Eugene Jarecki

Reagan is held up to us as an example of never raising taxes. Correction: Reagan raised taxes six of his eight years as president. Why? He was a pragmatist, not doctrinaire. He saw problems emerging, and when his policies faltered he changed his views. Flexibility, not rigidity.

American Director

Adam Richman

There is no right way to go on an edible journey. You can never tell what is going to be great, so you have to try everything. If you become doctrinaire about sticking to lowbrow foods or epicurean delights, your just being an extremist, and it won't do you any good.

American Actor

Christopher Koch

I don't have doctrinaire views about how we should relate to Asia. But novelists reflect the world they live in, and that world propels you, to some extent. I'm a creature of the British Empire, and of the period of transition from the Empire.

Australian Novelist

Carroll Quigley

The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers.

American Writer

James D. Watson

Today, the theory of evolution is an accepted fact for everyone but a fundamentalist minority, whose objections are based not on reasoning but on doctrinaire adherence to religious principles.

American Scientist

Cynthia Ozick

If an essay has a 'motive,' it is linked more to happenstance and opportunity than to the driven will. A genuine essay is not a doctrinaire tract or a propaganda effort or a broadside.

American Novelist

P. J. O'Rourke

America is not doctrinaire. It's hard for an American politician to come up with an ideological position that is permanently unforgivable.

American Comedian

Richard Shelby

Even some of my Republican friends say I have a populist, progressive streak. I am not a doctrinaire, anti-government person.

American Politician

Randy Newman

It's funny; people get so doctrinaire about music. It should be the last thing you don't have an open mind about.

William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne

A doctrinaire is a fool but an honest man.

British Politician

Used to describe someone who favors theoretical principles over practicality in real-life situations.

Not Pragmatic

Carries a negative connotation, suggesting stubbornness and lack of flexibility.

Often Negative

Frequently used in political or ideological discussions to critique opponents.

Political Context

Describes someone who's more interested in ideas than in making them work in reality.

Theorist Connotation

When calling someone a doctrinaire, there's usually a critical tone implied.

Criticism Implied

Emphasizes idealistic thinking that may not be practical or realistic.

Idealism Over Realism

 to flush toilets let's be very careful about making a doctrinaire statement about whether or not water is a human right because it may well be but how do you pay for it

Doctrinaire