--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In politics there are no principles, just…" description: "\"In politics there are no principles, just opportunities\" — Bill Press" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/bill-press-36345_opportunity_in-politics-there-are-no-principles-just_1355135.png" --- # In politics there are no principles, just opportunities ![“In politics there are no principles, just opportunities” quote by Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/bill-press-36345_opportunity_in-politics-there-are-no-principles-just_1355135.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/bill-press-36345_opportunity_in-politics-there-are-no-principles-just_1355135.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/bill-press-36345_opportunity_in-politics-there-are-no-principles-just_1355135.png) > “In politics there are no principles, just opportunities” [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politics often prioritizes pragmatic gains over consistent ideals. **In simple terms:** Politics favors opportunity over principle. Key Takeaway Seek consistency in actions. Themes politics ethics pragmatism Mood cynical reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - campaign strategy - legislative negotiations - policy making - public statements Key Concepts realpolitik moral compromise Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance principle with political reality? - When does opportunism become detrimental? A Different Perspective Opportunities may clash with long‑term trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [“Take principles, not just religion, to people”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/take-principles-not-just-religion-to-people/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [I want politicians to be held to account for their politics and their principles, or lack of them, but I find it irritating that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-fox/i-want-politicians-to-be-held-to-account-for-their-politics-and-their/) [Claire Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-fox/) > [We must elevate the craft, protect its interests, advance wages, reduce the hours of labor, spread correct economic doctrines and cultivate a spirit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-mcguire/we-must-elevate-the-craft-protect-its-interests-advance-wages-reduce/) Peter J. McGuire > [I would like a practical president, but I would like to be able to have his practicality based on principles, and not just who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/i-would-like-a-practical-president-but-i-would-like-to-be-able-to/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [When I signed for Chelsea, I didn't need to make anything up. I just had to keep following the same steps, the same guiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-mendy/when-i-signed-for-chelsea-i-didn-t-need-to-make-anything-up-i-just/) [Edouard Mendy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-mendy/) > [It's just all about opportunities, knocking doors down and see who answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-hamlin/it-s-just-all-about-opportunities-knocking-doors-down-and-see-who/) [Denny Hamlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-hamlin/) > [You just have to take these opportunities when they come along. They're not that frequent; you'll get a really good script, oh, maybe once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/you-just-have-to-take-these-opportunities-when-they-come-along-they/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [“Just because opportunities present themselves doesn't mean you should accept every one of them. It's not realistic, and it's also not wise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/just-because-opportunities-present-themselves-doesn-t-mean-you-should/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [It's a blessing from God just to have all of the opportunities that I've had and being able to come down with as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-landry/it-s-a-blessing-from-god-just-to-have-all-of-the-opportunities-that-i/) [Jarvis Landry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-landry/) > [I just see the opportunities and I go for them. I don't want to play my career safe. I've had my successes and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crews/i-just-see-the-opportunities-and-i-go-for-them-i-don-t-want-to-play/) [Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crews/) > [Sometimes difficulties are just opportunities in disguise. We just need to use them as stepping stones to find success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-difficulties-are-just-opportunities-in-disguise-we-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dont worry about making mistakes, they are just opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/dont-worry-about-making-mistakes-they-are-just-opportunities/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Don't worry, and don't kick yourself forever. Just take the opportunities when they come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/don-t-worry-and-don-t-kick-yourself-forever-just-take-the/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [“Not problems so much. Just opportunities to learn patience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-daley/not-problems-so-much-just-opportunities-to-learn-patience/) Margaret Daley > [I don't want San Francisco to be just a place where people just move for opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-breed/i-don-t-want-san-francisco-to-be-just-a-place-where-people-just-move/) [London Breed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-breed/) ## More by Bill Press > [I mean, when you think about it, it's 'bombs bursting in air,' 'rocket's red glare,' it's all kinds of - you know a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/i-mean-when-you-think-about-it-it-s-bombs-bursting-in-air-rocket-s/) [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) > [Lobbying is the world's second - oldest profession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/lobbying-is-the-world-s-second-oldest-profession/) [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) > [I do not speak for the White House correspondents association. I'm not a member.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/i-do-not-speak-for-the-white-house-correspondents-association-i-m-not/) [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) > [ I think Joe \[Madison\] is right. What we have to do is call him out on every one of these things and then maybe… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/i-think-joe-madison-is-right-what-we-have-to-do-is-call-him-out-on/) [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) > [ He is racist, he's homophobic, he's xenophobic and he's a sexist. He's the perfect Republican candidate. \[California Democratic Party chairman about Pat Buchanan.