--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I find labels \"liberal\" and…" description: "\"I find labels \"liberal\" and \"conservative\" of little meaning. Our language has become perverted along with the thoughts of many of us.\" — Studs Terkel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cea/studs-terkel-3020_conservative_i-find-labels-liberal-and-conservative-o_300695.jpg" --- # I find labels "liberal" and "conservative" of little… ![“I find labels "liberal" and "conservative" of little meaning. Our language has become perverted along with the thoughts of many of us.” quote by Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cea/studs-terkel-3020_conservative_i-find-labels-liberal-and-conservative-o_300695.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cea/studs-terkel-3020_conservative_i-find-labels-liberal-and-conservative-o_300695.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cea/studs-terkel-3020_conservative_i-find-labels-liberal-and-conservative-o_300695.jpg) > “I find labels "liberal" and "conservative" of little meaning. Our language has become perverted along with the thoughts of many of us.” [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Labels like liberal or conservative have lost meaning as language degrades with thought **In simple terms:** Political labels are now vague and misleading Key Takeaway Focus on ideas, not tags Themes politics language identity Mood analytical critical Type philosophical inquisitive When to use this quote - political debates - media analysis - public discourse Key Concepts sociology communication Questions to Reflect On - How can we discuss politics without labels? - What alternatives exist for nuanced dialogue? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on labels can oversimplify complex views ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [Labels Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels-liberal-2873240/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language Perverted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-perverted-2873241/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Liberal Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal-conservative/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) ## Related quotes > [“to speak, as Leopold’s officials did, of forced laborers as libérés, or “liberated men,” was to use language as perverted as that above the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hochschild/to-speak-as-leopold-s-officials-did-of-forced-laborers-as-lib-r-s-or/) [Adam Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hochschild/) > [People ask me if I'm liberal or conservative. I say neither - I'm pragmatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/people-ask-me-if-i-m-liberal-or-conservative-i-say-neither-i-m/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [A liberal is a conservative whose conscience is on display](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-gioia/a-liberal-is-a-conservative-whose-conscience-is-on-display/) [Jerome Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-gioia/) > [A liberal conservative is a man who thinks things ought to progress but would rather they remained as they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/a-liberal-conservative-is-a-man-who-thinks-things-ought-to-progress/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [The African-American community is not monolithic. It's liberal and conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/the-african-american-community-is-not-monolithic-it-s-liberal-and/) [Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/) > [Sometimes he even embarrassed the company by phrases suggesting that there was some difference between a Liberal and a Conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-he-even-embarrassed-the-company-by-phrases-suggesting-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Investment in early education is not a Liberal or Conservative idea. Nor should it be decided along party lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/investment-in-early-education-is-not-a-liberal-or-conservative-idea/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [We don't see ourselves as liberal or conservative. We consider ourselves an outlet that addresses the issues that matter the most to our audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-welteroth/we-don-t-see-ourselves-as-liberal-or-conservative-we-consider/) [Elaine Welteroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-welteroth/) > [I don't know how you make a record on liberal and conservative these days. We've had a conservative Republican Congress, so to speak, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/i-don-t-know-how-you-make-a-record-on-liberal-and-conservative-these/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [I reject the idea there are just two sides. I think that with the amount of ideas and thoughts there are, it's not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-reject-the-idea-there-are-just-two-sides-i-think-that-with-the/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Elected officials want to paint everyone with a broad brush. What they don't get is that everyone pays bills. Liberal activists pay bills. Conservative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-veasey/elected-officials-want-to-paint-everyone-with-a-broad-brush-what-they/) [Marc Veasey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-veasey/) > [Liberal talk on the radio doesn't perform well because it is not a sequestered to a niche - it's everywhere in the media universe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-loesch/liberal-talk-on-the-radio-doesn-t-perform-well-because-it-is-not-a/) [Dana Loesch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-loesch/) > [It is the liberal philosophy, not the conservative one, that views humans as selfish automatons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/it-is-the-liberal-philosophy-not-the-conservative-one-that-views/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [Trump is more conservative on individual rights, domestic issues, economic issues and defense. On the other hand, Clinton is quite liberal and wishes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabrizio-moreira/trump-is-more-conservative-on-individual-rights-domestic-issues/) [Fabrizio Moreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabrizio-moreira/) > [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/) ## More by Studs Terkel > [My epitaph? My epitaph will be, 'Curiosity did not kill this cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/my-epitaph-my-epitaph-will-be-curiosity-did-not-kill-this-cat/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“It was in ’35—we had this campaign to raise a million tax dollars. In the town of Phillips, one evening, during a blizzard, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/it-was-in-35-we-had-this-campaign-to-raise-a-million-tax-dollars-in/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I read somewhere that when a person takes part in community action, his health improves. Something happens to him or to her biologically. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-read-somewhere-that-when-a-person-takes-part-in-community-action/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Don't be an examiner, be the interested inquirer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/don-t-be-an-examiner-be-the-interested-inquirer/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Hope never trickles down. It always springs up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/hope-never-trickles-down-it-always-springs-up/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I never drove a car. I'm hopeless that way. I press the wrong buttons on the tape recorder. But if the person I'm interviewing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-never-drove-a-car-i-m-hopeless-that-way-i-press-the-wrong-buttons/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [To survive the day is triumph enough for the walking wounded among the great many of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/to-survive-the-day-is-triumph-enough-for-the-walking-wounded-among/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“I’ll never forget that Depression Easter Sunday. Our son was four years old. I bought ten or fifteen cents’ worth of eggs. You didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-ll-never-forget-that-depression-easter-sunday-our-son-was-four/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [All you need in life is truth and beauty and you can find both at the Public Library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/all-you-need-in-life-is-truth-and-beauty-and-you-can-find-both-at-the/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Reading a book should not be a passive exercise, but rather a raucous conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/reading-a-book-should-not-be-a-passive-exercise-but-rather-a-raucous/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I hope for peace and sanity - it's the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/i-hope-for-peace-and-sanity-it-s-the-same-thing/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“The total cost of the Federal Arts Project was only $23 million. Many of these paintings, sculptures and prints were given to museums, courthouses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/the-total-cost-of-the-federal-arts-project-was-only-23-million-many/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [“Who knows Bob’s name in this outfit—let alone his lame child’s? (“The last place I worked for, I was let go,” recalls the bank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/who-knows-bob-s-name-in-this-outfit-let-alone-his-lame-child-s-the/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [The trouble with censorship is that once it starts it is hard to stop. Just about every book contains something that someone objects to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/the-trouble-with-censorship-is-that-once-it-starts-it-is-hard-to-stop/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [At a time when pimpery, lick-spittlery, and picking the public's pocket are the order of the day - indeed, officially proclaimed as virtue -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/at-a-time-when-pimpery-lick-spittlery-and-picking-the-public-s-pocket/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) [Explore all 142 Studs Terkel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) ## 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": "I find labels \"liberal\" and \"conservative\" of little meaning. 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