--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But politicians quickly learned to pacify…" description: "\"“But politicians quickly learned to pacify the liberals by passing laws and regulations that, to pacify the conservatives, would not be enforced.”\" — W..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/wendell-berry-236_laws_but-politicians-quickly-learned-to-pacif_510775.jpg" --- # But politicians quickly learned to pacify the liberals by… ![“But politicians quickly learned to pacify the liberals by passing laws and regulations that, to pacify the conservatives, would not be enforced.” quote by Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/wendell-berry-236_laws_but-politicians-quickly-learned-to-pacif_510775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/wendell-berry-236_laws_but-politicians-quickly-learned-to-pacif_510775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/wendell-berry-236_laws_but-politicians-quickly-learned-to-pacif_510775.jpg) > ““But politicians quickly learned to pacify the liberals by passing laws and regulations that, to pacify the conservatives, would not be enforced.”” [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politicians appease both sides by creating rules that satisfy liberals but are rarely enforced, leaving conservatives unchanged. **In simple terms:** Policies can be superficial compromises that lack real impact. Key Takeaway Demand genuine, enforceable solutions. Themes politics compromise policy disillusionment Mood critical skeptical Type analytical political When to use this quote - legislative drafting - public debate - community activism Key Concepts Civic theory public administration ethical governance Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure laws are truly applied? - How can citizens hold leaders accountable? A Different Perspective Superficial compromises can erode trust in institutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservatives Enforced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatives-enforced-4329344/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Pacify Conservatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pacify-conservatives-4329347/) [Pacify Liberals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pacify-liberals-4329346/) [Passing laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing-laws/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Regulations Pacify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regulations-pacify-4329345/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nothing-is-more-destructive-of-respect-for-the-government-and-the-law/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I think there is a classy way to go about changing people's views about how they treat animals, and that is with compassion, strategic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-cleary/i-think-there-is-a-classy-way-to-go-about-changing-people-s-views/) [Katie Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-cleary/) > [We have never stopped sin by passing laws; and in the same way, we are not going to take a great moral ideal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/we-have-never-stopped-sin-by-passing-laws-and-in-the-same-way-we-are/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-prestige-of-government-has-undoubtedly-been-lowered-considerably-2/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Just passing laws saying you are not allowed to be racist won't work. You need an educational system in place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/just-passing-laws-saying-you-are-not-allowed-to-be-racist-won-t-work/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [Gun control advocates need to realize that passing laws that honest gun owners will not obey is a self-defeating strategy. Gun owners are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-neil-schulman/gun-control-advocates-need-to-realize-that-passing-laws-that-honest/) [J. Neil Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-neil-schulman/) > [“And how about doing the job we hired you gentlemen and ladies for? Start doing it by reading the legislation you pass. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-eade/and-how-about-doing-the-job-we-hired-you-gentlemen-and-ladies-for/) [Kenneth Eade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-eade/) > [“In 1897, Indiana State Legislature House Bill No. 246 attempted to decree that henceforth π should have the value of "3". The Bill was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hunt/in-1897-indiana-state-legislature-house-bill-no-246-attempted-to/) [Andrew Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hunt/) > [I support ensuring that committed gay couples have the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country. I believe strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-support-ensuring-that-committed-gay-couples-have-the-same-rights/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“The new dumb, is now wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/the-new-dumb-is-now-wisdom/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“There must be a lot of duplication in our country’s laws," said Dukhi. "Every time there are elections, they talk of passing the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/there-must-be-a-lot-of-duplication-in-our-country-s-laws-said-dukhi/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-gittings/equality-means-more-than-passing-laws-the-struggle-is-really-won-in/) [Barbara Gittings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-gittings/) > [Environmentally, business in America in 1970 was very similar to business in China today. Even if a CEO wanted to be a responsible corporate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/environmentally-business-in-america-in-1970-was-very-similar-to/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The law is like apparel, which alters with the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dodderidge/the-law-is-like-apparel-which-alters-with-the-time/) [John Dodderidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dodderidge/) ## More by Wendell Berry > [During the last 17 years... I have been working at the restoration of a once exhausted hillside. Its scars are now healed over, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/during-the-last-17-years-i-have-been-working-at-the-restoration-of-a/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [To husband is to use with care, to keep, to save, to make last, to conserve. Old usage tells us that there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/to-husband-is-to-use-with-care-to-keep-to-save-to-make-last-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The two families, sundered in the ruin of a friendship, were united again first in new friendship and then in mariage. My grandfather made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-two-families-sundered-in-the-ruin-of-a-friendship-were-united/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The living can't quit living because the world has turned terrible and people they love and need are killed. They can't because they don't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-living-can-t-quit-living-because-the-world-has-turned-terrible/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“I knew a man who, in the age of chain-saws, went right on cutting his wood with a handsaw and an axe. