--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best thing Clinton could do — I think…" description: "\"The best thing Clinton could do — I think I wrote him a letter about this, but I'm not sure — is to shut up. Every time I turn that radio on, there's C..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc5/barry-goldwater-3353_best-things_the-best-thing-clinton-could-do-i-think_2901987.png" --- # The best thing Clinton could do — I think I wrote him a… ![“The best thing Clinton could do — I think I wrote him a letter about this, but I'm not sure — is to shut up. Every time I turn that radio on, there's Clinton, making a speech. And he makes speeches on a subject he doesn't know anything about. He has no discipline.” quote by Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc5/barry-goldwater-3353_best-things_the-best-thing-clinton-could-do-i-think_2901987.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc5/barry-goldwater-3353_best-things_the-best-thing-clinton-could-do-i-think_2901987.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc5/barry-goldwater-3353_best-things_the-best-thing-clinton-could-do-i-think_2901987.png) > “The best thing Clinton could do — I think I wrote him a letter about this, but I'm not sure — is to shut up. Every time I turn that radio on, there's Clinton, making a speech. And he makes speeches on a subject he doesn't know anything about. He has no discipline.” [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He criticizes Clinton for speaking on topics he lacks knowledge, suggesting silence would be better. **In simple terms:** He thinks Clinton should stop speaking on unfamiliar subjects. Key Takeaway Speak only on what you know. Themes politics communication expertise Mood critical skeptical Type political commentary When to use this quote - political debate - media interview - policy discussion Key Concepts public discourse media criticism political accountability Questions to Reflect On - When should a public figure stay silent? - How can expertise be verified before speaking? A Different Perspective Silence may not always be the best response; dialogue can be constructive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-things/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The best thing Clinton could do — I think I wrote him a letter about this, but I'm not sure — is to shut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/the-best-thing-clinton-could-do-i-think-i-wrote-him-a-letter-about/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Anybody who makes speeches written by someone else is just a robot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-strummer/anybody-who-makes-speeches-written-by-someone-else-is-just-a-robot/) [Joe Strummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-strummer/) > [Hillary Clinton is making income inequality a central theme in her campaign. Yeah, for example, today she pointed out that her husband makes $300…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/hillary-clinton-is-making-income-inequality-a-central-theme-in-her/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [ It was in the nineties. \[Bill\] Clinton was president. And Clinton was making, you know, the usual Democrat move on guns after some of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-was-in-the-nineties-bill-clinton-was-president-and-clinton-was/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I know one thing, Bill Clinton hates Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-know-one-thing-bill-clinton-hates-barack-obama/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The most unusual thing about Clinton as a pol is that he listens. Listens and remembers. If he does dance with them that brung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-most-unusual-thing-about-clinton-as-a-pol-is-that-he-listens/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I'd rather die on my feet making a speech than die of Alzheimer's - and that's what I'm planning to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/i-d-rather-die-on-my-feet-making-a-speech-than-die-of-alzheimer-s-and/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [In making a speech one must study three points: first, the means of producing persuasion; second, the language; third the proper arrangement of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/in-making-a-speech-one-must-study-three-points-first-the-means-of/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“There is something wrong with this world." She stood like she was making a speech. "Something very wrong when it's the twenty-first century and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-flinn/there-is-something-wrong-with-this-world-she-stood-like-she-was/) [Alex Flinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-flinn/) > [That Awkward moment when your in front of the class making a speech and Spanish teacher try to correct you how to pronounce some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-d-r-l-testament/that-awkward-moment-when-your-in-front-of-the-class-making-a-speech/) Junior Dè Rèál Testament > [Did you ever think that making a speech on economics is a lot like pissing down your leg? It seems hot to you, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/did-you-ever-think-that-making-a-speech-on-economics-is-a-lot-like/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/you-don-t-make-your-words-true-by-embellishing-them-with-religious/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [When making a speech, most people will only remember the first and last parts. If these are good, the entire speech is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-micah-rosales/when-making-a-speech-most-people-will-only-remember-the-first-and/) [Maria Micah Rosales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-micah-rosales/) > [As all Members of Parliament know, the ease and flow of making a speech outside the House is not at all the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-soames/as-all-members-of-parliament-know-the-ease-and-flow-of-making-a/) [Nicholas Soames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-soames/) > [ That \[film What's My Line\] was very useful to me because it had Branch Rickey in a social situation. Every other bit of film… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/that-film-what-s-my-line-was-very-useful-to-me-because-it-had-branch/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) ## More by Barry Goldwater > [Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/remember-that-a-government-big-enough-to-give-you-everything-you-want/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [To insist on strength ... is not war-mongering. It is peace-mongering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/to-insist-on-strength-is-not-war-mongering-it-is-peace-mongering/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Social and cultural change, however desirable, should not be effected by the engines of national power. Let us, through persuasion and education, seek to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/social-and-cultural-change-however-desirable-should-not-be-effected/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Having spent 37 years of my life in the military as a reservist, and never having met a gay in all of that time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/having-spent-37-years-of-my-life-in-the-military-as-a-reservist-and/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Some