--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nominee. A modest gentleman shrinking…" description: "\"Nominee. A modest gentleman shrinking from the distinction of private life and diligently seeking the honorable obscurity of public office.\" — Ambrose ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/ambrose-bierce-140_distinction_nominee-a-modest-gentleman-shrinking-fro_1524514.jpg" --- # Nominee. A modest gentleman shrinking from the distinction… ![“Nominee. A modest gentleman shrinking from the distinction of private life and diligently seeking the honorable obscurity of public office.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/ambrose-bierce-140_distinction_nominee-a-modest-gentleman-shrinking-fro_1524514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/ambrose-bierce-140_distinction_nominee-a-modest-gentleman-shrinking-fro_1524514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/ambrose-bierce-140_distinction_nominee-a-modest-gentleman-shrinking-fro_1524514.jpg) > “Nominee. A modest gentleman shrinking from the distinction of private life and diligently seeking the honorable obscurity of public office.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A modest man avoids personal fame, preferring the honor of public service. **In simple terms:** Modesty over personal glory. Key Takeaway Value service over personal distinction. Themes humility public service honor Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - volunteer work - public office candidacy - community leadership Key Concepts political theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - What does honorable obscurity mean today? - How can modesty thrive in politics? A Different Perspective Public roles may still demand personal sacrifice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Gentleman Shrinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman-shrinking-5642326/) [Honorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honorable/) [Honorable Obscurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honorable-obscurity-5642325/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Modest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modest/) [Modest Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modest-gentleman-5642324/) [Nominee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nominee/) [Nominee Modest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nominee-modest-5642323/) [Obscurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obscurity/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Private life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-life/) [Public office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-office/) [Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeking/) [Shrinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shrinking/) ## Related quotes > [Donald Trump is not going to be the nominee, because we are not going to allow - people will wake up and we're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/donald-trump-is-not-going-to-be-the-nominee-because-we-are-not-going/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I was an Emmy nominee and an Emmy snub.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-coon/i-was-an-emmy-nominee-and-an-emmy-snub/) [Carrie Coon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-coon/) > [I know what the Giller nominee effect is, but we'll see what the next level is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-coady/i-know-what-the-giller-nominee-effect-is-but-we-ll-see-what-the-next/) [Lynn Coady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-coady/) > [The former secretary of State is the nominee. She is also the Willie Sutton of classified data. And there is going to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hewitt/the-former-secretary-of-state-is-the-nominee-she-is-also-the-willie/) [Hugh Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hewitt/) > [Judicial excellence requires candor before confirmation. We are being asked to give the nominee enormous power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/judicial-excellence-requires-candor-before-confirmation-we-are-being/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [I am the first to admit that were I not a woman, I would not have been the vice-presidential nominee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/i-am-the-first-to-admit-that-were-i-not-a-woman-i-would-not-have-been/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [If the president comes forward with a strong, qualified nominee, if he, you know, addresses the agenda, if he takes actions, including dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-lott/if-the-president-comes-forward-with-a-strong-qualified-nominee-if-he/) [Trent Lott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-lott/) > [One of the problems we saw in the last presidential election in our party is that our nominee, while winning the election, which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/one-of-the-problems-we-saw-in-the-last-presidential-election-in-our/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [Our post-denominational age should be the perfect time for a Mormon to become president, or at least the Republican nominee. Mormons share nearly all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/our-post-denominational-age-should-be-the-perfect-time-for-a-mormon/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [And the president is all wrong when he maintains that a nominee should have an up-or-down vote. The Constitution doesn't say that. The Constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/and-the-president-is-all-wrong-when-he-maintains-that-a-nominee/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [I write to withdraw as a nominee to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. ... I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-miers/i-write-to-withdraw-as-a-nominee-to-serve-as-an-associate-justice-on/) [Harriet Miers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-miers/) > [Let me just be very clear that the Republican Party will select a nominee that will beat Bill Clinton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/let-me-just-be-very-clear-that-the-republican-party-will-select-a/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [The one person whom I would like to be is Meryl Streep. Even at her age, she sits alongside the younger heroines at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rani-mukerji/the-one-person-whom-i-would-like-to-be-is-meryl-streep-even-at-her/) [Rani Mukerji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rani-mukerji/) > [ A nominee \[to Supreme Court\] must possess the competence, character and temperament to serve on the bench. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/a-nominee-to-supreme-court-must-possess-the-competence-character-and/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [There will be that zip-a-dee-doo-dah after the nominee is chosen. I guarantee there will be that enthusiasm. But to be brutally honest, with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/there-will-be-that-zip-a-dee-doo-dah-after-the-nominee-is-chosen-i/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Distinction quotes > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [The fact -- not theory -- that evolution has occurred and the Darwinian theory as to how it occurred have become so confused in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gaylord-simpson/the-fact-not-theory-that-evolution-has-occurred-and-the-darwinian/) [George Gaylord Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gaylord-simpson/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [If I have a system it is limited to a recognition of what Kierkegaard called 'the infinite qualitative distinction' between time and eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/if-i-have-a-system-it-is-limited-to-a-recognition-of-what-kierkegaard/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. 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"They must be able to sense a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/where-did-you-find-that-one-i-have-no-idea-i-m-a-magnet-for-crazies-i/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I realized early on that the academy and the literary world alike - and I don't think there really is a distinction between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/i-realized-early-on-that-the-academy-and-the-literary-world-alike-and/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [Alfred Nobel stipulated that no distinction of race or colour will determine who received of his generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdus-salam/alfred-nobel-stipulated-that-no-distinction-of-race-or-colour-will/) [Abdus Salam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdus-salam/) > [I think it is important for all those young out there - who someday hope to play real football, where you throw it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/i-think-it-is-important-for-all-those-young-out-there-who-someday/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [I've always longed for the theatre and acting to be popular. 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You can respect the office even as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-greenberg/people-should-make-distinctions-between-the-office-of-the-presidency/) [David Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-greenberg/) [Browse all 1,181 Distinction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nominee. 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