---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What would be the nicest thing I could…"
description: "\"What would be the nicest thing I could say about Newt Gingrich? He may be one of the great supporters of the humanities, because you have people who do..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/barney-frank-3610_about_what-would-be-the-nicest-thing-i-could-s_1488822.png"
---

#  What would be the nicest thing I could say about Newt…

![“What would be the nicest thing I could say about Newt Gingrich? He may be one of the great supporters of the humanities, because you have people who don't want to study the social sciences, because it's not profitable, and now Newt, as the highest-paid historian in American history, may be an…” quote by Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/barney-frank-3610_about_what-would-be-the-nicest-thing-i-could-s_1488822.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/barney-frank-3610_about_what-would-be-the-nicest-thing-i-could-s_1488822.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/barney-frank-3610_about_what-would-be-the-nicest-thing-i-could-s_1488822.png)

> “What would be the nicest thing I could say about Newt Gingrich? He may be one of the great supporters of the humanities, because you have people who don't want to study the social sciences, because it's not profitable, and now Newt, as the highest-paid historian in American history, may be an encouragement to people to study history.”

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He sarcastically praises Newt Gingrich as a high-paid historian, suggesting his role may inspire interest in history despite his political stance.

**In simple terms:** Newt Gingrich’s prominence could unintentionally promote historical study.

Key Takeaway

Leverage unexpected figures to spark curiosity about history.

Themes

history politics irony

Mood

sarcastic thought‑provoking

Type

political educational

When to use this quote

- education policy
- media coverage
- public debates
- historical awareness

Key Concepts

media influence public perception

Questions to Reflect On

- Can satire effectively promote education?
- What are the limits of using controversial figures as role models?

A Different Perspective

May trivialize serious academic pursuits.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[American history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-history/) [Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/) [Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gingrich/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Humanities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanities/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Sciences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sciences/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social sciences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-sciences/) [Supporters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supporters/)

## Related quotes

> [Newt Gingrich would cream Barack Obama in a debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-crowley/newt-gingrich-would-cream-barack-obama-in-a-debate/)

[Monica Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-crowley/)

> [There's a huge cost in being bipartisan, a tradition started by Newt Gingrich when he took over the House in 1994 and has continued…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-moore/there-s-a-huge-cost-in-being-bipartisan-a-tradition-started-by-newt/)

[Gwen Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-moore/)

> [Newt Gingrich is a very intelligent man, if he says so himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/newt-gingrich-is-a-very-intelligent-man-if-he-says-so-himself/)

[John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/)

> [Callista Gingrich has, I suspect, given Newt's advisers a giant headache. She's a constant presence at her husband's side - and a constant reminder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-davis/callista-gingrich-has-i-suspect-given-newt-s-advisers-a-giant/)

[Patti Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-davis/)

> [The 1994 elections that brought Newt Gingrich to power in the House decisively shaped the remaining years of Bill Clinton's presidency, pushing him further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-1994-elections-that-brought-newt-gingrich-to-power-in-the-house/)

[Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/)

> [Speaker Newt Gingrich has appointed a task force, which I'm on, and over the next couple months the task force is going to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-norwood/speaker-newt-gingrich-has-appointed-a-task-force-which-i-m-on-and/)

[Charlie Norwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-norwood/)

> [When you look at the results that Newt Gingrich got when he was speaker, he got results for the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/when-you-look-at-the-results-that-newt-gingrich-got-when-he-was/)

[J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/)

> [Newt Gingrich is one of the brightest people in the Republican Party and he's always been a little unorthodox in his approach to politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/newt-gingrich-is-one-of-the-brightest-people-in-the-republican-party/)

[Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/)

> [I think Newt Gingrich is a Christian; at least, he told me he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/i-think-newt-gingrich-is-a-christian-at-least-he-told-me-he-is/)

[Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/)

> [The biggest threat to any politician is an artist. Comedians unleashed can do a great deal of damage. David Letterman can do more damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moriarty/the-biggest-threat-to-any-politician-is-an-artist-comedians-unleashed/)

[Michael Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moriarty/)

> [But like a born actor who only really wants to direct, Gingrich has always been unsatisfied with what he's brilliant at. He can't still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/but-like-a-born-actor-who-only-really-wants-to-direct-gingrich-has/)

[John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/)

> [Gingrich was a far more volatile and aggressive individual than Boehner, but the institutional norms of self-restraint, and perhaps even self-interest, have broken down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-packer/gingrich-was-a-far-more-volatile-and-aggressive-individual-than/)

