What Derek Sivers thinks about politics
Founded CD Baby in 1998 and sold it in 2008, giving the proceeds to a charitable trust for music education. Since then a writer and speaker: five books, 550+ articles, and a site at sive.rs he hand-codes and keeps free of advertising.
Everything they publish, on ppll ↗
Derek Sivers did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
3 dated positions, 2026, in their own words. Our reading of what Derek Sivers has said — not written or endorsed by them.
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Their wordsEmotion decides. Facts rationalize. You'll find whatever truth is useful.
↗What is “the truth” really for?sive.rs 1st of 3 in this piece
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Our readingFacts deployed as weapons in an argument can win the exchange without settling the disagreement.
Their wordsFacts can win a battle but not a war.
↗What is “the truth” really for?sive.rs 1st of 3 in this piece
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Our readingOne good story outweighs a mountain of evidence, because most emotions cannot be argued with.
Their wordsYou'll ignore a mountain of evidence if you hear one good story against it or just feel yourself leaning the other way.
↗What is “the truth” really for?sive.rs 2nd of 3 in this piece