--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hillary Clinton follows a cardinal rule…" description: "\"Hillary Clinton follows a cardinal rule in politics - don't commit to a decision before you have to.\" — Chris Matthews" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/chris-matthews-1682_cardinal-rules_hillary-clinton-follows-a-cardinal-rule_2485570.png" --- # Hillary Clinton follows a cardinal rule in politics… ![“Hillary Clinton follows a cardinal rule in politics - don't commit to a decision before you have to.” quote by Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/chris-matthews-1682_cardinal-rules_hillary-clinton-follows-a-cardinal-rule_2485570.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/chris-matthews-1682_cardinal-rules_hillary-clinton-follows-a-cardinal-rule_2485570.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/chris-matthews-1682_cardinal-rules_hillary-clinton-follows-a-cardinal-rule_2485570.png) > “Hillary Clinton follows a cardinal rule in politics - don't commit to a decision before you have to.” [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politicians avoid early commitments to retain flexibility and avoid being trapped by premature decisions. **In simple terms:** Politicians delay decisions to stay flexible. Key Takeaway Delay commitments until necessary. Themes politics strategy decision‑making flexibility Mood analytical critical Type political strategic When to use this quote - campaign planning - policy formulation - negotiations Key Concepts risk management strategic timing political calculus Questions to Reflect On - When is it prudent to commit early? - How does flexibility affect credibility? A Different Perspective Delay can be seen as indecisiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cardinal rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cardinal-rules/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [ \[On filmmaking:\] Cardinal rule: It's a youth business. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-obst/on-filmmaking-cardinal-rule-it-s-a-youth-business/) [Lynda Obst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-obst/) > [I made up my mind long ago to follow one cardinal rule in all my writing — to be clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-made-up-my-mind-long-ago-to-follow-one-cardinal-rule-in-all-my/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [There's a cardinal rule that you don't talk about sharks. If you don't see it, it's not there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-warkentin/there-s-a-cardinal-rule-that-you-don-t-talk-about-sharks-if-you-don-t/) [Mark Warkentin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-warkentin/) > [One cardinal rule in behavioral medicine is that unless it is interfered with, your body knows exactly what it is doing and always does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-johnson/one-cardinal-rule-in-behavioral-medicine-is-that-unless-it-is/) Jill Johnson > [Attention must be paid’ is the cardinal rule of design discipline, for the designer is above all someone who pays attention to the situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/attention-must-be-paid-is-the-cardinal-rule-of-design-discipline-for/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [The very first as a cardinal rule for a person to build trust is to do must only that what is humanly just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/the-very-first-as-a-cardinal-rule-for-a-person-to-build-trust-is-to/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [There are three cardinal rules - don't take somebody else's boyfriend unless you've been specifically invited to do so, don't take a drink without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/there-are-three-cardinal-rules-don-t-take-somebody-else-s-boyfriend/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [To me, the "tape" is the final arbiter of any investment decision. I have a cardinal rule: Never fight the tape!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-zweig/to-me-the-tape-is-the-final-arbiter-of-any-investment-decision-i-have/) [Martin Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-zweig/) > [There is only one cardinal rule: One must always listen to the patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sacks/there-is-only-one-cardinal-rule-one-must-always-listen-to-the-patient/) [Oliver Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sacks/) > [A cardinal rule of bureaucracy is that it is better to extend an error than to admit a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/a-cardinal-rule-of-bureaucracy-is-that-it-is-better-to-extend-an/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [The primary duty of an exception handler is to get the error out of the lap of the programmer and into the surprised face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verity-stob/the-primary-duty-of-an-exception-handler-is-to-get-the-error-out-of/) Verity Stob > [Fortunately, I knew the cardinal rule of getting on with one's fellow cooks. It applies in any kitchen and can be summed up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-p-pin/fortunately-i-knew-the-cardinal-rule-of-getting-on-with-one-s-fellow-2/) [Jacques Pepin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-p-pin/) > [It is no coincidence that one cardinal rule in brainwashing is to remove from the victim all photographs of himself and people he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-coleman/it-is-no-coincidence-that-one-cardinal-rule-in-brainwashing-is-to/) [A. D. Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-coleman/) > [The cardinal rule for hosting the Miss USA and Miss Universe beauty pageants is to expect the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/the-cardinal-rule-for-hosting-the-miss-usa-and-miss-universe-beauty/) [Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/) > [In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/in-the-casino-the-cardinal-rule-is-to-keep-them-playing-and-to-keep/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) ## More by Chris Matthews > [You don't know whether he's thought through how this is going to affect the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/you-don-t-know-whether-he-s-thought-through-how-this-is-going-to/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Natural-born American means you don't have to be naturalized. You were born to an American mother, like President Obama, no matter where you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/natural-born-american-means-you-don-t-have-to-be-naturalized-you-were/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [ I think that the candidates who are doing it \[not debating\] are doing a great disservice to the party. It's a sign of an… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-think-that-the-candidates-who-are-doing-it-not-debating-are-doing-a/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [To become a saint in the Catholic Church, the normal procedure is, beatification, requiring one miracle in your name, then canonization, roughly in five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/to-become-a-saint-in-the-catholic-church-the-normal-procedure-is/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [The whole reason we organize grassroots is, we think any politician that gets elected needs to be held accountable 365 days a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/the-whole-reason-we-organize-grassroots-is-we-think-any-politician/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [ I don't sense an \[Barack\] Obama party. I think politics is transactional for him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-don-t-sense-an-barack-obama-party-i-think-politics-is-transactional/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [What happens to conservatives when they get near the White House? How come they only seem to be talking the good talk at, say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/what-happens-to-conservatives-when-they-get-near-the-white-house-how/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [I'm closer to anybody who believes that we should lead not from behind, but from the front. Rand