--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went into the foreign service because I…" description: "\"I went into the foreign service because I was interested in politics. But, in 1991, when I joined, I didn't see much of an opportunity to be involved i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ff/chris-alexander-21241_brian_i-went-into-the-foreign-service-because_3200209.jpg" --- # I went into the foreign service because I was interested… ![“I went into the foreign service because I was interested in politics. But, in 1991, when I joined, I didn't see much of an opportunity to be involved in federal politics as a Conservative. We were at the tail end of the Brian Mulroney era. I wanted to do something non-partisan as a way of…” quote by Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ff/chris-alexander-21241_brian_i-went-into-the-foreign-service-because_3200209.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ff/chris-alexander-21241_brian_i-went-into-the-foreign-service-because_3200209.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ff/chris-alexander-21241_brian_i-went-into-the-foreign-service-because_3200209.jpg) > “I went into the foreign service because I was interested in politics. But, in 1991, when I joined, I didn't see much of an opportunity to be involved in federal politics as a Conservative. We were at the tail end of the Brian Mulroney era. I wanted to do something non-partisan as a way of preparing for a role in our politics later.” [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He joined the foreign service to gain experience before entering domestic politics, seeking a non‑partisan role. **In simple terms:** He entered diplomacy to prepare for future political work. Key Takeaway Use early career roles to build skills for later goals. Themes career development politics public service Mood reflective ambitious Type advice career When to use this quote - government jobs - political ambition - networking - policy learning Key Concepts non‑partisan experience strategic positioning Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance non‑partisan duties with personal political goals? - What skills from diplomacy translate to domestic politics? A Different Perspective Non‑partisan work may limit immediate political influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brian/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Eras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eras/) [Federal Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal-politics-5069860/) [Foreign service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-service/) [Interested Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-politics/) [Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved/) [Non Partisan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-partisan-329116/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Partisans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partisans/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Politics Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-conservative-2288429/) [Preparing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparing/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Tails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tails/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Despite 18 years as a non-partisan public servant, my deeper "tribal" affinity has always been Tory. The Afghanistan file has given me an additional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/despite-18-years-as-a-non-partisan-public-servant-my-deeper-tribal/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [One of the things about federal politics is that it has been remarkably free of corruption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brandis/one-of-the-things-about-federal-politics-is-that-it-has-been/) [George Brandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brandis/) > [After President Obama's election, efforts at othering Obama quickly became about smearing his non-partisan allies and ambassadors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/after-president-obama-s-election-efforts-at-othering-obama-quickly/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [The media claimed to be non-partisan, centrist. It's not been that way for a lot of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/the-media-claimed-to-be-non-partisan-centrist-it-s-not-been-that-way/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [These are career non-partisan apolitical staffers with a combined 150 years of experience at the State Department gone, just like that right off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/these-are-career-non-partisan-apolitical-staffers-with-a-combined-150/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [Most Evangelicals claim to be politically non-partisan, and say they only identify with the Republican Party because the Republicans are committed to 'family values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/most-evangelicals-claim-to-be-politically-non-partisan-and-say-they/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [I think there was a moment in the middle part of the century into the 60s, 70s when at least elite journalism claimed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/i-think-there-was-a-moment-in-the-middle-part-of-the-century-into-the/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [ I was confident that it \[would\] not in any way affect my ability to be impartial, objective and non-partisan. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-cheng/i-was-confident-that-it-would-not-in-any-way-affect-my-ability-to-be/) [Calvin Cheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-cheng/) > [Disease is a non-partisan problems that requires a non-partisan solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/disease-is-a-non-partisan-problems-that-requires-a-non-partisan/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [“There’s a sense amongst liberals — who read identity politics into most everything — that conservative women are somehow traitors to their gender (much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/there-s-a-sense-amongst-liberals-who-read-identity-politics-into-most/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [It is one of the truisms of politics that a conservative is often enough a former liberal who has been 'mugged by reality.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/it-is-one-of-the-truisms-of-politics-that-a-conservative-is-often/) [Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/) > [There are people who are surprised at my politics and being a conservative and the rest of it. But the truth of the matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-newton/there-are-people-who-are-surprised-at-my-politics-and-being-a/) [Wayne Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-newton/) > [There is this big yawning gap in the middle of British politics, the Conservative and Labour parties have gone to the edges. In this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/there-is-this-big-yawning-gap-in-the-middle-of-british-politics-the/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [One of the reasons I wanted to leave my position at Common Cause and return to politics was to regain the freedom to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/one-of-the-reasons-i-wanted-to-leave-my-position-at-common-cause-and/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [I think that non-partisan primaries would be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-taylor/i-think-that-non-partisan-primaries-would-be-great/) [Diana Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-taylor/) ## More by Chris Alexander > [I think it is right for Canadians to be asked to show their faces when they're taking the oath. On revocation of citizenship, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/i-think-it-is-right-for-canadians-to-be-asked-to-show-their-faces/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [All politics are local, whether in Kabul or in Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/all-politics-are-local-whether-in-kabul-or-in-canada/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [We need to give the private sector many more powerful incentives