--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is with unwelcome frequency that I…" description: "\"It is with unwelcome frequency that I find myself the deciding vote.\" — Arlen Specter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/arlen-specter-4360_deciding_it-is-with-unwelcome-frequency-that-i-fi_1212933.png" --- # It is with unwelcome frequency that I find myself the… ![“It is with unwelcome frequency that I find myself the deciding vote.” quote by Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/arlen-specter-4360_deciding_it-is-with-unwelcome-frequency-that-i-fi_1212933.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/arlen-specter-4360_deciding_it-is-with-unwelcome-frequency-that-i-fi_1212933.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/arlen-specter-4360_deciding_it-is-with-unwelcome-frequency-that-i-fi_1212933.png) > “It is with unwelcome frequency that I find myself the deciding vote.” [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels compelled to make a decisive vote despite personal discomfort. **In simple terms:** Feeling forced to choose despite unease. Key Takeaway Accept responsibility and act decisively. Themes decision responsibility politics Mood determined serious Type political ethical When to use this quote - legislative voting - judicial appointments - ethical crossroads Key Concepts civic duty ethical dilemma Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal feelings with duty? - What safeguards ensure impartial decisions? A Different Perspective Personal bias may cloud judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deciding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deciding/) [Deciding Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deciding-vote-1056293/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Frequency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frequency/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Unwelcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unwelcome/) [Unwelcome Frequency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unwelcome-frequency-3684595/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [“In the end it was Tabby who cast the deciding vote, as she so often has at crucial moments in my life. I'd like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-the-end-it-was-tabby-who-cast-the-deciding-vote-as-she-so-often/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The states have the authority to change this voting system for president, right now, in fact, if they wanted, on an emergency basis, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/the-states-have-the-authority-to-change-this-voting-system-for/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Matter of fact, the way we got a path, a great friend, Arlen Specter, I convinced him to switch parties. Not a joke. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/matter-of-fact-the-way-we-got-a-path-a-great-friend-arlen-specter-i/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [You think that somehow they didn't come after me to get rid of me because my vote is the deciding vote in the health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-massa/you-think-that-somehow-they-didn-t-come-after-me-to-get-rid-of-me/) [Eric Massa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-massa/) > [No senator's vote, except for the declaration of war or the authorization for the use of force, is more important than the confirmation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/no-senator-s-vote-except-for-the-declaration-of-war-or-the/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [I'd make - before I'd elect somebody - I'd make him do town meetings and face the people and then I would insist that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/i-d-make-before-i-d-elect-somebody-i-d-make-him-do-town-meetings-and/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [Economic medicine that was previously meted out by the cupful has recently been dispensed by the barrel. These once unthinkable dosages will almost certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/economic-medicine-that-was-previously-meted-out-by-the-cupful-has/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I was unwelcome in the U.S. for four years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-was-unwelcome-in-the-u-s-for-four-years/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [If we can accept whatever hand we've been dealt - no matter how unwelcome - the way to proceed eventually becomes clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-been-dealt-no-matter-how/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [The only way to deal with loss - as a horribly unwelcome guest that you know will show up eventually. And so you deny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/the-only-way-to-deal-with-loss-as-a-horribly-unwelcome-guest-that-you/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [The computer can help us find what we know is there. But the book remains our symbol and our resource for the unimagined question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/the-computer-can-help-us-find-what-we-know-is-there-but-the-book/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [You go into a room and you know where you're welcome; you know where you're unwelcome.Sometimes in a hostile situation you stick around because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/you-go-into-a-room-and-you-know-where-you-re-welcome-you-know-where/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [There has been a lot of self-doubt and unwelcome events in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/there-has-been-a-lot-of-self-doubt-and-unwelcome-events-in-my-life/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [Despite all the gains for democracy in the world, in many countries anyone who wants to publish truths unwelcome to the government risks suppression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lewis/despite-all-the-gains-for-democracy-in-the-world-in-many-countries/) [Anthony Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lewis/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) ## More by Arlen Specter > [I've made a career of being precise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/i-ve-made-a-career-of-being-precise/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [People in government and public life are being kicked around at a high rate of speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/people-in-government-and-public-life-are-being-kicked-around-at-a/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [Voting is fundamental in our democracy. It has yielded enormous returns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/voting-is-fundamental-in-our-democracy-it-has-yielded-enormous-returns/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [Do you believe today that the right to privacy does exist in the Constitution?