--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I left law school, I wanted to go…" description: "\"When I left law school, I wanted to go into the government, into the tax policy area. I got the job that I wanted in the International Tax Council's of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/dan-burt-64056_care_when-i-left-law-school-i-wanted-to-go-in_973368.jpg" --- # When I left law school, I wanted to go into the… ![“When I left law school, I wanted to go into the government, into the tax policy area. I got the job that I wanted in the International Tax Council's office in Treasury. I arrived determined to change the world. But I discovered very quickly that the world couldn't care less. And I couldn't stomach…” quote by Dan Burt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/dan-burt-64056_care_when-i-left-law-school-i-wanted-to-go-in_973368.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/dan-burt-64056_care_when-i-left-law-school-i-wanted-to-go-in_973368.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/beb/dan-burt-64056_care_when-i-left-law-school-i-wanted-to-go-in_973368.jpg) > “When I left law school, I wanted to go into the government, into the tax policy area. I got the job that I wanted in the International Tax Council's office in Treasury. I arrived determined to change the world. But I discovered very quickly that the world couldn't care less. And I couldn't stomach the lying and stealing that I witnessed. I realized that the only difference between my mother's family and the senators and administrators that I was working with was that the latter wore suits and ties.” [Dan Burt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-burt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker entered public service with idealism but became disillusioned by systemic apathy and corruption, seeing similarity between elite officials and ordinary people beyond attire. **In simple terms:** Idealism clashed with reality; power structures often mirror ordinary families. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront ethical compromises early. Themes idealism corruption disillusionment power dynamics Mood cynical reflective determined Type personal critical reflective When to use this quote - government work - policy development - career decisions - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts public service ethics institutional behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can one maintain integrity in a corrupt system? - What actions can individuals take to influence systemic change? A Different Perspective Change is limited when institutions resist reform. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Change the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-the-world/) [Changing the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-the-world/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Law school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-school/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Whichever party is in office, the Treasury is in power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-wilson/whichever-party-is-in-office-the-treasury-is-in-power/) [Harold Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-wilson/) > [It is not possible to create a perfect society for an imperfect man. 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And everyone there voluntarily wore suits and ties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis-p-orridge/all-the-people-at-university-were-very-aristocratic-except-me-because/) [Genesis P-Orridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis-p-orridge/) > [Learning how to shine a pair of shoes to me was like if you could do, you were like you were on your way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-herron/learning-how-to-shine-a-pair-of-shoes-to-me-was-like-if-you-could-do/) [Willie Herron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-herron/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) ## More by Dan Burt > [American acculturation is a very powerful form of brainwashing. 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