--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a man once gets a start holding…" description: "\"When a man once gets a start holding office, it is nearly always necessary to finally choke him off.\" — E. W. Howe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/e-w-howe-2815_choke_when-a-man-once-gets-a-start-holding-off_2902525.png" --- # When a man once gets a start holding office, it is nearly… ![“When a man once gets a start holding office, it is nearly always necessary to finally choke him off.” quote by E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/e-w-howe-2815_choke_when-a-man-once-gets-a-start-holding-off_2902525.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/e-w-howe-2815_choke_when-a-man-once-gets-a-start-holding-off_2902525.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/e-w-howe-2815_choke_when-a-man-once-gets-a-start-holding-off_2902525.png) > “When a man once gets a start holding office, it is nearly always necessary to finally choke him off.” [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power tends to be curtailed once established, highlighting the cyclical nature of authority. **In simple terms:** Power is often limited after rise. Key Takeaway Expect checks on authority. Themes politics power cycle Mood critical skeptical Type satire political When to use this quote - government service - leadership - activism Key Concepts institutional control political theory Questions to Reflect On - Why do societies limit leaders? - What mechanisms truly prevent abuse? A Different Perspective Checks may be superficial, not substantive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choke/) [Finally Choke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finally-choke-4134698/) [Holding Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-office-778313/) [Man Gets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-gets-549983/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Start Holding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-holding-4134699/) ## Related quotes > [...all these kids you can't seem to make sense of would stop holding you so far off the edge of your seats if you'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/all-these-kids-you-can-t-seem-to-make-sense-of-would-stop-holding-you/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [I'm not prepared for holding office any more than I think Arnold is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/i-m-not-prepared-for-holding-office-any-more-than-i-think-arnold-is/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [That's probably the best part of holding office is being able to solve problems and really help people who feel like no one cares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-szeliga/that-s-probably-the-best-part-of-holding-office-is-being-able-to/) [Kathy Szeliga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-szeliga/) > [My Uncle, of course, would have been pleased to see someone with brown skin holding the office of president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/my-uncle-of-course-would-have-been-pleased-to-see-someone-with-brown/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [We have to give value to authority. We have to give value to office, being in office, holding office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/we-have-to-give-value-to-authority-we-have-to-give-value-to-office/) [James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/) > [The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-government-consists-of-a-gang-of-men-exactly-like-you-and-me-they-2/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/granted-by-the-united-states-and-no-person-holding-any-office-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“The art of governing, Dickon, is that of making use of talent wherever you do find it. Trust is too rare an attribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/the-art-of-governing-dickon-is-that-of-making-use-of-talent-wherever/) [Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/) > [Holding office often requires swearing an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/holding-office-often-requires-swearing-an-oath-to-support-and-defend/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-government-consists-of-a-gang-of-men-exactly-like-you-and-me-they/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Success is full of promise till a man gets it; and then it is last year's nest from which the birds have flown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/success-is-full-of-promise-till-a-man-gets-it-and-then-it-is-last/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Ever since I was growing up, the big man gets the ball in the post. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domantas-sabonis/ever-since-i-was-growing-up-the-big-man-gets-the-ball-in-the-post/) [Domantas Sabonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domantas-sabonis/) > [The man who gets bit twice by the same dog is better adapted for that kind of business than any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/the-man-who-gets-bit-twice-by-the-same-dog-is-better-adapted-for-that/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [No religion is perfect, not after man gets through with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-pike/no-religion-is-perfect-not-after-man-gets-through-with-it/) [Christopher Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-pike/) > [The man who gets the most out of life is not the one who has lived it longest, but the one who has felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/the-man-who-gets-the-most-out-of-life-is-not-the-one-who-has-lived-it/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) ## More by E. W. Howe > [There is always a type of man who says he loves his fellow men, and expects to make a living at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/there-is-always-a-type-of-man-who-says-he-loves-his-fellow-men-and/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [I believe in grumbling; it is the politest form of fighting known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/i-believe-in-grumbling-it-is-the-politest-form-of-fighting-known/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [A theory is no more like a fact than a photograph is like a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/a-theory-is-no-more-like-a-fact-than-a-photograph-is-like-a-person/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Few men progress, except as they are pushed along by events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/few-men-progress-except-as-they-are-pushed-along-by-events/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Men are a good deal better collectively than they are individually. Many a man will do that privately which he will denounce