--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I decided I ought to pick a project that…" description: "\"I decided I ought to pick a project that would not be controversial, that would not really cost the government a lot of money.\" — Barbara Bush" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/barbara-bush-4569_controversial_i-decided-i-ought-to-pick-a-project-that_1013566.png" --- # I decided I ought to pick a project that would not be… ![“I decided I ought to pick a project that would not be controversial, that would not really cost the government a lot of money.” quote by Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/barbara-bush-4569_controversial_i-decided-i-ought-to-pick-a-project-that_1013566.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/barbara-bush-4569_controversial_i-decided-i-ought-to-pick-a-project-that_1013566.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/barbara-bush-4569_controversial_i-decided-i-ought-to-pick-a-project-that_1013566.png) > “I decided I ought to pick a project that would not be controversial, that would not really cost the government a lot of money.” [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She chooses a non-controversial project to avoid public criticism and high costs, reflecting political caution. **In simple terms:** She picks a safe, cheap project to avoid controversy. Key Takeaway Select low-risk initiatives to minimize backlash. Themes politics budget risk management public perception leadership Mood cautious pragmatic Type political strategic When to use this quote - policy proposals - budget meetings - public statements Key Concepts Fiscal policy strategic planning government projects Questions to Reflect On - How balance safety and progress? - When is controversy necessary for change? A Different Perspective May limit innovation or needed reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Ought Pick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-pick-2217079/) [Pick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick/) [Pick Project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick-project-1656689/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/project/) [Project Controversial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/project-controversial-2217080/) [Projects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projects/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) ## Related quotes > [Let me tell you, if I could pick the project of all projects, it would probably be Kate Gosselin because if I can help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niecy-nash/let-me-tell-you-if-i-could-pick-the-project-of-all-projects-it-would/) [Niecy Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niecy-nash/) > [You pick a project. You think, 'I can succeed at this. I can help them. I can make it so that they'll want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lee-hancock/you-pick-a-project-you-think-i-can-succeed-at-this-i-can-help-them-i/) [John Lee Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lee-hancock/) > [No matter what it is, pick yourself up and go on to the next project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-duvall/no-matter-what-it-is-pick-yourself-up-and-go-on-to-the-next-project/) [Shelley Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-duvall/) > [ I curated this show \[Shanghai Biennale \], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-curated-this-show-shanghai-biennale-i-was-by-no-means-trying-to/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [I get called 'controversial' all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-get-called-controversial-all-the-time/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [I was very willing to take on controversial roles that people didn't really want to look at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-was-very-willing-to-take-on-controversial-roles-that-people-didn-t/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [I think if I'm controversial it's not because I set out to be. It's because I've never felt comfortable being part of someone else's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-think-if-i-m-controversial-it-s-not-because-i-set-out-to-be-it-s/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“My personal analysis is that the media have made the AI-safety debate seem more controversial than it really is. After all, fear sells, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/my-personal-analysis-is-that-the-media-have-made-the-ai-safety-debate/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [Those who misrepresent the normal experiences of life, who decry being controversial, who shun risk, are the enemies of the American way of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wriston/those-who-misrepresent-the-normal-experiences-of-life-who-decry-being/) [Henry Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wriston/) > [Here - at this final hour, Harlem has come to bid farewell to one of its brightest hopes - extinguished now, and gone from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ossie-davis/here-at-this-final-hour-harlem-has-come-to-bid-farewell-to-one-of-its/) [Ossie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ossie-davis/) > [If art is singular expression, then by nature, the best art is controversial. But when art stirs debate for reasons besides its artistic integrity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/if-art-is-singular-expression-then-by-nature-the-best-art-is/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [The chief beneficiary of life insurance policies for young, single people is the life insurance agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-smith/the-chief-beneficiary-of-life-insurance-policies-for-young-single/) [Wes Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-smith/) > [For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. That's often inconsistent with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weddington/for-a-lot-of-women-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-leadership-is-the/) [Sarah Weddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weddington/) > [Ninety-eight percent of the things that come out of my mouth are intended to be harmless or even charming. They're not ever intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-things-that-come-out-of-my-mouth-are/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) ## More by Barbara Bush > [“War is not nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/war-is-not-nice/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [I'm not being outspoken or pro or con abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/i-m-not-being-outspoken-or-pro-or-con-abortion/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [Believe in something larger than yourself... get involved in the big ideas of your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/believe-in-something-larger-than-yourself-get-involved-in-the-big/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [Future of his nation does not depend on what happens at the White House, but what happens at your house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/future-of-his-nation-does-not-depend-on-what-happens-at-the-white/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [“I married the first man I ever kissed. When I tell my children that, they just about throw up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/i-married-the-first-man-i-ever-kissed-when-i-tell-my-children-that/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [You don't just luck into things as much as you would like to think you do. You build step by step, whether it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/you-don-t-just-luck-into-things-as-much-as-you-would-like-to-think/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [Clinton lied. A man might forget where he parks or where he lives, but he never forgets oral sex, no matter how bad it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/clinton-lied-a-man-might-forget-where-he-parks-or-where-he-lives-but/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [I'm a great believer that the most important years are the sort of early years but the preschool years and then into the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/i-m-a-great-believer-that-the-most-important-years-are-the-sort-of/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [You have to love your children unselfishly. That's hard. But it's the only way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/you-have-to-love-your-children-unselfishly-that-s-hard-but-it-s-the/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/to-us-family-means-putting-your-arms-around-each-other-and-being-there/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [The darn trouble with cleaning the house is it gets dirty the next day anyway, so skip a week if you have to. