[KrisKrinkle]

What really drives a liberal is a feeling and a reaction to that feeling. Liberals feel inadequate to deal with the world around them.

So could you say:

What really drives a conservative is a feeling and a reaction to that feeling. Conservatives feel adequate to deal with the world around them.

[Crucial]

What really separates liberals and conservatives is the reaction to feelings of inadequacy, which we all have at one point or another. The liberal blames others for this feeling. The conservative rises above it through introspection and work.