--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't really believe that people read…" description: "\"I don't really believe that people read just the stuff they agree with.\" — William Kristol" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/william-kristol-9091_agree_i-don-t-really-believe-that-people-read_790301.jpg" --- # I don't really believe that people read just the stuff… ![“I don't really believe that people read just the stuff they agree with.” quote by William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/william-kristol-9091_agree_i-don-t-really-believe-that-people-read_790301.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/william-kristol-9091_agree_i-don-t-really-believe-that-people-read_790301.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/william-kristol-9091_agree_i-don-t-really-believe-that-people-read_790301.jpg) > “I don't really believe that people read just the stuff they agree with.” [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. People tend to seek information that confirms their beliefs, limiting exposure to opposing views. **In simple terms:** We favor ideas that match our opinions. Key Takeaway Seek diverse perspectives. Themes cognition media bias Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - social media - news consumption - political discussions Key Concepts Confirmation bias echo chambers Questions to Reflect On - How do you challenge your own assumptions? - What sources broaden your view? A Different Perspective People also read opposing views for critical thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I'm trying mostly to ask questions. And not just trying to stake out a position on something, but also trying to define the stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-revkin/i-m-trying-mostly-to-ask-questions-and-not-just-trying-to-stake-out-a/) [Andrew Revkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-revkin/) > [I love smarta\*\*es when it's stuff I agree with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-love-smarta-es-when-it-s-stuff-i-agree-with/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I certainly don't believe that people can read other people's minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-certainly-don-t-believe-that-people-can-read-other-people-s-minds/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I'm optimistic. I really believe people in power want to do the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-schulte/i-m-optimistic-i-really-believe-people-in-power-want-to-do-the-right/) [Brigid Schulte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-schulte/) > [I really believe when you give to other people, you give to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-really-believe-when-you-give-to-other-people-you-give-to-yourself/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I really believe what people have said before, that God is love. For me, it's music. For you, it might be writing, or for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-james/i-really-believe-what-people-have-said-before-that-god-is-love-for-me/) [Jim James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-james/) > [I really believe that if people put everything they have into something, they can really surprise themselves most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-kerr/i-really-believe-that-if-people-put-everything-they-have-into/) [Jim Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-kerr/) > [I really believe in the people of this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/i-really-believe-in-the-people-of-this-country/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [“was boring to think of books as something you should read just because others had, and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katarina-bivald/was-boring-to-think-of-books-as-something-you-should-read-just/) [Katarina Bivald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katarina-bivald/) > [A man ought to read just as inclination leads him, for what he reads as a task will do him little good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-man-ought-to-read-just-as-inclination-leads-him-for-what-he-reads/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I wasn't a very discriminating reader. I read just about everything that came along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kuralt/i-wasn-t-a-very-discriminating-reader-i-read-just-about-everything/) [Charles Kuralt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kuralt/) > [“You should never read just for "enjoyment." Read to make yourself smarter! Less judgmental. More apt to understand your friends' insane behavior, or better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/you-should-never-read-just-for-enjoyment-read-to-make-yourself/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [You can't make someone read. Just like you can't make them fall in love, or dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pennac/you-can-t-make-someone-read-just-like-you-can-t-make-them-fall-in/) [Daniel Pennac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pennac/) > [I write what I'd like to read and just hope that, along the way, others might like to read them, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/i-write-what-i-d-like-to-read-and-just-hope-that-along-the-way-others/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [“If you don't love to read, you just haven't found the right book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-green/if-you-don-t-love-to-read-you-just-haven-t-found-the-right-book/) [Tim Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-green/) ## 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. A big infrastructure program that he'll get bipartisan support for. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/there-are-a-few-things-donald-trump-has-been-pretty-clear-he-ll-do-a/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [Donald Trump beat Jeb Bush and beat Hillary Clinton. And when everyone thinks of Donald Trump that's pretty impressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/donald-trump-beat-jeb-bush-and-beat-hillary-clinton-and-when-everyone/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [You all would be really shocked, if you were dropped back down into when I went to college, by the narrowness of the opinions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/you-all-would-be-really-shocked-if-you-were-dropped-back-down-into/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [American power should be used not just in the defense of American interests but for the promotion of American principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/american-power-should-be-used-not-just-in-the-defense-of-american/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [ First of all, legally, it's hard to do these things\[ get rid of ObamaCare\]. 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 Agree quotes > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [I talk to fashion designers and say I want some money to save the rainforest, and they say, 'Oh, I agree with you completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-talk-to-fashion-designers-and-say-i-want-some-money-to-save-the/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Never be afraid of doing the thing you know in your heart is right, even if others don't agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/never-be-afraid-of-doing-the-thing-you-know-in-your-heart-is-right/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“I tend to agree with that little devil more and more these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-casey/i-tend-to-agree-with-that-little-devil-more-and-more-these-days/) [Elle Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-casey/) > [People might not agree with me, but I think a woman should have a feminine shape, something you can get your hands on. You,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/people-might-not-agree-with-me-but-i-think-a-woman-should-have-a/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [But I would say if the Security Council is only relevant if it agrees with the United States, then we have come a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/but-i-would-say-if-the-security-council-is-only-relevant-if-it-agrees/) [Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/) > [We're never all going to agree with each other. We have to learn to value the diversity. It's one of the presumable principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/we-re-never-all-going-to-agree-with-each-other-we-have-to-learn-to/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [A contract is an ask game, and if it asks for an hour, and I submit to an hour, then it's an hour. 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