ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/vicars-of-vacillation/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [An intellectual is a man who doesn't know how to park a bike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/an-intellectual-is-a-man-who-doesn-t-know-how-to-park-a-bike/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [I am not asking for government censorship or any other kind of censorship. I am asking whether a kind of censorship already exists when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/i-am-not-asking-for-government-censorship-or-any-other-kind-of/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [Some of the politicians in this country, in their feverish search for group acceptance, are ready to endorse tumultuous confrontation as a substitute for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/some-of-the-politicians-in-this-country-in-their-feverish-search-for/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [A raised eyebrow, an inflection of the voice, a caustic remark dropped in the middle of a broadcast can raise doubts in a million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/a-raised-eyebrow-an-inflection-of-the-voice-a-caustic-remark-dropped/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [Listening to Democrats complain about inflation is like listening to germs complain about disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/listening-to-democrats-complain-about-inflation-is-like-listening-to/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [Ultraliberalism today translates into a whimpering isolationism in foreign policy, a mulish obstructionism in domestic policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/ultraliberalism-today-translates-into-a-whimpering-isolationism-in/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [Some newspapers dispose of their garbage by printing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/some-newspapers-dispose-of-their-garbage-by-printing-it/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [The United States, for all its faults, is till the greatest nation in the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/the-united-states-for-all-its-faults-is-till-the-greatest-nation-in/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) [Explore all 53 Spiro T. Agnew quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) ## More American people quotes > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) Victor Gold > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The American people demand results, not rhetoric, especially when it comes to national security issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/the-american-people-demand-results-not-rhetoric-especially-when-it/) [J. D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [Hillary Clinton truly is sincere, but she has to connect more with the American people in terms of what she believes in and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/hillary-clinton-truly-is-sincere-but-she-has-to-connect-more-with-the/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) [Browse all 2,233 American people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Confronted with the choice, the American people would choose the policeman's truncheon over the anarchist's bomb.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Spiro T. 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