--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Politics is compromise, by its very…" description: "\"Politics is compromise, by its very nature. But we never compromise on our values and beliefs.\" — DeRay Mckesson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/deray-mckesson-4626_compromise_politics-is-compromise-by-its-very-natur_1524951.jpg" --- # Politics is compromise, by its very nature. But we never… ![“Politics is compromise, by its very nature. But we never compromise on our values and beliefs.” quote by DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/deray-mckesson-4626_compromise_politics-is-compromise-by-its-very-natur_1524951.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/deray-mckesson-4626_compromise_politics-is-compromise-by-its-very-natur_1524951.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/deray-mckesson-4626_compromise_politics-is-compromise-by-its-very-natur_1524951.jpg) > “Politics is compromise, by its very nature. But we never compromise on our values and beliefs.” [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politics requires compromise, but core values must remain steadfast. **In simple terms:** Compromise is okay, not on values. Key Takeaway Hold firm to core beliefs. Themes politics ethics integrity Mood thoughtful determined Type activist philosophical When to use this quote - policy negotiation - activism - public discourse Key Concepts democracy principles Questions to Reflect On - Which values are non‑negotiable for you? - How do you balance compromise with principle? A Different Perspective Compromise can dilute important reforms if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [This product is a compromise, and the nature of compromise is that you don't get everything you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-product-is-a-compromise-and-the-nature-of-compromise-is-that-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A democracy is a compromise by its nature. It's not a dictatorship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/a-democracy-is-a-compromise-by-its-nature-it-s-not-a-dictatorship/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [It's ideal really. They will come up with a plan. No one will like it. Everyone will feel they have been treated unfairly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-ideal-really-they-will-come-up-with-a-plan-no-one-will-like-it/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I don't compromise my values and I don't compromise my work. That's why I've been kicked from one network to the next: I won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-don-t-compromise-my-values-and-i-don-t-compromise-my-work-that-s/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [For me, integrity is the consistency of words and actions. Part of the way that you do that is to ask people questions on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-chenault/for-me-integrity-is-the-consistency-of-words-and-actions-part-of-the/) [Kenneth Chenault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-chenault/) > [In every project I do, I'm unwilling to compromise my values and morals and ethics. That's very important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-gosselin/in-every-project-i-do-i-m-unwilling-to-compromise-my-values-and/) [Kate Gosselin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-gosselin/) > [Marriage is the best compromise between nature and culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiruman-archunan/marriage-is-the-best-compromise-between-nature-and-culture/) [Thiruman Archunan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiruman-archunan/) > [My nature is to compromise and get things done for the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-chandrababu-naidu/my-nature-is-to-compromise-and-get-things-done-for-the-state/) [N. Chandrababu Naidu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-chandrababu-naidu/) > [“Nature of a compromise is that it leaves everyone more or less equally unhappy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wildbow/nature-of-a-compromise-is-that-it-leaves-everyone-more-or-less/) wildbow > [Politics is compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/politics-is-compromise/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [In politics, you have to compromise from morning to evening. Democracy is the art of compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-messner/in-politics-you-have-to-compromise-from-morning-to-evening-democracy/) [Reinhold Messner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-messner/) > [“This is possible only if we retain our trust in negotiation and in the sincere desire, among politicians, to compromise with their opponents. Hence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/this-is-possible-only-if-we-retain-our-trust-in-negotiation-and-in/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [“It may be necessary to make compromises in everyday politics, but we cannot compromise with our conscience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/it-may-be-necessary-to-make-compromises-in-everyday-politics-but-we/) Ludwig Erhard > [“Unless and until people identify themselves with the country, its territory and its cultural inheritance – in something like the way people identify themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/unless-and-until-people-identify-themselves-with-the-country-its/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [The place I am always looking for - because in order to keep the business, I need to make a little compromise between my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/the-place-i-am-always-looking-for-because-in-order-to-keep-the/) [Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/) ## More by DeRay Mckesson > [I love Baltimore. This city has made me the man that I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-love-baltimore-this-city-has-made-me-the-man-that-i-am/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [The first time I was ever impressed with Patagonia as a brand was when they released the 'Don't Buy This Jacket' campaign. That campaign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/the-first-time-i-was-ever-impressed-with-patagonia-as-a-brand-was/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [For