--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Very simply, I was the original…" description: "\"Very simply, I was the original conservative.\" — Tommy Thompson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/tommy-thompson-52512_conservative_very-simply-i-was-the-original-conservat_2451746.jpg" --- # Very simply, I was the original conservative. ![“Very simply, I was the original conservative.” quote by Tommy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/tommy-thompson-52512_conservative_very-simply-i-was-the-original-conservat_2451746.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/tommy-thompson-52512_conservative_very-simply-i-was-the-original-conservat_2451746.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/tommy-thompson-52512_conservative_very-simply-i-was-the-original-conservat_2451746.jpg) > “Very simply, I was the original conservative.” [Tommy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker claims to be the original conservative, implying a foundational stance on limited government and traditional values **In simple terms:** Identifies himself as the first true conservative Key Takeaway Embrace core conservative principles Themes politics ideology identity history Mood assertive definitive Type political ideological When to use this quote - policy debates - campaign speeches - public forums - legislative work Key Concepts fiscal restraint social traditionalism political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What defines an “original” conservative? - How do historical contexts shape political labels? A Different Perspective Self‑identification may be contested by others with differing definitions ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Original](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original/) [Original Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-conservative-577423/) [Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simply/) [Simply Original](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simply-original-577424/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes there is simply no need to be either clever or original.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-chermayeff/sometimes-there-is-simply-no-need-to-be-either-clever-or-original/) [Ivan Chermayeff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-chermayeff/) > [“Instead of trying to be original, try being you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aegelis/instead-of-trying-to-be-original-try-being-you/) [Aegelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aegelis/) > [No one can be profoundly original who does not avoid eccentricity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/no-one-can-be-profoundly-original-who-does-not-avoid-eccentricity/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Better a decent remake than a bad original, don't you think?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-charan/better-a-decent-remake-than-a-bad-original-don-t-you-think/) [Ram Charan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-charan/) > [God is the original Mathematician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/god-is-the-original-mathematician/) [Frenchqueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenchqueen/) > [High original genius is always ridiculed on its first appearance; most of all by those who have won themselves the highest reputation in working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/high-original-genius-is-always-ridiculed-on-its-first-appearance-most/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-more-original-a-discovery-the-more-obvious-it-seems-afterwards/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The original sin is to limit the Is. Don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-original-sin-is-to-limit-the-is-don-t/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [“most expensive originals have cheap imitations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/most-expensive-originals-have-cheap-imitations/) [Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/) > [No, it's interesting to remake a film for the contemporary audience today. I think it's a good idea; it needs to respect the original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-argento/no-it-s-interesting-to-remake-a-film-for-the-contemporary-audience/) [Dario Argento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-argento/) > [HBO is the original subscription video-on-demand company. We were repurposing first-run movies, and then we added original programming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bewkes/hbo-is-the-original-subscription-video-on-demand-company-we-were/) [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) > [I like that I am different, we don't need to be the same, because that wouldn't be Original and that is my name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-munton/i-like-that-i-am-different-we-don-t-need-to-be-the-same-because-that/) [Simone Munton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-munton/) > [Life is not a cliche - everything that's happening is completely original. No refunds, no exchange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-not-a-cliche-everything-that-s-happening-is-completely/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He brought a sensibility and a hard-edged reasonableness to operating restaurants that had a lasting impact on me and still affects how I run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/he-brought-a-sensibility-and-a-hard-edged-reasonableness-to-operating/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [I am pure and original from heart but dont judge my mind!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dheeraj-puthran/i-am-pure-and-original-from-heart-but-dont-judge-my-mind/) [Dheeraj Puthran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dheeraj-puthran/) ## More by Tommy Thompson > [We've lost 3,000 jobs in Beaufort County. We've lost half of our manufacturing workforce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-thompson/we-ve-lost-3-000-jobs-in-beaufort-county-we-ve-lost-half-of-our/) [Tommy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-thompson/) > [I think in the heat of emotions, some rhetoric is said that is a little explosive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-thompson/i-think-in-the-heat-of-emotions-some-rhetoric-is-said-that-is-a/) [Tommy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-thompson/) > [Whether you're a Democrat or Republican, if your standard-bearer for the presidency is not doing well, it's gonna reflect on the down-ballot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-thompson/whether-you-re-a-democrat-or-republican-if-your-standard-bearer-for/) [Tommy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-thompson/) > [Build the roads and the jobs follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-thompson/build-the-roads-and-the-jobs-follow/) [Tommy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-thompson/) > [Tax cuts are an investment in working families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-thompson/tax-cuts-are-an-investment-in-working-families/) [Tommy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-thompson/) > [There is no greater example of government overreach and unrestrained liberalism than 'Obamacare.' It is so deeply flawed and such a clear and present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-thompson/there-is-no-greater-example-of-government-overreach-and-unrestrained/) [Tommy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-thompson/) [Explore all 7 Tommy Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-thompson/) ## 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": "Very simply, I was the original conservative.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tommy Thompson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-thompson/very-simply-i-was-the-original-conservative/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conservative" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-thompson/very-simply-i-was-the-original-conservative/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/tommy-thompson-52512_conservative_very-simply-i-was-the-original-conservat_2451746.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/tommy-thompson-52512_conservative_very-simply-i-was-the-original-conservat_2451746.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/tommy-thompson-52512_conservative_very-simply-i-was-the-original-conservat_2451746.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Very simply, I was the original conservative.” — Tommy Thompson", "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": "Tommy Thompson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-thompson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Very simply, I was the original...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-thompson/very-simply-i-was-the-original-conservative/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-thompson/very-simply-i-was-the-original-conservative/#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 } } ] } ```