Do you agree with this statement from former US President Theodore Roosevelt?

[AviatorTom]

Well what do you think?

Was Teddy right? Or wrong?

[ODC2112]

The quote:

"To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth."

This phrase has no basis in any of Roosevelt's writings, speeches, letters, or authentic documents. It doesn't even appear in the major historical archives of his works, neither in the Theodore Roosevelt Center nor in digital collections of reliable historical quotations such as Bartlett's Familiar Quotations or the Yale Book of Quotations.

It's a classic phrase believed in by ignorant morons.

When Theodore Roosevelt was politically active (late 19th - early 20th century), the terms "liberal" and "conservative" existed, but they did not at all correspond to the crystallized political identities we know today in the United States: the "conservative" Republican right and the "liberal" Democratic left.

The term liberal was still tied to the classical European-style liberal tradition: individual freedom, free markets, the rule of law, and civil rights, but not necessarily social justice or redistribution.

The term "conservative" indicated a position more closely tied to the status quo, to the defense of the interests of industrial and agrarian elites, and to the limitation of state intervention in the economy. In the late 19th-century United States, this was often associated with the Democratic Party in the South, heir to the Confederate and slave-owning traditions.

Frankfurt was a figure who could not be defined by today's standards. He was liberal/progressive in the modern sense: a reformer, an environmentalist, an anti-trust activist, and in favor of moderate state intervention. But he was also militaristic, imperialistic, and nationalistic—traits that today would be considered "conservative."

The clear identification of "liberal" as left and "conservative" as right, as we know it today in American politics, is a construct that emerged only from the 1960s onward. Before the 1960s, the American ideological landscape was much more fluid, and certain political labels had different meanings or even opposite connotations.

Until Nixon (and even more so before Goldwater in 1964), the Republican Party had a strong progressive wing, often more active than the Democrats on issues such as the fight against corruption, civil rights, women's suffrage, and the modernization of institutions.

[MrOracle]

This is absolutely true. While Teddy would clearly be a conservative by modern standards, he was more of a progressive classic liberal in his day - which meant he was not interested in preserving many of the traditions from the British monarchy and was more about freedom and individual liberty (along with individual responsibility).

Clearly this quote is a much more recent creation and falsely attributed to Teddy. And while he would almost certainly agree with the quote if he were alive today, no one with an understanding of history would believe the quote actually belongs to him.

[loveslongnails]

@MrOracle It's highly doubtful that Teddy would even engage this kind of quote.

[MrOracle]

Again, I agree. It's clearly a modern quote falsely grafted on to a picture of him, but no way he actually said it.

[loveslongnails]

Nice try maga's, but there's absolutely zero evidence that Teddy Roosevelt ever said that. None.

The reality TODAY is that Conservatives, GOP, maga's, P-2025'ers absolutely loathe the truth, or anything that doesn't fit their agenda. Liberals aren't fond of it either, but if it's an undeniable, proven and factual truth, they'll come to accept it.

Back to Teddy... What he DID in fact say, among other things, was the following classic quote that applies to every administration, none as much the current one:

" To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."

Roosevelt spoke these words in Kansas City on May 7, 1918, no doubt in part to justify his extreme criticisms of President Woodrow Wilson, whom he excoriated for moral flabbiness, among other things.

Clearly, Trump can't stand the truth. He's SO fucked up that he's done this:
"The Trump administration has reportedly directed NASA to prepare plans for terminating two climate change-focused satellite missions known as the Orbiting Carbon Observatories (OCO), which could involve deorbiting one of the satellites so it burns up in Earth's atmosphere. These satellites, OCO-2 and OCO-3, provide high-quality data on global carbon dioxide levels, helping scientists, farmers, and oil and gas companies monitor emissions and crop health. A 2023 NASA review found the data from these missions to be "of exceptionally high quality" and concluded the instruments were in excellent condition, with OCO-2 expected to operate until 2040."

Tell us again how he cares about Americans, especially farmers. This is absolutely insane.

[blackeagle007]

Don’t forget MAGAs said it was liberals who caused the inserection, people being paid to storm the capital 😆😆😆

[Agape93]

Eh these days it's the opposite. Tell liberals a lie and they lose their shit. Tell a conservative the truth and they lose their shit.

[dustybiker2]

I don't think that applies to the modern political environment. Maybe back in the day.

[nolabels]

Teddy Roosevelt, although human and subject to all the shortcomings that all humans are prone to, is one of my greatest heroes!

I'm in absolute agreement with this statement, as meant.

I would alter the quote, though, as I think that Teddy also would.

The term, "liberal", has come to have a very warped definition that is very far from its original meaning.

Classical liberalism is far closer to modern conservatism than neo-liberalism could ever hope to be.

Let's hope that proper understanding of language soon returns to the modern lexicon.

Thanks for the question.

Cheers to you.

[loveslongnails]

While you're expressing your gobbly-gook, the simple fact remains; we don't really KNOW how liberals handle the truth in general, but we DO KNOW that every Conservative, GOP, maga, cult sucking right winger absolutely can't handle it.

