QuoteProject
A Conservative is a fellow who is standing athwart history yelling 'Stop!'
William F. Buckley, Jr.
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote critiques conservatives who resist change and progress in society.

William F. Buckley, Jr.'s quote reflects the viewpoint that conservatives often oppose advancements, attempting to halt the natural course of history. This metaphorical stance of 'yelling stop' implies not only resistance but also a desire to preserve the past, emphasizing the tension between progressives and conservatives in the political landscape.

Themes

ConservatismHistoryChangeProgressPolitics

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a political debate to highlight conservative resistance to progressive reforms.

More from William F. Buckley, Jr.

Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could.
William F. Buckley, Jr.Read
I'd rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the faculty of Harvard University.
William F. Buckley, Jr.Read
One must bear in mind that the expansion of federal activity is a form of eating for politicians.
William F. Buckley, Jr.Read
I would like to take you seriously, but to do so would affront your intelligence.
William F. Buckley, Jr.Read
You cannot paint the Mona Lisa by assigning one dab each to a thousand painters.
William F. Buckley, Jr.Read
Government can't do anything for you except in proportion as it can do something to you.
William F. Buckley, Jr.Read

Similar quotes

The Russians are turning east to the Chinese - to the Europeans' surprise. It always seemed to me that the relationship between Russia and China would shift from being based in Marx and Lenin to being based in oil and gas.
Daniel YerginRead
George Bush ran a campaign where he bragged about being an anti-intellectual, dismissing his Harvard and Yale pedigree, pretending he was an American every day, ordinary everyman, and as a result of that, played up his fumbling speech because it signified that he was a good guy. That is deeply and profoundly anti-intellectual.
Michael Eric DysonRead
For the Palestinians' efforts to delegitimize Israel will end in failure. Palestinian leaders will not achieve peace or prosperity if Hamas insists on a path of terror and rejection. And Palestinians will never realize their independence by denying the right of Israel to exist.
Barack ObamaRead
A little rebellion now and then... is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.
Thomas JeffersonRead
This is supposed to be a participatory democracy and if we're not in there participating then the people that will manipulate and exploit the system will step in there.
George TakeiRead
It is time we had democratic socialism for working families, not just Wall Street billionaires.
Bernie SandersRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.