[George Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-packer/)

> [When Gingrich attacked CNN's John King for bringing up his alleged proposal of an open marriage to his second wife, Gingrich accused him of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/when-gingrich-attacked-cnn-s-john-king-for-bringing-up-his-alleged/)

[Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/)

> [“As indicated by our example, methodological nominalism is nowadays fairly generally accepted in the natural sciences. The problems of the social sciences, on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/as-indicated-by-our-example-methodological-nominalism-is-nowadays/)

[Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/)

> [I got my masters in social sciences and education at Stanford, and initially - this is back in 2002 or 2003 when I graduated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mendoza/i-got-my-masters-in-social-sciences-and-education-at-stanford-and/)

[Jessica Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mendoza/)

## More by Barney Frank

> [Moderate Republicans are reverse Houdinis. They tie themselves up in knots and then tell you they can’t do anything because they’re tied up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/moderate-republicans-are-reverse-houdinis-they-tie-themselves-up-in/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [I think there were two criticisms you can make of Donald Trump's involvement in the Health Care Bill. First of all, there were times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/i-think-there-were-two-criticisms-you-can-make-of-donald-trump-s/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [When community action was put into federal law in the early sixties as part of the effort to combat poverty and social injustice, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/when-community-action-was-put-into-federal-law-in-the-early-sixties/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [Donald Trump has done more for getting people to understand the importance of public policy that respond to public needs in an affirmative way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/donald-trump-has-done-more-for-getting-people-to-understand-the/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [Before this learning experience, I had assumed that with regard to programs that sought to help people out of poverty, the political world was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/before-this-learning-experience-i-had-assumed-that-with-regard-to/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [The regulation of medicine has been a State function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/the-regulation-of-medicine-has-been-a-state-function/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [For most of my life, I have eaten to deal with stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/for-most-of-my-life-i-have-eaten-to-deal-with-stress/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [They have to convert our agenda into something aggressive. Two guys wanting to be happy together are invading their marriages. Helping a kid who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/they-have-to-convert-our-agenda-into-something-aggressive-two-guys/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [I think there was an absolute, deep gap between consensual relations between adults, which people may like or dislike, and people who physically impose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/i-think-there-was-an-absolute-deep-gap-between-consensual-relations/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [I was still closeted, but from the day I decided to run for office, knowing that I was gay, I decided that I would,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/i-was-still-closeted-but-from-the-day-i-decided-to-run-for-office/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [I have done a lot of work for affordable housing, rental housing. I understand the rap on me and other liberals is, oh, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/i-have-done-a-lot-of-work-for-affordable-housing-rental-housing-i/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [The most active people in the country know different things, and because each one tends to hear mostly and deal mostly with people with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/the-most-active-people-in-the-country-know-different-things-and/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [I can tell you about health care and also about the financial reform bill. The Barack Obama, the President personally and his administration officials…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/i-can-tell-you-about-health-care-and-also-about-the-financial-reform/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [In America, unlike England, unlike Israel, unlike Japan, other democracies, we have elections that have staggered terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/in-america-unlike-england-unlike-israel-unlike-japan-other/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

> [Ronald Reagan got a lot of democrats. I wish he hadn't. I got to Congress with Reagan coming to the Whitehouse. The Reagan Program,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/ronald-reagan-got-a-lot-of-democrats-i-wish-he-hadn-t-i-got-to/)

[Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

[Explore all 126 Barney Frank quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What would be the nicest thing I could say about Newt Gingrich? He may be one of the great supporters of the humanities, because you have people who don't want to study the social sciences, because it's not profitable, and now Newt, as the highest-paid historian in American history, may be an encouragement to people to study history.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Barney Frank"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/what-would-be-the-nicest-thing-i-could-say-about-newt-gingrich-he-may/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/what-would-be-the-nicest-thing-i-could-say-about-newt-gingrich-he-may/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/barney-frank-3610_about_what-would-be-the-nicest-thing-i-could-s_1488822.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/barney-frank-3610_about_what-would-be-the-nicest-thing-i-could-s_1488822.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cab/barney-frank-3610_about_what-would-be-the-nicest-thing-i-could-s_1488822.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What would be the nicest thing I could say about Newt Gingrich? He may be one of the great supporters of the…” — Barney Frank",
                "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": "Barney Frank",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What would be the nicest thing...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/what-would-be-the-nicest-thing-i-could-say-about-newt-gingrich-he-may/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/what-would-be-the-nicest-thing-i-could-say-about-newt-gingrich-he-may/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
