--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The difference between the men and the…" description: "\"The difference between the men and the boys in politics is, and always has been , that the boys want to be something, while the men want to do somethin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/eric-sevareid-18932_boys_the-difference-between-the-men-and-the-b_789103.jpg" --- # The difference between the men and the boys in politics… ![“The difference between the men and the boys in politics is, and always has been , that the boys want to be something, while the men want to do something,” quote by Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/eric-sevareid-18932_boys_the-difference-between-the-men-and-the-b_789103.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/eric-sevareid-18932_boys_the-difference-between-the-men-and-the-b_789103.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/eric-sevareid-18932_boys_the-difference-between-the-men-and-the-b_789103.jpg) > “The difference between the men and the boys in politics is, and always has been , that the boys want to be something, while the men want to do something,” [Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Men focus on actions and responsibilities, while boys focus on status and image. **In simple terms:** Men act, boys aspire. Key Takeaway Prioritize doing over seeking. Themes leadership responsibility politics Mood reflective critical Type advice political When to use this quote - campaign management - public service - organizational leadership Key Concepts Power dynamics masculinity identity Questions to Reflect On - How does your role define your actions? - Do you seek status or impact? A Different Perspective Boys may also achieve through ambition; not all men act responsibly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Men and boys always want to go fight. They are always looking for a reason to go to war. 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Boys want power in order to be something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-sevareid/men-want-power-in-order-to-do-something-boys-want-power-in-order-to/) [Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) > [Why can men be boys all of their lives, but we women must grow old while we are yet young?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/why-can-men-be-boys-all-of-their-lives-but-we-women-must-grow-old/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“And isn't that what all boys want and all men, too? Just to be taken seriously?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-reeve/and-isn-t-that-what-all-boys-want-and-all-men-too-just-to-be-taken/) [Philip Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-reeve/) > [Why does a three-year-old, and it's usually boys, want to drive the tractor or have machinery and be in control of it? I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fassbender/why-does-a-three-year-old-and-it-s-usually-boys-want-to-drive-the/) [Michael Fassbender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fassbender/) > [“If you give boys what they want, they give you what you need. Right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-lorraine-scheidt/if-you-give-boys-what-they-want-they-give-you-what-you-need-right/) [Erica Lorraine Scheidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-lorraine-scheidt/) > [I have two little boys, and I want them to feel like this is the nation that I know. That this is the nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/i-have-two-little-boys-and-i-want-them-to-feel-like-this-is-the/) [Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/) > [The boys want to be near Michael when he's having a rough day. 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What are they gonna do when girls give it up and theyre the babys dad?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/boys-want-nothing-from-girls-but-ass-and-drama-what-are-they-gonna-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why cant I be like the pretty girls that all the boys want?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-cant-i-be-like-the-pretty-girls-that-all-the-boys-want/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As an american, you're born aiming so high - boys want to play in the major leagues, girls want to be princesses. We're cultivating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-conrad/as-an-american-you-re-born-aiming-so-high-boys-want-to-play-in-the/) [Steven Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-conrad/) > [Lol @ the girls trying to be cute by saying they play mw3. boys want you in the kitchen or in their pants, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uknown/lol-the-girls-trying-to-be-cute-by-saying-they-play-mw3-boys-want-you/) Uknown ## More by Eric Sevareid > [The bigger the information media, the less courage and freedom they follow. Bigness means weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-sevareid/the-bigger-the-information-media-the-less-courage-and-freedom-they/) [Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) > [The chief cause of problems is solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-sevareid/the-chief-cause-of-problems-is-solutions/) [Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) > [It is perfectly clear that people, given no alternative, will choose tyranny over anarchy, because anarchy is the worst tyranny of all... The special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-sevareid/it-is-perfectly-clear-that-people-given-no-alternative-will-choose/) [Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) > [I'm sort of a pessimist about tomorrow and an optimist about the day after tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-sevareid/i-m-sort-of-a-pessimist-about-tomorrow-and-an-optimist-about-the-day/) [Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) > [Better to trust the man who is frequently in error than the one who is never in doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-sevareid/better-to-trust-the-man-who-is-frequently-in-error-than-the-one-who/) [Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) > [Saints are usually killed by their own people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-sevareid/saints-are-usually-killed-by-their-own-people/) [Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) > [Tenacity is a pretty fair substitute for bravery, and the best form of tenacity I know is expressed in a Danish fur trapper's principle:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-sevareid/tenacity-is-a-pretty-fair-substitute-for-bravery-and-the-best-form-of/) [Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) > [The major cause of problems are solutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-sevareid/the-major-cause-of-problems-are-solutions/) [Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) > [It is only people with a sense of personal responsibility who can help others. 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Boys want power in order to be something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-sevareid/men-want-power-in-order-to-do-something-boys-want-power-in-order-to/) [Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) > [“Never underestimate your listener's intelligence, or overestimate you listener's information.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-sevareid/never-underestimate-your-listener-s-intelligence-or-overestimate-you/) [Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) > [No man was ever more than about nine meals away from crime or suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-sevareid/no-man-was-ever-more-than-about-nine-meals-away-from-crime-or-suicide/) [Eric Sevareid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) [Explore all 33 Eric Sevareid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sevareid/) ## More Boys quotes > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [Lets face it this world is ruled by girls that why we must away pleases our girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/lets-face-it-this-world-is-ruled-by-girls-that-why-we-must-away/) MrAwesome > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. 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We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? 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