Paul is one step behind, leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-m-closer-to-anybody-who-believes-that-we-should-lead-not-from/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Let's not forget, Sarah Palin may not have a golden touch, but she gave Christine O'Donnell candidate a big touch that got her over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/let-s-not-forget-sarah-palin-may-not-have-a-golden-touch-but-she-gave/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Here's the Republican Party with round heels for anybody who says the right thing at the current moment. Regardless of their record, regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/here-s-the-republican-party-with-round-heels-for-anybody-who-says-the/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [When lightning strikes you want to be there, right there in the room. You, not everybody's going to say yes to you. Just don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/when-lightning-strikes-you-want-to-be-there-right-there-in-the-room/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Sarah Palin is an empty vessel ready to be filled by ideology that she doesn't even understand, and that is really scary. Nothing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/sarah-palin-is-an-empty-vessel-ready-to-be-filled-by-ideology-that/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [“Earlier that year, at the hundredth anniversary of his Harvard club, a member was talking about the spirit of Harvard College and saying how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/earlier-that-year-at-the-hundredth-anniversary-of-his-harvard-club-a/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [ I think we all \[americans\] think we're a special country. But the question is, what - what call does that give us? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-think-we-all-americans-think-we-re-a-special-country-but-the/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [I'm not just gonna go after the black Jesse Jackson they all want to make fun of, but I know the wrong people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-m-not-just-gonna-go-after-the-black-jesse-jackson-they-all-want-to/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) [Explore all 213 Chris Matthews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) ## More Cardinal rules quotes > [In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/in-the-casino-the-cardinal-rule-is-to-keep-them-playing-and-to-keep/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [The cardinal rule for hosting the Miss USA and Miss Universe beauty pageants is to expect the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/the-cardinal-rule-for-hosting-the-miss-usa-and-miss-universe-beauty/) [Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/) > [I made up my mind long ago to follow one cardinal rule in all my writing — to be clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-made-up-my-mind-long-ago-to-follow-one-cardinal-rule-in-all-my/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [It is no coincidence that one cardinal rule in brainwashing is to remove from the victim all photographs of himself and people he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-coleman/it-is-no-coincidence-that-one-cardinal-rule-in-brainwashing-is-to/) [A. D. Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-coleman/) > [Fortunately, I knew the cardinal rule of getting on with one's fellow cooks. It applies in any kitchen and can be summed up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-p-pin/fortunately-i-knew-the-cardinal-rule-of-getting-on-with-one-s-fellow-2/) [Jacques Pepin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-p-pin/) > [The primary duty of an exception handler is to get the error out of the lap of the programmer and into the surprised face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verity-stob/the-primary-duty-of-an-exception-handler-is-to-get-the-error-out-of/) Verity Stob > [There's a cardinal rule that you don't talk about sharks. If you don't see it, it's not there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-warkentin/there-s-a-cardinal-rule-that-you-don-t-talk-about-sharks-if-you-don-t/) [Mark Warkentin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-warkentin/) > [A cardinal rule of bureaucracy is that it is better to extend an error than to admit a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/a-cardinal-rule-of-bureaucracy-is-that-it-is-better-to-extend-an/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [Don't compare yourself to others you have no idea what their journey is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-abraham/don-t-compare-yourself-to-others-you-have-no-idea-what-their-journey/) Dawn Abraham > [There is only one cardinal rule: One must always listen to the patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sacks/there-is-only-one-cardinal-rule-one-must-always-listen-to-the-patient/) [Oliver Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sacks/) > [To me, the "tape" is the final arbiter of any investment decision. I have a cardinal rule: Never fight the tape!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-zweig/to-me-the-tape-is-the-final-arbiter-of-any-investment-decision-i-have/) [Martin Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-zweig/) > [There are three cardinal rules - don't take somebody else's boyfriend unless you've been specifically invited to do so, don't take a drink without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/there-are-three-cardinal-rules-don-t-take-somebody-else-s-boyfriend/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [The very first as a cardinal rule for a person to build trust is to do must only that what is humanly just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/the-very-first-as-a-cardinal-rule-for-a-person-to-build-trust-is-to/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [Attention must be paid’ is the cardinal rule of design discipline, for the designer is above all someone who pays attention to the situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/attention-must-be-paid-is-the-cardinal-rule-of-design-discipline-for/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [One cardinal rule in behavioral medicine is that unless it is interfered with, your body knows exactly what it is doing and always does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-johnson/one-cardinal-rule-in-behavioral-medicine-is-that-unless-it-is/) Jill Johnson [Browse all 28 Cardinal rules quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cardinal-rules/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Hillary Clinton follows a cardinal rule in politics - don't commit to a decision before you have to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chris Matthews" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/hillary-clinton-follows-a-cardinal-rule-in-politics-don-t-commit-to-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cardinal rules" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/hillary-clinton-follows-a-cardinal-rule-in-politics-don-t-commit-to-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/chris-matthews-1682_cardinal-rules_hillary-clinton-follows-a-cardinal-rule_2485570.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/chris-matthews-1682_cardinal-rules_hillary-clinton-follows-a-cardinal-rule_2485570.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/chris-matthews-1682_cardinal-rules_hillary-clinton-follows-a-cardinal-rule_2485570.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Hillary Clinton follows a cardinal rule in politics - don't commit to a decision before you have to.” — Chris Matthews", "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": "Chris Matthews", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Hillary Clinton follows a cardinal rule...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/hillary-clinton-follows-a-cardinal-rule-in-politics-don-t-commit-to-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/hillary-clinton-follows-a-cardinal-rule-in-politics-don-t-commit-to-a/#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 } } ] } ```