programs have been theatrical masterpieces, but all we're seeing is the negative side of nuclear war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/some-programs-have-been-theatrical-masterpieces-but-all-we-re-seeing/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [My mother took us to services at the Episcopal church. Yet she always said that God was not just inside the four walls of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/my-mother-took-us-to-services-at-the-episcopal-church-yet-she-always/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [You don't need to be straight to fight and die for your country. You just need to shoot straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/you-don-t-need-to-be-straight-to-fight-and-die-for-your-country-you/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents' "interests," I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/and-if-i-should-later-be-attacked-for-neglecting-my-constituents/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Nixon was the most dishonest individual I have ever met in my life. He lied to his wife, his family, his friends, his colleagues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/nixon-was-the-most-dishonest-individual-i-have-ever-met-in-my-life-he/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Forced integration is just as wrong as forced segregation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/forced-integration-is-just-as-wrong-as-forced-segregation/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Religious factions will go on imposing their will on others unless the decent people connected to them recognize that religion has no place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/religious-factions-will-go-on-imposing-their-will-on-others-unless/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Government should stay the hell out of people's business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/government-should-stay-the-hell-out-of-people-s-business/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [I think some highly secret government UFO investigations are going on that we don't know about--and probably never will unless the Air Force discloses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/i-think-some-highly-secret-government-ufo-investigations-are-going-on/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Conservatism, we are told, is out-of-date. This charge is preposterous and we ought to boldly say so. The laws of God, and of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/conservatism-we-are-told-is-out-of-date-this-charge-is-preposterous/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Once upon a time our traditional goal in war and can anyone doubt that we are at war? - was victory. Once upon a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/once-upon-a-time-our-traditional-goal-in-war-and-can-anyone-doubt/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) [Explore all 133 Barry Goldwater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) ## More Best things quotes > [I need the best things in life, that's women, thats cars. Cigars in Venice, bottle on ice, thats priceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-need-the-best-things-in-life-that-s-women-thats-cars-cigars-in/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [It hurt, of course, but more often than not the best things do, I've found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/it-hurt-of-course-but-more-often-than-not-the-best-things-do-i-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The next best thing to being witty one's self, is to be able to be able to quote another's wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/the-next-best-thing-to-being-witty-one-s-self-is-to-be-able-to-be/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [I really believe that our past can really hold us back from growth, so the best thing that we can do is MOVE ON…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-harper/i-really-believe-that-our-past-can-really-hold-us-back-from-growth-so/) [Bob Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-harper/) > [The best thing for you to do is shop at your local farmer's market and support the organic growers who are there. Because those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/the-best-thing-for-you-to-do-is-shop-at-your-local-farmer-s-market/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The best thing about the term 'performance artist' is that it includes just about everything you might want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-anderson/the-best-thing-about-the-term-performance-artist-is-that-it-includes/) [Laurie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-anderson/) > [The best things in life are free. Sunsets and sunrises are free. Air is free. Love is free. Death is free. The best things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-best-things-in-life-are-free-sunsets-and-sunrises-are-free-air-is/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I always wanted to be a player, but I never had the talent to make the big leagues. So I did the next best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-finley/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-player-but-i-never-had-the-talent-to-make-the/) Charlie Finley > [I was a 36C or D, and at 5' 1'', I knew that being a small person with big boobs standing in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-was-a-36c-or-d-and-at-5-1-i-knew-that-being-a-small-person-with-big/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Each time I stop somewhere and look out, there are more people sitting there than there were the time I came before. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/each-time-i-stop-somewhere-and-look-out-there-are-more-people-sitting/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [One of the best things that happened for me as a playwright is becoming a comic-book writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-aguirre-sacasa/one-of-the-best-things-that-happened-for-me-as-a-playwright-is/) [Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-aguirre-sacasa/) > [I don't really know who I am as an actor: the best thing would be to experiment with it for the next 30 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-don-t-really-know-who-i-am-as-an-actor-the-best-thing-would-be-to/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [The best thing about time passing is the privilege of running out of it, of watching the wave of mortality break over me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-manguso/the-best-thing-about-time-passing-is-the-privilege-of-running-out-of/) [Sarah Manguso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-manguso/) > [What was the best thing before sliced bread?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/what-was-the-best-thing-before-sliced-bread/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The best thing about waking up early is seeing the sun rise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridgit-mendler/the-best-thing-about-waking-up-early-is-seeing-the-sun-rise/) [Bridgit Mendler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridgit-mendler/) [Browse all 1,021 Best things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best thing Clinton could do — I think I wrote him a letter about this, but I'm not sure — is to shut up. 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