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/do-you-believe-today-that-the-right-to-privacy-does-exist-in-the/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [The solicitor general is sometimes referred to as the 10th Supreme Court justice - a pretty important position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/the-solicitor-general-is-sometimes-referred-to-as-the-10th-supreme/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [I think it's scandalous that we haven't done more to cure cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/i-think-it-s-scandalous-that-we-haven-t-done-more-to-cure-cancer/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [If you are going to have to play defense all the time, you cannot have the kind of ingenuity, assertiveness, independence, and intelligence which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/if-you-are-going-to-have-to-play-defense-all-the-time-you-cannot-have/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [No senator's vote, except for the declaration of war or the authorization for the use of force, is more important than the confirmation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/no-senator-s-vote-except-for-the-declaration-of-war-or-the/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [When the president acts in absence of a congressional grant of authority, he can rely only upon his own independent powers. When the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/when-the-president-acts-in-absence-of-a-congressional-grant-of/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [I'd make - before I'd elect somebody - I'd make him do town meetings and face the people and then I would insist that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/i-d-make-before-i-d-elect-somebody-i-d-make-him-do-town-meetings-and/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [As the Republican Party has moved farther and farther to the right, I have found myself increasingly at odds with the Republican philosophy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/as-the-republican-party-has-moved-farther-and-farther-to-the-right-i/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [I am very much opposed to abortion personally. But I don't think it is the government's rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/i-am-very-much-opposed-to-abortion-personally-but-i-don-t-think-it-is/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [As I think through the issue of funding the rebuilding of Iraq, I think about the analogy of a bankruptcy proceeding. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/as-i-think-through-the-issue-of-funding-the-rebuilding-of-iraq-i/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [My definition of winning at squash is playing and surviving, and I've never lost a match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/my-definition-of-winning-at-squash-is-playing-and-surviving-and-i-ve/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/when-i-supported-the-stimulus-package-i-knew-that-it-would-not-be/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) [Explore all 112 Arlen Specter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) ## More Deciding quotes > [It's very important to me that I look good when I go out publicly. I like looking at my clothes rack in the morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-i-look-good-when-i-go-out-publicly-i/) [Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/) > [When a new idea comes our way, we must put it on our mental scales and weigh it carefully before deciding its value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/when-a-new-idea-comes-our-way-we-must-put-it-on-our-mental-scales-and/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [The hardest thing is deciding what I should tell you and what not to. Well, anyway, I've got a while yet before you're old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-connor/the-hardest-thing-is-deciding-what-i-should-tell-you-and-what-not-to/) [Sarah Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-connor/) > [One of the hardest parts of life is deciding to walk away or try harder...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-hardest-parts-of-life-is-deciding-to-walk-away-or-try/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My goal is to leave the producer with so many good takes, that he or she has a tough time deciding on the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-paulsen/my-goal-is-to-leave-the-producer-with-so-many-good-takes-that-he-or/) [Rob Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-paulsen/) > [The work of deciding cases goes on every day in hundreds of courts throughout the land. Any judge, one might suppose, would find it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-n-cardozo/the-work-of-deciding-cases-goes-on-every-day-in-hundreds-of-courts/) [Benjamin N. Cardozo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-n-cardozo/) > [My faith is central to who I am as a human being, not just as an actor - so it informs every decision I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-mcdonough/my-faith-is-central-to-who-i-am-as-a-human-being-not-just-as-an-actor/) [Neal McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-mcdonough/) > [I was born with this love for music, and I say 'born with' because I don't really remember a day waking up and deciding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-hayes/i-was-born-with-this-love-for-music-and-i-say-born-with-because-i-don/) [Hunter Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-hayes/) > [Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/deciding-what-not-to-do-is-as-important-as-deciding-what-to-do/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Getting what you want means deciding what youll give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/getting-what-you-want-means-deciding-what-youll-give-up/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [It is easy to decide on what is wrong to wear to a party, such as deep-sea diving equipment or a pair of large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-easy-to-decide-on-what-is-wrong-to-wear-to-a-party-such-as-deep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Faith isn't figuring out what we're able to do, it's deciding what we're going to do - even when we think we can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/faith-isn-t-figuring-out-what-we-re-able-to-do-it-s-deciding-what-we/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [“We’re making our decisions … or so we think. Yet in truth, ignorance, greed, and the scourge of immediate gratification are often the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/we-re-making-our-decisions-or-so-we-think-yet-in-truth-ignorance/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Attention is the fundamental instrument we use for learning, thinking, communicating, deciding, yet neither parents nor schools spend any time helping young people learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-the-fundamental-instrument-we-use-for-learning-thinking/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [When I'm deciding to read a book, I never open to the first chapter, because that's been revised and worked over 88 times. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hiaasen/when-i-m-deciding-to-read-a-book-i-never-open-to-the-first-chapter/) [Carl Hiaasen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hiaasen/) [Browse all 259 Deciding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deciding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is with unwelcome frequency that I find myself the deciding vote.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arlen Specter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/it-is-with-unwelcome-frequency-that-i-find-myself-the-deciding-vote/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deciding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/it-is-with-unwelcome-frequency-that-i-find-myself-the-deciding-vote/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/arlen-specter-4360_deciding_it-is-with-unwelcome-frequency-that-i-fi_1212933.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/arlen-specter-4360_deciding_it-is-with-unwelcome-frequency-that-i-fi_1212933.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/arlen-specter-4360_deciding_it-is-with-unwelcome-frequency-that-i-fi_1212933.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is with unwelcome frequency that I find myself the deciding vote.” — Arlen Specter", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arlen Specter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is with unwelcome frequency that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/it-is-with-unwelcome-frequency-that-i-find-myself-the-deciding-vote/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/it-is-with-unwelcome-frequency-that-i-find-myself-the-deciding-vote/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```