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/the-darn-trouble-with-cleaning-the-house-is-it-gets-dirty-the-next/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [“As important as your obligations as a doctor, lawyer or business leader will be, you are a human being first. And these human connections…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/as-important-as-your-obligations-as-a-doctor-lawyer-or-business/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [I really feel very strongly that the person who runs for office is the courageous one, and the one who everybody has to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/i-really-feel-very-strongly-that-the-person-who-runs-for-office-is/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [To this day George Sr. is the soft touch and I'm the enforcer. I'm the one who writes them a letter and says 'Shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/to-this-day-george-sr-is-the-soft-touch-and-i-m-the-enforcer-i-m-the/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [Raising five boys is a handful, trust me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/raising-five-boys-is-a-handful-trust-me/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) [Explore all 109 Barbara Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) ## More Controversial quotes > [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [Ninety-eight percent of the things that come out of my mouth are intended to be harmless or even charming. They're not ever intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-things-that-come-out-of-my-mouth-are/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. That's often inconsistent with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weddington/for-a-lot-of-women-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-leadership-is-the/) [Sarah Weddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weddington/) > [The chief beneficiary of life insurance policies for young, single people is the life insurance agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-smith/the-chief-beneficiary-of-life-insurance-policies-for-young-single/) [Wes Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-smith/) > [If art is singular expression, then by nature, the best art is controversial. But when art stirs debate for reasons besides its artistic integrity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/if-art-is-singular-expression-then-by-nature-the-best-art-is/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Here - at this final hour, Harlem has come to bid farewell to one of its brightest hopes - extinguished now, and gone from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ossie-davis/here-at-this-final-hour-harlem-has-come-to-bid-farewell-to-one-of-its/) [Ossie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ossie-davis/) > [Those who misrepresent the normal experiences of life, who decry being controversial, who shun risk, are the enemies of the American way of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wriston/those-who-misrepresent-the-normal-experiences-of-life-who-decry-being/) [Henry Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wriston/) > [“My personal analysis is that the media have made the AI-safety debate seem more controversial than it really is. After all, fear sells, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/my-personal-analysis-is-that-the-media-have-made-the-ai-safety-debate/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [I think if I'm controversial it's not because I set out to be. It's because I've never felt comfortable being part of someone else's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-think-if-i-m-controversial-it-s-not-because-i-set-out-to-be-it-s/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [I was very willing to take on controversial roles that people didn't really want to look at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-was-very-willing-to-take-on-controversial-roles-that-people-didn-t/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [I get called 'controversial' all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-get-called-controversial-all-the-time/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [ I curated this show \[Shanghai Biennale \], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-curated-this-show-shanghai-biennale-i-was-by-no-means-trying-to/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [“When you fear nothing, you have nothing to fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-f-chandler/when-you-fear-nothing-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) [S.F. Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-f-chandler/) > [I've been a very effective leader in the gay rights movement, though at times I've been controversial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-o-leary/i-ve-been-a-very-effective-leader-in-the-gay-rights-movement-though/) [Jean O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-o-leary/) > [“At the time, though, vaccination was controversial. Many were opposed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-wright/at-the-time-though-vaccination-was-controversial-many-were-opposed/) [Jennifer Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-wright/) [Browse all 486 Controversial quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversial/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I decided I ought to pick a project that would not be controversial, that would not really cost the government a lot of money.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barbara Bush" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/i-decided-i-ought-to-pick-a-project-that-would-not-be-controversial/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Controversial" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/i-decided-i-ought-to-pick-a-project-that-would-not-be-controversial/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/barbara-bush-4569_controversial_i-decided-i-ought-to-pick-a-project-that_1013566.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/barbara-bush-4569_controversial_i-decided-i-ought-to-pick-a-project-that_1013566.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/barbara-bush-4569_controversial_i-decided-i-ought-to-pick-a-project-that_1013566.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I decided I ought to pick a project that would not be controversial, that would not really cost the…” — Barbara Bush", "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": "Barbara Bush", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I decided I ought to pick...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/i-decided-i-ought-to-pick-a-project-that-would-not-be-controversial/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/i-decided-i-ought-to-pick-a-project-that-would-not-be-controversial/#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 } } ] } ```