--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I'm one of five people in the…" description: "\"I think I'm one of five people in the Senate who's never been a politician before. And now that I am a politician, what I find weird about it is that I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/benjamin-e-sasse-24669_people_i-think-i-m-one-of-five-people-in-the-se_94943.jpg" --- # I think I'm one of five people in the Senate who's never… ![“I think I'm one of five people in the Senate who's never been a politician before. And now that I am a politician, what I find weird about it is that I respect myself less.” quote by Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/benjamin-e-sasse-24669_people_i-think-i-m-one-of-five-people-in-the-se_94943.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/benjamin-e-sasse-24669_people_i-think-i-m-one-of-five-people-in-the-se_94943.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/benjamin-e-sasse-24669_people_i-think-i-m-one-of-five-people-in-the-se_94943.jpg) > “I think I'm one of five people in the Senate who's never been a politician before. And now that I am a politician, what I find weird about it is that I respect myself less.” [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) ## 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, a political newcomer, feels a loss of self‑respect after entering politics, suggesting the role conflicts with personal values or identity. **In simple terms:** Becoming a politician made me respect myself less. Key Takeaway New roles can challenge self‑image and values. Themes politics identity self‑esteem career transition Mood reflective melancholic Type personal confession self‑assessment When to use this quote - starting a public office - career change to politics - adjusting to corporate culture - joining a nonprofit board Key Concepts cognitive dissonance role conflict Practical Applications - Reflect on personal values before career moves - Seek mentorship to align role with identity Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of politics erode self‑respect? - How can one preserve integrity in public service? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Senate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-senate-627028/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politician Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician-politician-817609/) [Politician Weird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician-weird-1167277/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Respect Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-myself/) [Senate Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senate-politician-1167276/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Weird Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weird-respect-1167278/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a politician, and as a politician I have the prerogative to lie whenever I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-peacock/i-m-a-politician-and-as-a-politician-i-have-the-prerogative-to-lie/) [Charlie Peacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-peacock/) > [The best politician is the politician who says what the people are thinking already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-suozzi/the-best-politician-is-the-politician-who-says-what-the-people-are/) [Tom Suozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-suozzi/) > [A politician is a politician whether he's wearing a suit or a funny hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/a-politician-is-a-politician-whether-he-s-wearing-a-suit-or-a-funny/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) > [I've had very little negative pushback. I think people in the Senate know that I have believed, for a number of years, and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/i-ve-had-very-little-negative-pushback-i-think-people-in-the-senate/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [We have a lot of thoughtful people in the U.S. Senate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/we-have-a-lot-of-thoughtful-people-in-the-u-s-senate/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [We are confident that just like the American people can, the Senate can also multitask and they can do their constitutional duty while continuing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-psaki/we-are-confident-that-just-like-the-american-people-can-the-senate/) [Jen Psaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-psaki/) > [As the elected representatives of the American people, all the people, nearly 300 million people, that we in the Senate are charged with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/as-the-elected-representatives-of-the-american-people-all-the-people/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [If you are a junior member of a minority party - one of 100 people - in the U.S. Senate, what really can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-taylor/if-you-are-a-junior-member-of-a-minority-party-one-of-100-people-in/) [Diana Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-taylor/) > [I cannot be exacting because I respect myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/i-cannot-be-exacting-because-i-respect-myself/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Every once in awhile, find a spot of shade, sit down on the grass or dirt, and ask yourself this question: “Do I respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-baumann/every-once-in-awhile-find-a-spot-of-shade-sit-down-on-the-grass-or/) [Ken Baumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-baumann/) > [“When I'm brave and strong, and care for children and the sick and the poor, I become a better person. And when I'm cruel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/when-i-m-brave-and-strong-and-care-for-children-and-the-sick-and-the/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [If I'm disrespectful to my opponent, how can I respect myself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/if-i-m-disrespectful-to-my-opponent-how-can-i-respect-myself/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [I may not be beautiful, but that doesnt mean I have to degrade myself trying to get your attention. I'm still a beautiful person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unique-muslimah/i-may-not-be-beautiful-but-that-doesnt-mean-i-have-to-degrade-myself/) [Unique Muslimah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unique-muslimah/) > [“When asked what gave her the strength and commitment to refuse segregation, (Rosa) Parks credited her mother and grandfather "for giving me the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-theoharis/when-asked-what-gave-her-the-strength-and-commitment-to-refuse/) [Jeanne Theoharis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-theoharis/) > [I'm happy with myself. I respect myself. And I know that no man, no jeans, no scale, and no booker is in control of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iskra-lawrence/i-m-happy-with-myself-i-respect-myself-and-i-know-that-no-man-no/) [Iskra Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iskra-lawrence/) ## More by Benjamin E. Sasse > [Once we affirm the goal of trying to make sure that you don't have jihadis infiltrating terrorist flows, we need to make sure we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/once-we-affirm-the-goal-of-trying-to-make-sure-that-you-don-t-have/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [Truth affirms freedom of speech. Putin is no friend of reli - freedom of speech. Putin is an enemy of freedom of religion. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/truth-affirms-freedom-of-speech-putin-is-no-friend-of-reli-freedom-of/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ The U.S. affirms freedom of speech.\[Vladimir\] Putin is no friend of freedom of speech. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/the-u-s-affirms-freedom-of-speech-vladimir-putin-is-no-friend-of/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [I don't think we do a great job in America any more of distinguishing between campaigns and governance. We live in an environment that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/i-don-t-think-we-do-a-great-job-in-america-any-more-of-distinguishing/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [The president is the president. And every American, regardless of who you voted for, if you voted for Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Donald Duck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/the-president-is-the-president-and-every-american-regardless-of-who/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ Let's be clear: Has the U.S. ever made any mistakes? Of course.Is the U.S. at all like \[Vladimir\] Putin's regime? Not at all. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/let-s-be-clear-has-the-u-s-ever-made-any-mistakes-of-course-is-the-u/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ \[Vladimir\] Putin is an enemy of the free press. The U.S. celebrates free press. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/vladimir-putin-is-an-enemy-of-the-free-press-the-u-s-celebrates-free/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [The real number of the US' obligations, unfunded obligations that we're passing on to our future generates is more like $70 trillion to $75…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/the-real-number-of-the-us-obligations-unfunded-obligations-that-we-re/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [What happens in Senate fight club stays in Senate fight club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/what-happens-in-senate-fight-club-stays-in-senate-fight-club/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ \[Vladimir\] Putin is an enemy of political dissent. The U.S. celebrates political dissent and the right for people to argue free from violence about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/vladimir-putin-is-an-enemy-of-political-dissent-the-u-s-celebrates/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [ I don't understand what the president's \[Donald Trump\] position is on Russia. But I can tell you what my position is on Russia: Russia… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/i-don-t-understand-what-the-president-s-donald-trump-position-is-on/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [While Admiral Neffenger is an impressive man, it is naive and dangerous to pretend installing one director can heal what ails TSA, the Department…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/while-admiral-neffenger-is-an-impressive-man-it-is-naive-and/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [People think if they voted for somebody, they should reflexively defend everything they do or say. And if you voted against somebody, you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/people-think-if-they-voted-for-somebody-they-should-reflexively/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [In the American constitutional system of three different branches, conflict - and I mean that peaceful, vigorous debate - it's a feature of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/in-the-american-constitutional-system-of-three-different-branches/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) > [D.C. is known as Hollywood for ugly people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/d-c-is-known-as-hollywood-for-ugly-people/) [Benjamin E. Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-e-sasse/) [Explore all 24 Benjamin E. 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