"Does defending liberalism leave you friendless and perhaps wondering about your breath?"

In this quote, Phil Ochs is questioning the effects of defending liberalism. He recommends that defending liberal beliefs might lead to losing friends and feeling separated. Making use of the word "maybe" implies unpredictability, indicating that the speaker is not entirely sure of the outcome. The reference of "breath" adds a touch of humor to the quote, recommending that defending liberalism might be viewed as having foul breath, or being uninviting to others. In general, this quote highlights the prospective obstacles and sacrifices that feature advocating for liberal ideas, and the speaker's consideration of whether it deserves it.