--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never been in politics before, but…" description: "\"I've never been in politics before, but even in the brief time that I've been running for governor, I've been exposed to some of the worst people I've ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/193/eric-greitens-3611_cowards_i-ve-never-been-in-politics-before-but-e_1639062.png" --- # I've never been in politics before, but even in the brief… ![“I've never been in politics before, but even in the brief time that I've been running for governor, I've been exposed to some of the worst people I've ever known. Liars, cowards, sociopaths.” quote by Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/193/eric-greitens-3611_cowards_i-ve-never-been-in-politics-before-but-e_1639062.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/193/eric-greitens-3611_cowards_i-ve-never-been-in-politics-before-but-e_1639062.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/193/eric-greitens-3611_cowards_i-ve-never-been-in-politics-before-but-e_1639062.png) > “I've never been in politics before, but even in the brief time that I've been running for governor, I've been exposed to some of the worst people I've ever known. Liars, cowards, sociopaths.” [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Running for office reveals many unsavory characters, highlighting moral decay in politics. **In simple terms:** Politics exposes bad people. Key Takeaway Beware the company you keep. Themes politics ethics leadership Mood cautious determined Type political reflective When to use this quote - campaigning - legislative work - public service - networking Key Concepts morality trust power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain integrity amid corruption? - What safeguards can reduce toxic behavior? A Different Perspective Not all politicians are corrupt; some are reformers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I'm running for governor; I'm not running for a legislative office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/i-m-running-for-governor-i-m-not-running-for-a-legislative-office/) [Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/) > [I hope telling the story of how I went from being a single mom to serving in the Texas State Senate to running for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-davis/i-hope-telling-the-story-of-how-i-went-from-being-a-single-mom-to/) [Wendy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-davis/) > [When I was running for governor, I was attacked pretty strongly because of my position on the death penalty. But I looked the voters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/when-i-was-running-for-governor-i-was-attacked-pretty-strongly/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [I think the most important thing to know is I'm running for governor because I love the state of Michigan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/i-think-the-most-important-thing-to-know-is-i-m-running-for-governor/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [ “RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR--\[Written about 1870.\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/running-for-governor-written-about-1870/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I'm running for governor to fulfill California's promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-faulconer/i-m-running-for-governor-to-fulfill-california-s-promise/) [Kevin Faulconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-faulconer/) > [The joke I always make is I'm either running for reelection, running for Senate, running for governor, or running for my life. The latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/the-joke-i-always-make-is-i-m-either-running-for-reelection-running/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [I'm running for governor because I want to build a Virginia that works for everyone - no matter who you are, no matter where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-northam/i-m-running-for-governor-because-i-want-to-build-a-virginia-that/) [Ralph Northam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-northam/) > [When I finished my term, I thought about running for governor then but decided not to because, frankly, I didn't think I was ready.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-chandler/when-i-finished-my-term-i-thought-about-running-for-governor-then-but/) [Ben Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-chandler/) > [One of the candidates running for governor is a 100-year-old woman. Yeah, the 100-year-old says she'd like to recall Governor Gray Davis, but more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/one-of-the-candidates-running-for-governor-is-a-100-year-old-woman/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [I don't think that attorneys should be in any way running for governor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/i-don-t-think-that-attorneys-should-be-in-any-way-running-for-governor/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [I'm running for Governor, and this Honey Badger is ready to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gessler/i-m-running-for-governor-and-this-honey-badger-is-ready-to-fight/) Scott Gessler > [I'm running for Governor because we need a political outsider to move Missouri forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/i-m-running-for-governor-because-we-need-a-political-outsider-to-move/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [The fact is, I was elected governor of the state of Missouri to bring more jobs to the state of Missouri.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/the-fact-is-i-was-elected-governor-of-the-state-of-missouri-to-bring/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he's running for governor. He's got a great slogan - 'Vote for me, or I'll make 'Kindergarten Cop II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kilborn/arnold-schwarzenegger-announced-he-s-running-for-governor-he-s-got-a/) [Craig Kilborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kilborn/) ## More by Eric Greitens > [If you want to start or grow a business in the state of Missouri and hire more people with good jobs, I will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/if-you-want-to-start-or-grow-a-business-in-the-state-of-missouri-and/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [To be very clear, I have completely ruled out state funding for stadiums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/to-be-very-clear-i-have-completely-ruled-out-state-funding-for/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [So Hell Week is considered to be the hardest week of the hardest military training in the world. It is a week of continuous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/so-hell-week-is-considered-to-be-the-hardest-week-of-the-hardest/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [People know if you care about them. How do you show people that you care? By caring for them. By putting their needs first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/people-know-if-you-care-about-them-how-do-you-show-people-that-you/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [Success