--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever I hear anything described as a…" description: "\"Whenever I hear anything described as a heartless assault on our children, I tend to think it’s a good idea.\" — William Kristol" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/william-kristol-9091_assault_whenever-i-hear-anything-described-as-a_2998860.jpg" --- # Whenever I hear anything described as a heartless assault… ![“Whenever I hear anything described as a heartless assault on our children, I tend to think it’s a good idea.” quote by William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/william-kristol-9091_assault_whenever-i-hear-anything-described-as-a_2998860.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/william-kristol-9091_assault_whenever-i-hear-anything-described-as-a_2998860.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/william-kristol-9091_assault_whenever-i-hear-anything-described-as-a_2998860.jpg) > “Whenever I hear anything described as a heartless assault on our children, I tend to think it’s a good idea.” [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. The speaker suggests that labeling something as a "heartless assault" on children can make it seem justified, critiquing moral panic. **In simple terms:** Moral panic can mask rational debate. Key Takeaway Question sensationalist rhetoric. Themes media criticism political discourse ethics Mood skeptical critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - debates on education - legislation on child protection - media analysis Key Concepts propaganda moral panic public policy Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate genuine harm from rhetorical exaggeration? - What evidence supports the claim? A Different Perspective The phrase may oversimplify complex issues, ignoring nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault/) [Assault Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault-children-2503086/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Described Heartless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/described-heartless-4751099/) [Good idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-idea/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Heartless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartless/) [Heartless Assault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartless-assault-4751098/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Our children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-children/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Indeed, my conclusion from a lifetime of psychohistorical study of childhood and society is that the history of humanity is founded upon the abuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-demause/indeed-my-conclusion-from-a-lifetime-of-psychohistorical-study-of/) [Lloyd deMause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-demause/) > [There is no authority who decides what is a good idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-authority-who-decides-what-is-a-good-idea/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's just not a good idea to drink and drive; that is just common sense. But common sense is not that common!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-zima/it-s-just-not-a-good-idea-to-drink-and-drive-that-is-just-common/) [Madeline Zima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-zima/) > [It has never been a good idea to try to disarm Texans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/it-has-never-been-a-good-idea-to-try-to-disarm-texans/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [Gadgets - our houses are filled with them: ones we need, ones we think we need, and others that were a good idea at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheherazade-goldsmith/gadgets-our-houses-are-filled-with-them-ones-we-need-ones-we-think-we/) [Sheherazade Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheherazade-goldsmith/) > [It is a good idea for everyone who does not have contra-indications to receive a flu shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-johnson/it-is-a-good-idea-for-everyone-who-does-not-have-contra-indications/) [Amy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-johnson/) > [We like to test things... no matter how good an idea sounds, test it first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-w-bloch/we-like-to-test-things-no-matter-how-good-an-idea-sounds-test-it-first/) [Henry W. Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-w-bloch/) > [“Why is it a good idea for you and not a good idea for me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/why-is-it-a-good-idea-for-you-and-not-a-good-idea-for-me/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [What I’ve learned is that if you really want to be successful at something, you’ll find that you put the time in. You won’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-if-you-really-want-to-be-successful-at/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Everything in New Orleans is a good idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/everything-in-new-orleans-is-a-good-idea/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Ours is the only country deliberately founded on a good idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gunther/ours-is-the-only-country-deliberately-founded-on-a-good-idea/) [John Gunther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gunther/) > [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/) > [Domino effect: Once you drop a good idea, the rest will follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loesje/domino-effect-once-you-drop-a-good-idea-the-rest-will-follow/) [Loesje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loesje/) > [Everybody has a good idea, but nothing goes as planned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-winklevoss/everybody-has-a-good-idea-but-nothing-goes-as-planned/) [Tyler Winklevoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-winklevoss/) > [If you have a good idea you must explain it or you will fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-you-have-a-good-idea-you-must-explain-it-or-you-will-fail/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## 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. 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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 Assault quotes > [In an attempt to hinder, if not altogether halt, the next move of God, Satan has sent forth an army of faultfinding demons against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-frangipane/in-an-attempt-to-hinder-if-not-altogether-halt-the-next-move-of-god/) [Francis Frangipane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-frangipane/) > [There is an all-out assault now on the Christian community in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-an-all-out-assault-now-on-the-christian-community-in-this/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't know how I can feel safe with Donald Trump, who bragged about sexual assault having the most power of anyone in America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-pozner/i-don-t-know-how-i-can-feel-safe-with-donald-trump-who-bragged-about/) [Jennifer Pozner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-pozner/) > [At Ohio State University, to avoid being guilty of 'sexual assault' or 'sexual violence,' you and your partner now apparently have to agree on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/at-ohio-state-university-to-avoid-being-guilty-of-sexual-assault-or/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Their problem is not me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/their-problem-is-not-me-and-the-democrats-their-problem-is-themselves/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I wrapped a movie called 'Zombieland,' in which I was constantly under assault by zombies, then flew to New York, still very much in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/i-wrapped-a-movie-called-zombieland-in-which-i-was-constantly-under/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [When a child hits a child, we call it aggression. When a child hits an adult, we call it hostility. When an adult hits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-child-hits-a-child-we-call-it-aggression-when-a-child-hits-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm the same guy at that podium preaching to the people on every single song. I'm not doing a dance for you on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/i-m-the-same-guy-at-that-podium-preaching-to-the-people-on-every/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [That tertiary education is under a sustained assault by a political and - it often seems - social consensus that equates all education with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/that-tertiary-education-is-under-a-sustained-assault-by-a-political/) [Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/) > [The biggest threat to any politician is an artist. Comedians unleashed can do a great deal of damage. David Letterman can do more damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moriarty/the-biggest-threat-to-any-politician-is-an-artist-comedians-unleashed/) [Michael Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moriarty/) > [George W. 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It will be but a stepping-stone to others, larger and more sweeping, till our political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-present-assault-upon-capital-is-but-the-beginning-it-will-be-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 565 Assault quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whenever I hear anything described as a heartless assault on our children, I tend to think it’s a good idea.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Kristol" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/whenever-i-hear-anything-described-as-a-heartless-assault-on-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assault" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/whenever-i-hear-anything-described-as-a-heartless-assault-on-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/william-kristol-9091_assault_whenever-i-hear-anything-described-as-a_2998860.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/william-kristol-9091_assault_whenever-i-hear-anything-described-as-a_2998860.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1f/william-kristol-9091_assault_whenever-i-hear-anything-described-as-a_2998860.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whenever I hear anything described as a heartless assault on our children, I tend to think it’s a good idea.” — William Kristol", "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": "William Kristol", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whenever I hear anything described as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/whenever-i-hear-anything-described-as-a-heartless-assault-on-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/whenever-i-hear-anything-described-as-a-heartless-assault-on-our/#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 } } ] } ```