--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am on the whole a defender of the…" description: "\"I am on the whole a defender of the current, despite being a conservative. I mean, I think things are better than when I was younger.\" — William Kristol" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/william-kristol-9091_conservative_i-am-on-the-whole-a-defender-of-the-curr_1672126.jpg" --- # I am on the whole a defender of the current, despite being… ![“I am on the whole a defender of the current, despite being a conservative. I mean, I think things are better than when I was younger.” quote by William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/william-kristol-9091_conservative_i-am-on-the-whole-a-defender-of-the-curr_1672126.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/william-kristol-9091_conservative_i-am-on-the-whole-a-defender-of-the-curr_1672126.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/william-kristol-9091_conservative_i-am-on-the-whole-a-defender-of-the-curr_1672126.jpg) > “I am on the whole a defender of the current, despite being a conservative. I mean, I think things are better than when I was younger.” [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He supports the status quo, seeing it as better than past times despite conservative label. **In simple terms:** He believes things are improving now. Key Takeaway Recognize progress while staying critical. Themes politics conservatism optimism Mood reflective analytical Type opinion political When to use this quote - voting decisions - policy debates - media analysis Key Concepts status quo generational perspective Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance tradition with progress? - What aspects of the current system need reform? A Different Perspective Change may be uneven; not all aspects improve equally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-younger-870729/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Conservative Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative-mean-870728/) [Current Despite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/current-despite-870727/) [Currents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/currents/) [Defenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defenders/) [Despite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despite/) [Despite Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despite-conservative-870726/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [I don't support gay marriage despite being a conservative. 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Back then, I'd get the girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/my-career-is-going-better-now-than-when-i-was-younger-now-i-get-the/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [My career is going better now than when I was younger. It used to be that I'd get the girl but not the part.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/my-career-is-going-better-now-than-when-i-was-younger-it-used-to-be/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I have scored against every team, every country, every defender in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romario/i-have-scored-against-every-team-every-country-every-defender-in-the/) [Romario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romario/) > [ I wanted to play in New York when I was in my prime and I was young, fierce, lock-down \[defender\]. Madison Square Garden, that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metta-world-peace/i-wanted-to-play-in-new-york-when-i-was-in-my-prime-and-i-was-young/) [Metta World Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metta-world-peace/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## More by William Kristol > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. Take the hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/he-should-release-the-tax-returns-tomorrow-it-s-crazy-you-ve-got-to/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [ It's been an unusual election \[2016\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/it-s-been-an-unusual-election-2016/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [Republican Congressmen and senators will be in a very interesting place, where they have to support the president-elect - president - what will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/republican-congressmen-and-senators-will-be-in-a-very-interesting/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [ There are a few things \[Donald Trump\] has been pretty clear he'll do. 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Donald Trump needs a lot of competent people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/first-of-all-legally-it-s-hard-to-do-these-things-get-rid-of/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [The liberal media were never that powerful, and the whole thing was often used as an excuse by conservatives for conservative failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/the-liberal-media-were-never-that-powerful-and-the-whole-thing-was/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [ I think that's what's - one of the things that is alarming to me is \[Donald\] Trump, and I think Trump supporters seem to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/i-think-that-s-what-s-one-of-the-things-that-is-alarming-to-me-is/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [ I'm disappointed, depressed, and demoralized. \[...\] It is very hard to avoid the conclusion that President Bush flinched from a fight on constitutional philosophy.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/i-m-disappointed-depressed-and-demoralized-it-is-very-hard-to-avoid/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [ I think \[Donald Trump\] will do something on immigration. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/i-think-donald-trump-will-do-something-on-immigration/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [If you look at the polls - the conservatives are fine.I think there will be a fair amount of enthusiasm, or at least motivation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/if-you-look-at-the-polls-the-conservatives-are-fine-i-think-there/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [I don't think you want political parties that are entirely driven by some extremely doctrinal ideology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/i-don-t-think-you-want-political-parties-that-are-entirely-driven-by/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) [Explore all 75 William Kristol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) ## More Conservative quotes > [The house has to serve comfort. 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