[nolabels]

@loveslongnails LOL

[Chazmatazz269]

It’s generally true now. I don’t know that it always was.
I’m curious to know how he might have drawn the line between liberalism and progressivism. Roosevelt’s presidency was extremely progressive for the time. He was the first US president to intervene in a labor dispute in favor of workers. He pushed for conservation of natural resources, and was widely criticized as a maverick of the republican party for much of his most prominent work.
He’s actually another good example for the left to examine, as he was recognized as a staunch nationalist and had arguably controversial progressive ideals. A combination the modern left denies is even possible.
For the cheap seats, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, fascism and nationalism are neither left nor right on the political spectrum. They are a means of establishing and maintaining power and control, and both sides have historically applied every conceivable means to do exactly that.

[OneViewpoint]

Teddy got that wrong. Teddy got a lot of stuff wrong. Teddy was a pretty simple minded guy.

Conservatives can't change. They have a fundamental need to deny anything that doesn't fit their existing beliefs. So when the truth doesn't match those beliefs they get angry and defensive. A conservative brain wants to be lied to.

A liberal has a more open mind and empathy. They are fundamentally open to change and tend to base their decisions on data and research. They are looking for new solutions. A liberal mind wants information and will follow the data. They will get angry when people cling to beliefs and lies.

[Chazmatazz269]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Avicenna]

LMAO. We see how closed minded these leftist propagandists are every day

[NordicInScandinavia]

You know that first paragraph there simply explained the average American citizen for you - political affiliation has little to do with it, both sides just refuse to see it and point fingers at each others.

[Anonymous]

of course it's true

state there are only 2 genders pisses off the LGTBQIAP+ crowd

declare that abortion is murder and feminists lose their minds

tell the climate alarmists that global warming is a hoax and they have a meltdown

show footage of ANTIFA burning down cities and they still think it's a peaceful protest

[IndianPhotoAcademy]

That quote: "Lie to a conservative to make him angry." "Tell the truth to enrage a liberal"—is not sincere. Theodore Roosevelt's authenticated writings, speeches, and documentary archives don't contain it. It is apocryphal, incorrectly attributed, and devoid of any solid evidence connecting it to Roosevelt, according to historians and reliable quotation sources.

[Lynx122]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/dlkvgoEPSQY

I don't know I feel like a lot of conservatives enjoy being lied to.

[RavVid]

I think he was very perspicuous and insightful.

It could reduced for the conservative, to is the Liberals mouth moving as it is bound to be a lie.

[exitseven]

No wonder he is on Mt Rushmore.

Make America Great Again

[Chazmatazz269]

😂😂😂

[jazzy34]

Invalid sentiment. TR was president before the "brain switch." Don't know what that is? Google it.

[beefcakebradybatson]

Teddy was a cowboy who fell off his horse a few too many times.(Jackie Robinson's middle name was Roosevelt in honour of the 26th American President, who died at age 60 Jan.6,1919,25 days before Robinson's Cairo, Ga. birth.)

[FreyaRed]

It's true. However it applies just to extremely polarized individuals.

[andreasderjuengere]

He was a kid of his own time.
Today it's not longer the same.
I see it as an anecdote from long ago, but not really as a lasting wisdom.

[Shiprex]

Telling the truth to the Right is like telling them there's no God.

[DCVsMarvel2]

No. Because conservatives get lied to all the time, by their "dear leader/mein fuhrer" and they could care less (most know he's lying, but they don't care"

[GetJinxed]

Nope. It's demonstrably untrue given how much cognitive dissonance MAGA has displayed over Trump breaking campaign promises, breaking his oath to uphold the constitution and lying about releasing the Epstein files.

[Anonymous]

I think Teddy was mostly right.

But some conservatives like lies (their support to Israel is the best example).

[Anonymous]

I think someone just tried to tell the truth about the jobs report and got fired for it. Trump and truth never go together.

[Smegskull]

I don't know that he said that.
Even if he did I think the classifications are wrong. It's more like "To anger a pessimist lie. To anger an optimist tell the truth."

[findacure4wokeness]

I don't know for sure who first said it but it certainly has aged well.

[MemeSupreme]

there's no way he said that lol

[Brittanyrunner06]

Yes, it rings true to me.

[sage2021]

What the heck!! They all lie!!

[Avicenna]

Completely true these days

[kavakava]

Given the choice, Democrats would rather plead the fifth than tell the truth.

[Avicenna]

@kavakava Those criminals need to plead the Fifth. Time for all of them to be held accountable.

[kavakava]

I hope so. Not even Jill Biden will testify under oath.

[Avicenna]

@kavakava: Tells you all you need to know.

[KostasKouvalis]

Sounds about right

[Massageman]

Sounds about right.

[DrPepper12]

Misatribution & wrong

[Dongie]

Hehe, that's sharp! Also pretty true!!

[kavakava]

One thing you have to give the left credit for is that they may lie 24/7, but never while under oath.

[Dongie]

Yeah, but they do lie in Congress and that's purgery.

[kavakava]

True

[Avicenna]

@kavakava: Actually, you can’t be prosecuted for telling lies on the floors of Congress, it’s not perjury. If it were, the Democrats would all be in prison.

[kavakava]

That explains a lot.

[BCRanger10]

Yep.

[DJB72]

Seems accurate

[Staximus]

Haha yep

[Pterodon]

Very true

[msc545]

No, of course not.

[qwerty2469]

Yes.

[jimmy2]

He so right