means eliminating Al Qaeda's ability to launch terrorist attacks against the United States and our allies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/success-means-eliminating-al-qaeda-s-ability-to-launch-terrorist/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [God has a way of helping you to move through suffering and actually become stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/god-has-a-way-of-helping-you-to-move-through-suffering-and-actually/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [Yet the basic fact remains: we live in a world marked by violence, and if we want to protect others, we sometimes have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/yet-the-basic-fact-remains-we-live-in-a-world-marked-by-violence-and/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [When we make these decisions that we're going to commit ourselves to making a difference in the life of one person every single day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/when-we-make-these-decisions-that-we-re-going-to-commit-ourselves-to/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [“If you respected someone, then you had to ask something of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/if-you-respected-someone-then-you-had-to-ask-something-of-them/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [What happens for a lot of veterans when they come home, especially when they get back to their community is that they can go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/what-happens-for-a-lot-of-veterans-when-they-come-home-especially/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [Part of the attraction of the SEAL teams was the incredible tests that it offered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/part-of-the-attraction-of-the-seal-teams-was-the-incredible-tests/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [Teach your children early not to pass the blame or make excuses, but to take responsibility for their actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/teach-your-children-early-not-to-pass-the-blame-or-make-excuses-but/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [The mistake that I made was that I was engaged in a consensual relationship with a woman who was not my wife. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/the-mistake-that-i-made-was-that-i-was-engaged-in-a-consensual/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [I don't think that we need to raise tuition on our students. I don't think that our students should be made to pay for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/i-don-t-think-that-we-need-to-raise-tuition-on-our-students-i-don-t/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [If people can live through genocide and retain compassion, if they can take strength in pain, if they are able, still, to laugh, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/if-people-can-live-through-genocide-and-retain-compassion-if-they-can/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) [Explore all 126 Eric Greitens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) ## More Cowards quotes > [There will always be people who will first wait for somebody's comment and then attack them. I'll say they are just cowards. They have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soni-razdan/there-will-always-be-people-who-will-first-wait-for-somebody-s/) [Soni Razdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soni-razdan/) > [“The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars and the selfish hide in high places. (p 57)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-world-is-not-fair-and-often-fools-cowards-liars-and-the-selfish/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Artists who say they do not want to mix up in politics are cowards who are not willing to come to terms with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/artists-who-say-they-do-not-want-to-mix-up-in-politics-are-cowards/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People who keep dogs are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/people-who-keep-dogs-are-cowards-who-haven-t-got-the-guts-to-bite/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [It is the disease of cowards, who do not have the courage to speak upfront and so talk behind one's back... Watch out against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/it-is-the-disease-of-cowards-who-do-not-have-the-courage-to-speak/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [If our principles are right, why should we be cowards?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/if-our-principles-are-right-why-should-we-be-cowards/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-of-itself-as-an-ethnic-melting/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [“Richard had noticed that events were cowards: they didn't occur singly, but instead they would run in packs and leap out at him all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/richard-had-noticed-that-events-were-cowards-they-didn-t-occur-singly/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [No police or military in the world can protect people who are cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-police-or-military-in-the-world-can-protect-people-who-are-cowards/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“I can only miss the true and I can only mourn the brave. Cowards make it easy to let go because you're not losing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-can-only-miss-the-true-and-i-can-only-mourn-the-brave-cowards-make/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Of two cowards, the one who finds the other out first has the advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italian-proverb/of-two-cowards-the-one-who-finds-the-other-out-first-has-the-advantage/) Italian Proverb > [“People cling to their rotten memories, to all their misfortunes, and you can't pry them loose. These things keep them busy. They avenge themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/people-cling-to-their-rotten-memories-to-all-their-misfortunes-and/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [Haters are cowards. When confronted they often back down. We must resist haters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/haters-are-cowards-when-confronted-they-often-back-down-we-must/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [“Men are such cowards. They outrage every law of the world, and are afraid of the world’s tongue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-are-such-cowards-they-outrage-every-law-of-the-world-and-are/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Newspapers are a great place for cowards and malcontents to have their say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-shaara/newspapers-are-a-great-place-for-cowards-and-malcontents-to-have/) [Jeff Shaara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-shaara/) [Browse all 417 Cowards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've never been in politics before, but even in the brief time that I've been running for governor, I've been exposed to some of the worst people I've ever known. 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