--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People used to complain that selling a…" description: "\"People used to complain that selling a president was like selling a bar of soap. But when you buy soap, at least you get the soap. In this campaign, yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/david-brooks-644_cleanliness_people-used-to-complain-that-selling-a-p_3226217.jpg" --- # People used to complain that selling a president was like… ![“People used to complain that selling a president was like selling a bar of soap. But when you buy soap, at least you get the soap. In this campaign, you just get two guys telling you they really value cleanliness.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/david-brooks-644_cleanliness_people-used-to-complain-that-selling-a-p_3226217.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/david-brooks-644_cleanliness_people-used-to-complain-that-selling-a-p_3226217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/david-brooks-644_cleanliness_people-used-to-complain-that-selling-a-p_3226217.jpg) > “People used to complain that selling a president was like selling a bar of soap. But when you buy soap, at least you get the soap. In this campaign, you just get two guys telling you they really value cleanliness.” [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote saties political promises to tangible products, highlighting the emptiness of rhetoric versus concrete delivery. **In simple terms:** Political promises often lack real substance. Key Takeaway Demand concrete results, not just words. Themes politics marketing trust disillusionment Mood skeptical critical inquisitive Type analytical political When to use this quote - voter expectations - campaign promises - public trust - product marketing Key Concepts consumerism political rhetoric authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How can voters assess real value behind campaign promises? - What mechanisms ensure accountability in political messaging? A Different Perspective Even with promises, outcomes may still fall short. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buy Soap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buy-soap-5376671/) [Cleanliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleanliness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Selling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling/) [Selling President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling-president-6083832/) [Soap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soap/) [Soap Buy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soap-buy-6083834/) [Soap Campaign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soap-campaign-6083833/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Value Cleanliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-cleanliness-4412333/) ## Related quotes > [Then how about we start with a shower," he said in the kind of deep voice that made her consider the value of cleanliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/then-how-about-we-start-with-a-shower-he-said-in-the-kind-of-deep/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Regardless of expense, the way we are dressed can show how much pride we take in ourselves and how we value cleanliness. The impression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-wilson/regardless-of-expense-the-way-we-are-dressed-can-show-how-much-pride/) [Glen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-wilson/) > [If a model is able to convey emotions in a 30 second commercial to make you buy soap bars, three hours is enough of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-batra/if-a-model-is-able-to-convey-emotions-in-a-30-second-commercial-to/) [Pooja Batra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-batra/) > [I wonder how much it would take to buy a soap bubble, if there were only one in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-wonder-how-much-it-would-take-to-buy-a-soap-bubble-if-there-were/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/he-that-toucheth-pitch-shall-be-defiled-therewith/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The mother must set the example in holding out the shrine as the heart of the house hold! She must enforce discipline over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/the-mother-must-set-the-example-in-holding-out-the-shrine-as-the/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [All will come out in the washing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/all-will-come-out-in-the-washing/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [I like using LEGO bricks as a medium because I enjoy seeing people’s reaction to artwork created from something with which they are familiar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-sawaya/i-like-using-lego-bricks-as-a-medium-because-i-enjoy-seeing-people-s/) [Nathan Sawaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-sawaya/) > [Juliet's version of cleanliness was next to godliness, which was to say it was erratic, past all understanding and was seldom seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/juliet-s-version-of-cleanliness-was-next-to-godliness-which-was-to/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Women are dirt searchers; their greatest worth is irradicating rings on collars and tables. Never mind real-estate boards' corruption and racism, here's your soapsuds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florynce-kennedy/women-are-dirt-searchers-their-greatest-worth-is-irradicating-rings/) [Florynce Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florynce-kennedy/) > [There is a road to freedom. Its milestones are obedience, endeavour, honesty, order, cleanliness, sobriety, truthfulness, sacrifice, and love of the fatherland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/there-is-a-road-to-freedom-its-milestones-are-obedience-endeavour/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [I think toilets are more important than temples. No matter how many temples we go to, we are not going to get salvation. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jairam-ramesh/i-think-toilets-are-more-important-than-temples-no-matter-how-many/) [Jairam Ramesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jairam-ramesh/) > [Night fell clean and cold in Dublin, and wind moaned beyond my room as if a million pipes played the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cornwell/night-fell-clean-and-cold-in-dublin-and-wind-moaned-beyond-my-room-as/) [Patricia Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cornwell/) > [Cleanliness is the scourge of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-brown/cleanliness-is-the-scourge-of-art/) [Craig Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-brown/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by David Brooks > [The brain is not the mind. It is probably impossible to look at a map of brain activity and predict or even understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/the-brain-is-not-the-mind-it-is-probably-impossible-to-look-at-a-map/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [When you're running for president, you're a guest in the living room for four years. And if people don't think you're going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/when-you-re-running-for-president-you-re-a-guest-in-the-living-room/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [“I’ve come to think that flourishing consists of putting yourself in situations in which you lose self-consciousness and become fused with other people, experiences,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-ve-come-to-think-that-flourishing-consists-of-putting-yourself-in/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [We