--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to think that seniority was a…" description: "\"I used to think that seniority was a terrible thing when I didn't have any.\" — Bob Dole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/bob-dole-8280_seniority_i-used-to-think-that-seniority-was-a-ter_1102978.jpg" --- # I used to think that seniority was a terrible thing when I… ![“I used to think that seniority was a terrible thing when I didn't have any.” quote by Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/bob-dole-8280_seniority_i-used-to-think-that-seniority-was-a-ter_1102978.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/bob-dole-8280_seniority_i-used-to-think-that-seniority-was-a-ter_1102978.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/bob-dole-8280_seniority_i-used-to-think-that-seniority-was-a-ter_1102978.jpg) > “I used to think that seniority was a terrible thing when I didn't have any.” [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seniority can feel oppressive when you lack experience, but it also offers perspective and mentorship opportunities. **In simple terms:** Seniority feels bad without experience, yet it can teach. Key Takeaway Recognize and value the insights of experienced colleagues. Themes leadership experience mentorship Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice insightful When to use this quote - workplace - professional development - team building Key Concepts hierarchy power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you leverage seniority positively? - What checks prevent seniority abuse? A Different Perspective Seniority may also perpetuate bias if not checked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Seniority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seniority/) [Terrible things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-things/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [No more verbally incomprehensible no more devoid of the vision thing and no more the cautious pragmatist proudly displaying the virtues of tradition and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/no-more-verbally-incomprehensible-no-more-devoid-of-the-vision-thing/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [What a terrible thing it is to lose one's mind...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/what-a-terrible-thing-it-is-to-lose-one-s-mind/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [A terrible thing happened to me last night again—nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/a-terrible-thing-happened-to-me-last-night-again-nothing/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [To teach superstitions as truth is a most terrible thing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hypatia/to-teach-superstitions-as-truth-is-a-most-terrible-thing/) [Hypatia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hypatia/) > [I wanted to be cute. That's the terrible thing. I should have had more sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/i-wanted-to-be-cute-that-s-the-terrible-thing-i-should-have-had-more/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [The terrible thing about acting is the stops and starts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelica-huston/the-terrible-thing-about-acting-is-the-stops-and-starts/) [Anjelica Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelica-huston/) > [My arms are up to the elbows in blood. That is the most terrible thing that lies in my soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-khrushchev/my-arms-are-up-to-the-elbows-in-blood-that-is-the-most-terrible-thing/) [Nikita Khrushchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-khrushchev/) > [I know the most terrible thing that can happen to a woman. That is the gang-up. Men put you to sleep with their drops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-know-the-most-terrible-thing-that-can-happen-to-a-woman-that-is-the/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [A mime is a terrible thing to waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/a-mime-is-a-terrible-thing-to-waste/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [An ugly woman with a gun is a terrible thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/an-ugly-woman-with-a-gun-is-a-terrible-thing/) [Ross Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/) > [The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is the hand over your whole self--all your wishes and precautions--to Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-terrible-thing-the-almost-impossible-thing-is-the-hand-over-your/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [For the truth is a terrible thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/for-the-truth-is-a-terrible-thing/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) > [Hearing loss is a terrible thing because it cannot be repaired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/hearing-loss-is-a-terrible-thing-because-it-cannot-be-repaired/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [Without publicity a terrible thing happens: nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/without-publicity-a-terrible-thing-happens-nothing/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [It's a terrible thing that your life turns into a good story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/it-s-a-terrible-thing-that-your-life-turns-into-a-good-story/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) ## More by Bob Dole > [It's going to be hard for someone like me to run for president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/it-s-going-to-be-hard-for-someone-like-me-to-run-for-president/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I will seek the presidency with nothing to fall back on but the judgment of the people of the United States, and nowhere to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-will-seek-the-presidency-with-nothing-to-fall-back-on-but-the/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [ The California proposition \[Prop. 187\] is one I would agree with. That's the easiest way to put it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/the-california-proposition-prop-187-is-one-i-would-agree-with-that-s/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [A government that seizes control of the economy for the good of the people, ends up seizing control of the people for the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/a-government-that-seizes-control-of-the-economy-for-the-good-of-the/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I've never known a lot of rich people. It's not my bag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-ve-never-known-a-lot-of-rich-people-it-s-not-my-bag/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [If something happened along the route and you had to leave your children with Bob Dole or Bill Clinton, I think you would probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/if-something-happened-along-the-route-and-you-had-to-leave-your/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [As president, I will fight illegal immigration in order to preserve an appropriate level of legal immigration. At the same time, I believe our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/as-president-i-will-fight-illegal-immigration-in-order-to-preserve-an/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [We're trying to get good pictures. Don't worry very much about what I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/we-re-trying-to-get-good-pictures-don-t-worry-very-much-about-what-i/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I don't know how many people run for vice president and president and lose