our kids to go to school, they must be alive, and for adults to work, they must not be in jail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/for-our-kids-to-go-to-school-they-must-be-alive-and-for-adults-to/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [When our response to all trauma is to call the police, then that gets us into a cycle of perpetuating trauma. Mental health trauma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/when-our-response-to-all-trauma-is-to-call-the-police-then-that-gets/) [Deray McKesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [I think that I, because of student government and because of working in Baltimore, knew how to be creative with very little resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-think-that-i-because-of-student-government-and-because-of-working/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Social media allowed us to become our own storytellers. With it, we seized the power of our truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/social-media-allowed-us-to-become-our-own-storytellers-with-it-we/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [What we know to be true is that comfort isn't always freedom. People confuse the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/what-we-know-to-be-true-is-that-comfort-isn-t-always-freedom-people/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Donald Trump is dangerous. The truth is that the bigotry and hatred that he speaks have real consequences in people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/donald-trump-is-dangerous-the-truth-is-that-the-bigotry-and-hatred/) [Deray McKesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [I will never forget the first time I was teargassed or the night I hid under my steering wheel as the SWAT vehicle drove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-will-never-forget-the-first-time-i-was-teargassed-or-the-night-i/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [There is nothing romantic about teargas. Or smoke bombs or rubber bullets or sound cannons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/there-is-nothing-romantic-about-teargas-or-smoke-bombs-or-rubber/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Most of my life's information is public. I got a text one day from a hacker who texted me all of my credit card…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/most-of-my-life-s-information-is-public-i-got-a-text-one-day-from-a/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [When I think about protest, I worry so much that people think about it only as standing in the streets. And I say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/when-i-think-about-protest-i-worry-so-much-that-people-think-about-it/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [I think that Silicon Valley and technology can play a huge role in redefining what community looks like and how people come together and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-think-that-silicon-valley-and-technology-can-play-a-huge-role-in/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [There are people who have demonstrated their willingness to challenge systems and structures, and then when it comes to elections, some of those same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/there-are-people-who-have-demonstrated-their-willingness-to-challenge/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Skills acquisition is really at the heart of what it means to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/skills-acquisition-is-really-at-the-heart-of-what-it-means-to-learn/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) [Explore all 108 DeRay Mckesson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) ## More Compromise quotes > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) Ludwig Erhard > [Real love is not based upon romance,candle light,dinner and walk along beach.Infact,It's based on care,compromise,respect and trust..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-love-is-not-based-upon-romance-candle-light-dinner-and-walk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I’m not sure sex qualifies as R and R, but it’s a compromise I can live with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-morgen/i-m-not-sure-sex-qualifies-as-r-and-r-but-it-s-a-compromise-i-can/) Shelby Morgen > [You know what the Englishman's idea of compromise is? He says, Some people say there is a God. Some people say there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/you-know-what-the-englishman-s-idea-of-compromise-is-he-says-some/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [The human spirit will not invest itself in a compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/the-human-spirit-will-not-invest-itself-in-a-compromise/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“And what would you like, Sharie?" asked Miss Mush. "What do you have?" asked Sharie. "Potato salad". "What else is there?" asked Sharie. "Nothing"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/and-what-would-you-like-sharie-asked-miss-mush-what-do-you-have-asked/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [“The fact that I can get away with something is the very reason why I shouldn’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-fact-that-i-can-get-away-with-something-is-the-very-reason-why-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [There could be some compromise, but I think we have to stick to the provisions of the treaty, and the provisions of the treaty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-santer/there-could-be-some-compromise-but-i-think-we-have-to-stick-to-the/) [Jacques Santer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-santer/) > [Love is not only about romance, candle-lit dinners and walking hand in hand. In fact, real love is about a lifetime of compromise, commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aarti-khurana/love-is-not-only-about-romance-candle-lit-dinners-and-walking-hand-in/) [Aarti Khurana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aarti-khurana/) [Browse all 2,076 Compromise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Politics is compromise, by its very nature. 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