have rapidly increasing technology, which is making life very good for people who are good at using words, and not so good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/we-have-rapidly-increasing-technology-which-is-making-life-very-good/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [I think Barack Obama's foreign policy will be regarded more failure than success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-barack-obama-s-foreign-policy-will-be-regarded-more-failure/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [If you know that most processing is below the level of awareness, you learn the value of sleep. You're brain is working on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/if-you-know-that-most-processing-is-below-the-level-of-awareness-you/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Trade has suddenly become massively unpopular. I think that's massively unjust. I think free trade has been wonderful for America on balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/trade-has-suddenly-become-massively-unpopular-i-think-that-s/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Politics is based on social identity, and so, again, there is going to be differences between rural and urban and between left and right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/politics-is-based-on-social-identity-and-so-again-there-is-going-to/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Pain now is better than pain deferred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/pain-now-is-better-than-pain-deferred/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [It’s worth noting that you can devote your life to community service and be a total schmuck. You can spend your life on Wall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/it-s-worth-noting-that-you-can-devote-your-life-to-community-service/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [If it feels all right for you, it's probably OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/if-it-feels-all-right-for-you-it-s-probably-ok/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [I do think Donald Trump is a fundamentally unstabilizing force and that the people who swore to uphold the Constitution are going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-do-think-donald-trump-is-a-fundamentally-unstabilizing-force-and/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Tim Kaine has been obviously a governor. He's been a senator. He's one of the smartest rising stars in the Democratic Party. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/tim-kaine-has-been-obviously-a-governor-he-s-been-a-senator-he-s-one/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [“Women, in general, are less visually aroused than men, a trait that has nearly cut the market for pornography in half.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/women-in-general-are-less-visually-aroused-than-men-a-trait-that-has/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [I wasn't born with a tie or with Mark Shields stapled to my left hip. I have another life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-wasn-t-born-with-a-tie-or-with-mark-shields-stapled-to-my-left-hip/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) [Explore all 431 David Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) ## More Cleanliness quotes > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Cleanliness is the scourge of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-brown/cleanliness-is-the-scourge-of-art/) [Craig Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-brown/) > [Night fell clean and cold in Dublin, and wind moaned beyond my room as if a million pipes played the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cornwell/night-fell-clean-and-cold-in-dublin-and-wind-moaned-beyond-my-room-as/) [Patricia Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cornwell/) > [I think toilets are more important than temples. No matter how many temples we go to, we are not going to get salvation. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jairam-ramesh/i-think-toilets-are-more-important-than-temples-no-matter-how-many/) [Jairam Ramesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jairam-ramesh/) > [There is a road to freedom. Its milestones are obedience, endeavour, honesty, order, cleanliness, sobriety, truthfulness, sacrifice, and love of the fatherland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/there-is-a-road-to-freedom-its-milestones-are-obedience-endeavour/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Women are dirt searchers; their greatest worth is irradicating rings on collars and tables. Never mind real-estate boards' corruption and racism, here's your soapsuds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florynce-kennedy/women-are-dirt-searchers-their-greatest-worth-is-irradicating-rings/) [Florynce Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florynce-kennedy/) > [Juliet's version of cleanliness was next to godliness, which was to say it was erratic, past all understanding and was seldom seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/juliet-s-version-of-cleanliness-was-next-to-godliness-which-was-to/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I like using LEGO bricks as a medium because I enjoy seeing people’s reaction to artwork created from something with which they are familiar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-sawaya/i-like-using-lego-bricks-as-a-medium-because-i-enjoy-seeing-people-s/) [Nathan Sawaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-sawaya/) > [All will come out in the washing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/all-will-come-out-in-the-washing/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The mother must set the example in holding out the shrine as the heart of the house hold! She must enforce discipline over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/the-mother-must-set-the-example-in-holding-out-the-shrine-as-the/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/he-that-toucheth-pitch-shall-be-defiled-therewith/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Every attainment, every step forward in knowledge, follows from courage, from hardness against oneself, from cleanliness in relation to oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-attainment-every-step-forward-in-knowledge-follows-from-courage/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The first step toward the management of disease was replacement of demon theories and humours theories by the germ theory. That very step, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-brooks/the-first-step-toward-the-management-of-disease-was-replacement-of/) [Fred Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-brooks/) > [I neither drink nor smoke, because my schoolmaster impressed upon me three cardinal virtues; cleanliness in person, cleanliness in mind; temperance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-neither-drink-nor-smoke-because-my-schoolmaster-impressed-upon-me/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [To keep the air fresh among words is the secret of verbal cleanliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/to-keep-the-air-fresh-among-words-is-the-secret-of-verbal-cleanliness/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) [Browse all 256 Cleanliness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleanliness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People used to complain that selling a president was like selling a bar of soap. 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