---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Politicians are either there or here or…"
description: "\"“Politicians are either there or here or totally at home. Their finitude is more than sufficient unto itself. I don’t mean to imply that I’m any better..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/eug-ne-ionesco-1878_politics_politicians-are-either-there-or-here-or_1293890.jpg"
---

#  Politicians are either there or here or totally at home…

![“Politicians are either there or here or totally at home. Their finitude is more than sufficient unto itself. I don’t mean to imply that I’m any better than they which does not mean that they are any better than I. Which doesn’t mean anything at all.” quote by Eugène Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/eug-ne-ionesco-1878_politics_politicians-are-either-there-or-here-or_1293890.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/eug-ne-ionesco-1878_politics_politicians-are-either-there-or-here-or_1293890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/eug-ne-ionesco-1878_politics_politicians-are-either-there-or-here-or_1293890.jpg)

> ““Politicians are either there or here or totally at home. Their finitude is more than sufficient unto itself. I don’t mean to imply that I’m any better than they which does not mean that they are any better than I. Which doesn’t mean anything at all.””

[Eugène Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Politicians claim competence, but their limits are self‑imposed; humility is universal.

**In simple terms:** Politicians claim competence but are limited.

Key Takeaway

Recognize humility in all.

Themes

politics humility ego

Mood

skeptical thoughtful

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

- debates
- campaigns
- leadership discussions

Key Concepts

existentialism self‑awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- What does humility look like in leadership?
- Can we trust self‑assessment?

A Different Perspective

May overgeneralize, ignoring nuance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Imply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imply/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/)

## Related quotes

> [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [In thus pointing out certain respects in which philosophy resembles literature more than science, I do not mean, of course, to imply that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-raphael-cohen/in-thus-pointing-out-certain-respects-in-which-philosophy-resembles/)

[Morris Raphael Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-raphael-cohen/)

> [To the extent that we even understand string theory, it may imply a massive number of possible different universes with different laws of physics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/to-the-extent-that-we-even-understand-string-theory-it-may-imply-a/)

[Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/)

> [My father had no influence on my political beliefs, and to imply otherwise is wrong and irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/my-father-had-no-influence-on-my-political-beliefs-and-to-imply/)

M.I.A

> [There's just something wonderful about getting a small group of people together in an isolated location, and there's something about cabins themselves that imply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/there-s-just-something-wonderful-about-getting-a-small-group-of/)

[Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/)

> [“I've never made fun of you. Making fun of you would imply that something about you is fun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/i-ve-never-made-fun-of-you-making-fun-of-you-would-imply-that/)

[Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/)

> [“Knowing the difference between “infer” and “imply” is no more likely to create a skeptical, bullshit-detecting citizen than knowing the atomic weight of uranium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lane-greene/knowing-the-difference-between-infer-and-imply-is-no-more-likely-to/)

[Robert Lane Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lane-greene/)

> [Most of the time, economic data is fairly benign. I don't wish to imply it is meaningless, but it is not a driver of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/most-of-the-time-economic-data-is-fairly-benign-i-don-t-wish-to-imply/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [“Coincidences undeniably imply meaning. I am rereading Hart Crane. I notice the date On which he stepped off that boat Was April 26. Tomorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-markson/coincidences-undeniably-imply-meaning-i-am-rereading-hart-crane-i/)

[David Markson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-markson/)

> ['Content' is a word that has never sat well with me. Like 'maturity'. They are two words I've never liked. I think they imply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/content-is-a-word-that-has-never-sat-well-with-me-like-maturity-they/)

[Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/)

> [“To do what you imply would require nothing short of divine intervention. you must change man, not systems. Can you and our vapouring friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/to-do-what-you-imply-would-require-nothing-short-of-divine/)

[Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/)

> [Beethoven, Schubert, Schoenberg, Berg imply a type of pianist who is intellectual. That's not always associated with female soloists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tate/beethoven-schubert-schoenberg-berg-imply-a-type-of-pianist-who-is/)

[Jeffrey Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tate/)

> [The Qur'an not only lacks any earthly punishment for someone who abandons Islam, it even includes verses that imply that such a change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/the-qur-an-not-only-lacks-any-earthly-punishment-for-someone-who/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [Even if I'm there, they'll all imply that I might not last the day and then you call me and it's not so bad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-meadows/even-if-i-m-there-they-ll-all-imply-that-i-might-not-last-the-day-and/)

[Marion Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-meadows/)

> [Established is a dangerous word for me. It could imply a modicum of complacency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/established-is-a-dangerous-word-for-me-it-could-imply-a-modicum-of/)

[Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/)

## More by Eugène Ionesco

> [I am, it seems, an avant-garde dramatist. It would even seem obvious since I am present here at discussions on the avant-garde theatre. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/i-am-it-seems-an-avant-garde-dramatist-it-would-even-seem-obvious/)

[Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [ “My boy! It's really true, you really love hashed brown potatoes? You make me so happy. JACK \[without conviction\]: Yes, I like them, I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/my-boy-it-s-really-true-you-really-love-hashed-brown-potatoes-you/)

[Eugène Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [Everything that has been will be, everything that will be is, everything that will be has been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/everything-that-has-been-will-be-everything-that-will-be-is/)

[Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [“Rhinoceros The Leader The Future is in Eggs or It Takes all Sorts to Make a World”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/rhinoceros-the-leader-the-future-is-in-eggs-or-it-takes-all-sorts-to/)

[Eugène Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [Every message of despair is the statement of a situation from which everybody must freely try to find a way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/every-message-of-despair-is-the-statement-of-a-situation-from-which/)

[Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [I've always been suspicious of collective truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/i-ve-always-been-suspicious-of-collective-truths/)

[Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [Shakespeare was the great one before us. His place was between God and despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/shakespeare-was-the-great-one-before-us-his-place-was-between-god-and/)

[Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [I'll never waste my dreams by falling asleep. Never again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/i-ll-never-waste-my-dreams-by-falling-asleep-never-again/)

[Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [“All doctors are quacks. And all patients too. Only the Royal Navy is honest in England.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/all-doctors-are-quacks-and-all-patients-too-only-the-royal-navy-is/)

[Eugène Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [That's how we stay young these days: murder and suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/that-s-how-we-stay-young-these-days-murder-and-suicide/)

[Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [“I read a page of Plato's great work. I can no longer understand anything, because behind the words on the page, which have their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/i-read-a-page-of-plato-s-great-work-i-can-no-longer-understand/)

[Eugène Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [“MRS. SMITH: Well, this is how it was. It is difficult for me to speak openly to you, but a fireman is also a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/mrs-smith-well-this-is-how-it-was-it-is-difficult-for-me-to-speak/)

[Eugène Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [Childhood is over the moment things are no longer astonishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/childhood-is-over-the-moment-things-are-no-longer-astonishing/)

[Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [Realism falls short of reality. It shrinks it, attenuates it, falsifies it; it does not take into account our basic truths and our fundamental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/realism-falls-short-of-reality-it-shrinks-it-attenuates-it-falsifies/)

[Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [A nose that can see is worth two that sniff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/a-nose-that-can-see-is-worth-two-that-sniff/)

[Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

[Explore all 169 Eugène Ionesco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

## More Imply quotes

> [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [Even if I'm there, they'll all imply that I might not last the day and then you call me and it's not so bad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-meadows/even-if-i-m-there-they-ll-all-imply-that-i-might-not-last-the-day-and/)

[Marion Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-meadows/)

> [The Qur'an not only lacks any earthly punishment for someone who abandons Islam, it even includes verses that imply that such a change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/the-qur-an-not-only-lacks-any-earthly-punishment-for-someone-who/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [Beethoven, Schubert, Schoenberg, Berg imply a type of pianist who is intellectual. That's not always associated with female soloists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tate/beethoven-schubert-schoenberg-berg-imply-a-type-of-pianist-who-is/)

[Jeffrey Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tate/)

> [“To do what you imply would require nothing short of divine intervention. you must change man, not systems. Can you and our vapouring friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/to-do-what-you-imply-would-require-nothing-short-of-divine/)

[Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/)

> ['Content' is a word that has never sat well with me. Like 'maturity'. They are two words I've never liked. I think they imply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/content-is-a-word-that-has-never-sat-well-with-me-like-maturity-they/)

[Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/)

> [“Coincidences undeniably imply meaning. I am rereading Hart Crane. I notice the date On which he stepped off that boat Was April 26. Tomorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-markson/coincidences-undeniably-imply-meaning-i-am-rereading-hart-crane-i/)

[David Markson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-markson/)

> [Most of the time, economic data is fairly benign. I don't wish to imply it is meaningless, but it is not a driver of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/most-of-the-time-economic-data-is-fairly-benign-i-don-t-wish-to-imply/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [“Knowing the difference between “infer” and “imply” is no more likely to create a skeptical, bullshit-detecting citizen than knowing the atomic weight of uranium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lane-greene/knowing-the-difference-between-infer-and-imply-is-no-more-likely-to/)

[Robert Lane Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lane-greene/)

> [“I've never made fun of you. Making fun of you would imply that something about you is fun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/i-ve-never-made-fun-of-you-making-fun-of-you-would-imply-that/)

[Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/)

> [There's just something wonderful about getting a small group of people together in an isolated location, and there's something about cabins themselves that imply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-goddard/there-s-just-something-wonderful-about-getting-a-small-group-of/)

[Drew Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-goddard/)

> [My father had no influence on my political beliefs, and to imply otherwise is wrong and irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/my-father-had-no-influence-on-my-political-beliefs-and-to-imply/)

M.I.A

> [To the extent that we even understand string theory, it may imply a massive number of possible different universes with different laws of physics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/to-the-extent-that-we-even-understand-string-theory-it-may-imply-a/)

[Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/)

> [In thus pointing out certain respects in which philosophy resembles literature more than science, I do not mean, of course, to imply that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-raphael-cohen/in-thus-pointing-out-certain-respects-in-which-philosophy-resembles/)

[Morris Raphael Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-raphael-cohen/)

> [Established is a dangerous word for me. It could imply a modicum of complacency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/established-is-a-dangerous-word-for-me-it-could-imply-a-modicum-of/)

[Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/)

[Browse all 29 Imply quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imply/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Politicians are either there or here or totally at home. Their finitude is more than sufficient unto itself. I don’t mean to imply that I’m any better than they which does not mean that they are any better than I. Which doesn’t mean anything at all.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eugène Ionesco"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/politicians-are-either-there-or-here-or-totally-at-home-their/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Imply"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/politicians-are-either-there-or-here-or-totally-at-home-their/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/eug-ne-ionesco-1878_politics_politicians-are-either-there-or-here-or_1293890.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/eug-ne-ionesco-1878_politics_politicians-are-either-there-or-here-or_1293890.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/eug-ne-ionesco-1878_politics_politicians-are-either-there-or-here-or_1293890.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Politicians are either there or here or totally at home. Their finitude is more than sufficient unto itself…” — Eugène Ionesco",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Eugène Ionesco",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Politicians are either there or here...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/politicians-are-either-there-or-here-or-totally-at-home-their/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/politicians-are-either-there-or-here-or-totally-at-home-their/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