to do research and development, to bring ideas and new discoveries to market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/we-need-to-give-the-private-sector-many-more-powerful-incentives-to/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [The plant goes down. The industry is weaker. The price of the commodity has lagged. Any of those things can push people into unemployment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/the-plant-goes-down-the-industry-is-weaker-the-price-of-the-commodity/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [If the Taliban comes back to power, the impact would be devastating. A country that has made great strides, in terms of development indicators,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/if-the-taliban-comes-back-to-power-the-impact-would-be-devastating-a/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [It will not be good enough simply to depend on one or two markets, we will need to embrace innovation, decide what we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/it-will-not-be-good-enough-simply-to-depend-on-one-or-two-markets-we/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [The reality of Canadian history is that we've been willing to do the important things the world demanded of us: fighting in World War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/the-reality-of-canadian-history-is-that-we-ve-been-willing-to-do-the/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [I'm totally in favour of meeting our Paris commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But I don't think we should do that by making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/i-m-totally-in-favour-of-meeting-our-paris-commitments-to-reduce/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [It's never too late to try to end a conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/it-s-never-too-late-to-try-to-end-a-conflict/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [We Canadians need to go beyond what any previous government has done in terms of our diplomatic network, our support for companies to export,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/we-canadians-need-to-go-beyond-what-any-previous-government-has-done/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [The marginal tax rate for high income earners is going up. Small businesses are no longer enjoying some of the exemption from payroll tax.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/the-marginal-tax-rate-for-high-income-earners-is-going-up-small/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [As Believers, we shine brightest in a sad and dark world; like a diamond that illuminates best when placed on black velvet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/as-believers-we-shine-brightest-in-a-sad-and-dark-world-like-a/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [There are people who just haven't done as well in a globalized economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/there-are-people-who-just-haven-t-done-as-well-in-a-globalized-economy/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [The Andrew Principle is when the incompetence of an organization exceeds the incompetence of certain individuals within that organization, thereby allowing their promotion within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/the-andrew-principle-is-when-the-incompetence-of-an-organization/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) > [Everyone in Afghanistan and Pakistan is a potential target. My heart goes out to the UN family in Afghanistan: in spite of everything, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-alexander/everyone-in-afghanistan-and-pakistan-is-a-potential-target-my-heart/) [Chris Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) [Explore all 29 Chris Alexander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-alexander/) ## More Brian quotes > [Brian Johnson, AC/DC, singing 'The Hokey Pokey' with him - I'll take that over any other moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-breuer/brian-johnson-ac-dc-singing-the-hokey-pokey-with-him-i-ll-take-that/) [Jim Breuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-breuer/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ We went to America a few times and \[Brian\] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian-epstein-always-tried-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [ Brian Mulroney, myself, \[and\] Rajiv Gandhi; I think that was the real core \[of the Commonwealth \]. That was the engine room, I reckon. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/brian-mulroney-myself-and-rajiv-gandhi-i-think-that-was-the-real-core/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [It was my first time in prison. I was there to volunteer with Defy Ventures, along with 500 teammates Tara Graham, Brian Wang, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/it-was-my-first-time-in-prison-i-was-there-to-volunteer-with-defy/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [What can I say about Brian Williams. Nothing, because I work for NBC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-strong/what-can-i-say-about-brian-williams-nothing-because-i-work-for-nbc/) [Cecily Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-strong/) > [Here's Brian Flynn. His official height is five feet five and he doesn't look much taller than that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-green/here-s-brian-flynn-his-official-height-is-five-feet-five-and-he-doesn/) [Alan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-green/) > [I don't get the regular AIDS test anymore. I get the roundabout AIDS test. I ask my friend Brian, "Do you know anybody who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-get-the-regular-aids-test-anymore-i-get-the-roundabout-aids/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I don't care if it's Dr. Dre or Dr. Luke or Brian Eno. When you're in a studio and making music together, it becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-foster/i-don-t-care-if-it-s-dr-dre-or-dr-luke-or-brian-eno-when-you-re-in-a/) [Mark Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-foster/) > [When I was in Buffalo, Fred Jackson was you know, I would say he was a big mentor of mine and when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/when-i-was-in-buffalo-fred-jackson-was-you-know-i-would-say-he-was-a/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [Brian came back in on the road and Al stayed, but Al's the original member of the group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/brian-came-back-in-on-the-road-and-al-stayed-but-al-s-the-original/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [With these Funny or Die videos, I do everything for them. I write them, act in them, and co-direct them with my buddy Brian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/with-these-funny-or-die-videos-i-do-everything-for-them-i-write-them/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [ We \[ with Brian Mulroney and Rajiv Gandhi\] went to the meeting in Canada \[the 1987 Vancouver CHOGM\] and I said to them there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/we-with-brian-mulroney-and-rajiv-gandhi-went-to-the-meeting-in-canada/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [I always respected Luke Cage and thought that he was interesting, and I really liked what Brian Michael Bendis did in his update of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/i-always-respected-luke-cage-and-thought-that-he-was-interesting-and/) [Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/) > [Just a whole different style, just a whole different way of going about an audience and a way about skating. And they are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-stojko/just-a-whole-different-style-just-a-whole-different-way-of-going/) [Elvis Stojko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-stojko/) [Browse all 283 Brian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I went into the foreign service because I was interested in politics. But, in 1991, when I joined, I didn't see much of an opportunity to be involved in federal politics as a Conservative. We were at the tail end of the Brian Mulroney era. 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