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-knew-a-man-who-in-the-age-of-chain-saws-went-right-on-cutting-his/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The concept of country, homeland, dwelling place becomes simplified as "the environment" -- that is, what surrounds us, we have already made a profound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-concept-of-country-homeland-dwelling-place-becomes-simplified-as/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [A community is the mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is shared, and that the people who share the place define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/a-community-is-the-mental-and-spiritual-condition-of-knowing-that-the/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“That we can prescribe the terms of our own success, that we can live outside or in ignorance of the Great Economy are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/that-we-can-prescribe-the-terms-of-our-own-success-that-we-can-live/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The mind that comes to rest is tended In ways that it cannot intend: Is borne, preserved, and comprehended By what it cannot comprehend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mind-that-comes-to-rest-is-tended-in-ways-that-it-cannot-intend/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The mercy of the world is time. Time does not stop for love, but it does not stop for death and grief, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mercy-of-the-world-is-time-time-does-not-stop-for-love-but-it/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-soil-is-the-great-connector-of-our-lives-the-source-and/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I dislike the thought that some animal has been made miserable to feed me. If I am going to eat meat, I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-dislike-the-thought-that-some-animal-has-been-made-miserable-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/laughter-is-immeasurable-be-joyful/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [These are people who are capable of devotion, public devotion, to justice. They meant what they said and every day that passes, they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/these-are-people-who-are-capable-of-devotion-public-devotion-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) [Explore all 847 Wendell Berry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More Laws quotes > [The law is like apparel, which alters with the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dodderidge/the-law-is-like-apparel-which-alters-with-the-time/) [John Dodderidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dodderidge/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [Well of course there's been a great deal of progress over the last 40 years. We don't have laws that segregate black people within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/well-of-course-there-s-been-a-great-deal-of-progress-over-the-last-40/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obey them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/laws-are-not-masters-but-servants-and-he-rules-them-who-obey-them/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Any law too often subject to infraction is bad; it is the duty of the legislator to repeal or to change it, lest the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-yourcenar/any-law-too-often-subject-to-infraction-is-bad-it-is-the-duty-of-the/) [Marguerite Yourcenar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-yourcenar/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It is quite wrong that one group of people should regularly and deliberately flout the law, boast about it and get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/it-is-quite-wrong-that-one-group-of-people-should-regularly-and/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The sanctity of law can be maintained only so long as it is the expression of the will of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/the-sanctity-of-law-can-be-maintained-only-so-long-as-it-is-the/) [Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/) > [Very often the law of extremity demands an attention to irrelevance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-frame/very-often-the-law-of-extremity-demands-an-attention-to-irrelevance/) [Janet Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-frame/) > [“Countries, states, cities, corporations and laws are all words on paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/countries-states-cities-corporations-and-laws-are-all-words-on-paper/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The law says you cannot touch, but I see a lot of lawbreakers up in this house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/the-law-says-you-cannot-touch-but-i-see-a-lot-of-lawbreakers-up-in/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) [Browse all 1,713 Laws quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But politicians quickly learned to pacify the liberals by passing laws and regulations that, to pacify the conservatives, would not be enforced.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wendell Berry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/but-politicians-quickly-learned-to-pacify-the-liberals-by-passing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Laws" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/but-politicians-quickly-learned-to-pacify-the-liberals-by-passing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/wendell-berry-236_laws_but-politicians-quickly-learned-to-pacif_510775.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/wendell-berry-236_laws_but-politicians-quickly-learned-to-pacif_510775.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/722/wendell-berry-236_laws_but-politicians-quickly-learned-to-pacif_510775.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But politicians quickly learned to pacify the liberals by passing laws and regulations that, to pacify the…” — Wendell Berry", "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": "Wendell Berry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But politicians quickly learned to pacify...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/but-politicians-quickly-learned-to-pacify-the-liberals-by-passing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/but-politicians-quickly-learned-to-pacify-the-liberals-by-passing/#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 } } ] } ```