--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What America needs more than political…" description: "\"“What America needs more than political reform is political courage—candidates and politicians who are not afraid to risk losing the office they hold t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/bob-schieffer-10581_freedom_what-america-needs-more-than-political-r_2983605.png" --- # What America needs more than political reform is political… ![“What America needs more than political reform is political courage—candidates and politicians who are not afraid to risk losing the office they hold to accomplish the greater good. The Founders were not concerned about political survival; they worried about being hanged when they signed the…” quote by Bob Schieffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/bob-schieffer-10581_freedom_what-america-needs-more-than-political-r_2983605.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/bob-schieffer-10581_freedom_what-america-needs-more-than-political-r_2983605.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/bob-schieffer-10581_freedom_what-america-needs-more-than-political-r_2983605.png) > ““What America needs more than political reform is political courage—candidates and politicians who are not afraid to risk losing the office they hold to accomplish the greater good. The Founders were not concerned about political survival; they worried about being hanged when they signed the Declaration of Independence. Yet they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the cause in which they believed so strongly.”” [Bob Schieffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-schieffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political courage requires risking personal loss for the greater good, unlike self‑preservation. **In simple terms:** Courage means risking yourself for a cause. Key Takeaway Prioritize principle over position. Themes politics courage principle Mood determined serious Type political motivational When to use this quote - elections - activism Key Concepts risk public service Questions to Reflect On - What risks are you willing to take for your values? - How can leaders balance courage and responsibility? A Different Perspective Idealizes sacrifice without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Greater good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-good/) [Political courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-courage/) [Political reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-reform/) [Political Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-survival-4360114/) [Politicians Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians-afraid-231361/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Reform Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform-political-2084290/) ## Related quotes > [This gets back to the fundamental lesson of political survival that Bill Clinton taught me, which is if you make it about the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/this-gets-back-to-the-fundamental-lesson-of-political-survival-that/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [We need to reform the political system, or we'll lose the democracy. 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I had then learned the second: to be prepared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-had-discovered-long-ago-the-first-lesson-of-political-courage-to/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [It is up to African leaders to show their will and political courage in order to assure that this new pan-African institution becomes an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-bongo/it-is-up-to-african-leaders-to-show-their-will-and-political-courage/) [Omar Bongo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-bongo/) > [“Writing in the New York Times, David Welch, a former research director for the Republican National Committee, argued that the rise of the Tea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hawley/writing-in-the-new-york-times-david-welch-a-former-research-director/) [George Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hawley/) > [Obama wants to be thought of as the president who freed us from foreign oil. But if he doesn't show some political courage, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/obama-wants-to-be-thought-of-as-the-president-who-freed-us-from/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) ## More by Bob Schieffer > [Whether or not the President is sleeping well won't be a factor in his re-election. That will depend on what he does while he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-schieffer/whether-or-not-the-president-is-sleeping-well-won-t-be-a-factor-in/) [Bob Schieffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-schieffer/) > [When Sam Snead was asked how to putt, he said, 'Putt for one hundred dollars'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-schieffer/when-sam-snead-was-asked-how-to-putt-he-said-putt-for-one-hundred/) [Bob Schieffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-schieffer/) > [They've asked me to do this temporarily. I don't know what temporarily means. 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