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/he-is-racist-he-s-homophobic-he-s-xenophobic-and-he-s-a-sexist-he-s/) [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) > [You can disagree, but it's a personal belittling attack which is beneath the dignity of the presidency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/you-can-disagree-but-it-s-a-personal-belittling-attack-which-is/) [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) > [Things are not as bad as they seem. They are worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/things-are-not-as-bad-as-they-seem-they-are-worse/) [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) > [Here is one of the first rules of politics: it's not enough that I do well; I must also destroy my enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/here-is-one-of-the-first-rules-of-politics-it-s-not-enough-that-i-do/) [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) > [The Justice Dept. is the new F.E.M.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/the-justice-dept-is-the-new-f-e-m-a/) [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) > [ The solidarity - now, you can't challenge \[Donald Trump\] until he gets there \[White House\], but let me tell you, we are united. We… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/the-solidarity-now-you-can-t-challenge-donald-trump-until-he-gets/) [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) > [In FY 2006, interest payments alone on the national debt cost us $406 billion. . . . What a waste. . . . That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/in-fy-2006-interest-payments-alone-on-the-national-debt-cost-us-406/) [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) > [I think we ought to call (Republicans who sign the Norquist no tax pledge) exactly what they are - they are traitors and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/i-think-we-ought-to-call-republicans-who-sign-the-norquist-no-tax/) [Bill Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) [Explore all 13 Bill Press quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/) ## More Opportunity quotes > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [So many times in television, you get cancelled arbitrarily as a result of your ratings in the off season, and you don't have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-wyle/so-many-times-in-television-you-get-cancelled-arbitrarily-as-a-result/) [Noah Wyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-wyle/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [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/) > [On stage, you can bring all those strong emotions that you don't have the opportunity to live. You don't want to die for love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/on-stage-you-can-bring-all-those-strong-emotions-that-you-don-t-have/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Opportunities change, strategies change, but people and psychology do not change. If trend-following systems don’t work well, something else will. There’s always money being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-blake/opportunities-change-strategies-change-but-people-and-psychology-do/) [Gil Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-blake/) > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [I was contacted by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, MP, through the Pune Film Institute and offered the post in the NFDC. I accepted it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-gopi/i-was-contacted-by-rajyavardhan-singh-rathore-mp-through-the-pune/) [Suresh Gopi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-gopi/) > [I was really excited to have the opportunity to make Fiddler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/i-was-really-excited-to-have-the-opportunity-to-make-fiddler/) [Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/) > [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [If someone has the opportunity to become a model, I would say, 'Do it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-russell/if-someone-has-the-opportunity-to-become-a-model-i-would-say-do-it/) [Cameron Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-russell/) > [I struggled and I did theater for 10 years, for 15 years, I tried to get little parts here and there in TV shows.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-tupper/i-struggled-and-i-did-theater-for-10-years-for-15-years-i-tried-to/) [James Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-tupper/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [There's a richness that reading gives you, an opportunity to probe more than any other medium I know of. Reading is about not being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/there-s-a-richness-that-reading-gives-you-an-opportunity-to-probe/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) [Browse all 14,820 Opportunity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In politics there are no principles, just opportunities", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Press" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/in-politics-there-are-no-principles-just-opportunities/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Opportunity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/in-politics-there-are-no-principles-just-opportunities/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/bill-press-36345_opportunity_in-politics-there-are-no-principles-just_1355135.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/bill-press-36345_opportunity_in-politics-there-are-no-principles-just_1355135.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/bill-press-36345_opportunity_in-politics-there-are-no-principles-just_1355135.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In politics there are no principles, just opportunities” — Bill Press", "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": "Bill Press", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-press/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In politics there are no principles,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/in-politics-there-are-no-principles-just-opportunities/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-press/in-politics-there-are-no-principles-just-opportunities/#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 } } ] } ```