both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-don-t-know-how-many-people-run-for-vice-president-and-president-and/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [Something is wrong with America. I wonder sometimes what people are thinking about or if they're thinking at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/something-is-wrong-with-america-i-wonder-sometimes-what-people-are/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I will seek the presidency with nothing to fall back on but the judgment of the people, and nowhere to go but the White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-will-seek-the-presidency-with-nothing-to-fall-back-on-but-the-2/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [You read what Disraeli had to say. I don't remember what he said. He said something. He's no longer with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/you-read-what-disraeli-had-to-say-i-don-t-remember-what-he-said-he/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I think the Republican Party has indicated to everyone who wants to look at us that, you know, we're in the mainstream. We understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-think-the-republican-party-has-indicated-to-everyone-who-wants-to/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [If there is one clear lesson of our century, it is this: where aggression is tolerated, it multiplies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/if-there-is-one-clear-lesson-of-our-century-it-is-this-where/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I'm not a Gingrich fan. He's just difficult to work with. It's either Newt's way or the highway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-m-not-a-gingrich-fan-he-s-just-difficult-to-work-with-it-s-either/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) [Explore all 82 Bob Dole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) ## More Seniority quotes > [Everyone believed the Senate could not really be led. It used to take so long to rise up through seniority. In two years Lyndon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/everyone-believed-the-senate-could-not-really-be-led-it-used-to-take/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [But I will say, I think there are some Democrats that don't want to address pension reform. I have taken on the issue of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-villaraigosa/but-i-will-say-i-think-there-are-some-democrats-that-don-t-want-to/) [Antonio Villaraigosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-villaraigosa/) > [With respect to teachers' salaries … Poor teachers are grossly overpaid and good teachers grossly underpaid. Salary schedules tend to be uniform and determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/with-respect-to-teachers-salaries-poor-teachers-are-grossly-overpaid/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Sunbae-hoobae seniority is a very tricky, weird kind of thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/sunbae-hoobae-seniority-is-a-very-tricky-weird-kind-of-thing/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [We started tearing down the seniority system on Capitol Hill. All of that begins in the '70s. It accelerates and continues in the '90s,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rauch/we-started-tearing-down-the-seniority-system-on-capitol-hill-all-of/) [Jonathan Rauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rauch/) > [Teaching, the most noble profession, should be rewarded based on merit alone, not seniority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kostabi/teaching-the-most-noble-profession-should-be-rewarded-based-on-merit/) [Mark Kostabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kostabi/) > [I specially want to have young women not to wait as I did until my children were grown, but young women to come in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-specially-want-to-have-young-women-not-to-wait-as-i-did-until-my/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Seniority actually means something in the Senate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-murkowski/seniority-actually-means-something-in-the-senate/) [Lisa Murkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-murkowski/) > [Some day, the public might actually revolt against the undemocratic system of seniority that allows Congress to keep the old ways of Washington ingrained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/some-day-the-public-might-actually-revolt-against-the-undemocratic/) [Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/) > [The toughest thing about raising kids is convincing them that you have seniority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-brown/the-toughest-thing-about-raising-kids-is-convincing-them-that-you/) [Gene Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-brown/) > [Seniority means nothing if you don't do anything with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/seniority-means-nothing-if-you-don-t-do-anything-with-it/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [Germany's hierarchical reverence for seniority may have something to do with the fact that everything here happens relatively late. Germans start school at six,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-harding/germany-s-hierarchical-reverence-for-seniority-may-have-something-to/) [Luke Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-harding/) > [One thing that Alaskans clearly appreciate is seniority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-murkowski/one-thing-that-alaskans-clearly-appreciate-is-seniority/) [Lisa Murkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-murkowski/) > [Well, you have to remember that until 1948, when Hubert Humphrey and others forced the Democratic Party to adopt a new policy on civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-rusher/well-you-have-to-remember-that-until-1948-when-hubert-humphrey-and/) [William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-rusher/) > [We're sad about some of the losses of members of great seniority and distinction in the Congress, and some very new members, who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-re-sad-about-some-of-the-losses-of-members-of-great-seniority-and/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) [Browse all 33 Seniority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seniority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I used to think that seniority was a terrible thing when I didn't have any.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bob Dole" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-used-to-think-that-seniority-was-a-terrible-thing-when-i-didn-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Seniority" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-used-to-think-that-seniority-was-a-terrible-thing-when-i-didn-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/bob-dole-8280_seniority_i-used-to-think-that-seniority-was-a-ter_1102978.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/bob-dole-8280_seniority_i-used-to-think-that-seniority-was-a-ter_1102978.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/bob-dole-8280_seniority_i-used-to-think-that-seniority-was-a-ter_1102978.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I used to think that seniority was a terrible thing when I didn't have any.” — Bob Dole", "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": "Bob Dole", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I used to think that seniority...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-used-to-think-that-seniority-was-a-terrible-thing-when-i-didn-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-used-to-think-that-seniority-was-a-terrible-thing-when-i-didn-t/#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 } } ] } ```