in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively-than-they-are-individually/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [The modest person is usually admired, if people ever hear of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/the-modest-person-is-usually-admired-if-people-ever-hear-of-them/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [The greatest thing in the world is for a man to be able to do something well, and say nothing about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/the-greatest-thing-in-the-world-is-for-a-man-to-be-able-to-do/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [No man would listen to you talk if he didn't know it was his turn next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/no-man-would-listen-to-you-talk-if-he-didn-t-know-it-was-his-turn-next/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [People never have confidence in a Big Talker. They know his statements must be cut down, but they can never tell how much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/people-never-have-confidence-in-a-big-talker-they-know-his-statements/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [The only gambling tip which amounts to anything is to keep out of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/the-only-gambling-tip-which-amounts-to-anything-is-to-keep-out-of-the/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [One has fear in front of a goat, in back of a mule, and on every side of a fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/one-has-fear-in-front-of-a-goat-in-back-of-a-mule-and-on-every-side/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [No man's credit is ever as good as his money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/no-man-s-credit-is-ever-as-good-as-his-money/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their-lives-and-die-in-the/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [There is something in the red of a raspberry pie that looks as good to a man as the red in a sheep looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/there-is-something-in-the-red-of-a-raspberry-pie-that-looks-as-good/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Love affairs have always greatly interested me, but I do not greatly care for them in books or moving pictures. In a love affair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/love-affairs-have-always-greatly-interested-me-but-i-do-not-greatly/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) [Explore all 149 E. W. Howe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) ## More Choke quotes > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [What a wonderfully exciting cough,' said the little man, quite startled by it, 'do you mind if I join you?' And with that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-a-wonderfully-exciting-cough-said-the-little-man-quite-startled/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I’ve blamed her for all of this, for leaving, for ruining me. And maybe that was the seed of it, but from that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/i-ve-blamed-her-for-all-of-this-for-leaving-for-ruining-me-and-maybe/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [I didn’t realize I was crying until it was time to say the blinding words. ‘I do,’ I managed to choke out in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-didn-t-realize-i-was-crying-until-it-was-time-to-say-the-blinding/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [The thing that bothers me the most is the recklessness and greed of the local ranchers, who run too many cattle back here, choking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/the-thing-that-bothers-me-the-most-is-the-recklessness-and-greed-of/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [In Los Angeles, it's like they jog for two hours a day and then they think they're morally right. That's when you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/in-los-angeles-it-s-like-they-jog-for-two-hours-a-day-and-then-they/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [I have always been a big fan of Salman... whenever I see him or meet him, I choke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-shah/i-have-always-been-a-big-fan-of-salman-whenever-i-see-him-or-meet-him/) [Daisy Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy-shah/) > [A tiny fly can choke a big man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ibn-gabirol/a-tiny-fly-can-choke-a-big-man/) [Solomon Ibn Gabirol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ibn-gabirol/) > [Sam, clinging to Frodo's arm, collapsed on a step in the black darkness. 'Poor old Bill!' he said in a choking voice. 'Poor old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sam-clinging-to-frodo-s-arm-collapsed-on-a-step-in-the-black-darkness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dont mistake my kindness for weakness.Ill choke you with the same hands I fed you off with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-mistake-my-kindness-for-weakness-ill-choke-you-with-the-same/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Blood fills my mouth. Fire sears my veins. I choke back a howl. The silver knife slips--the choice is mine. I am death or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-despain/blood-fills-my-mouth-fire-sears-my-veins-i-choke-back-a-howl-the/) [Bree Despain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-despain/) > [Well, that’s just a little hard, since I can’t even talk her into sparing your life, huh? You haven’t exactly endeared yourself to her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/well-that-s-just-a-little-hard-since-i-can-t-even-talk-her-into/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I don't think we choked this time. We never played well enough to choke.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-matthews/i-don-t-think-we-choked-this-time-we-never-played-well-enough-to-choke/) [Craig Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-matthews/) > [If someone grabbed me, I'd probably be able to choke them out in about eight seconds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/if-someone-grabbed-me-i-d-probably-be-able-to-choke-them-out-in-about/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [Praying and sinning will never live together in the same heart. Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/praying-and-sinning-will-never-live-together-in-the-same-heart-prayer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 440 Choke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choke/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When a man once gets a start holding office, it is nearly always necessary to finally choke him off.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E. W. 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