--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No man could be equipped for the…" description: "\"No man could be equipped for the presidency if he has never been tempted by one of the seven cardinal sins.\" — Eugene McCarthy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/eugene-mccarthy-16990_presidency_no-man-could-be-equipped-for-the-preside_1287607.jpg" --- # No man could be equipped for the presidency if he has… ![“No man could be equipped for the presidency if he has never been tempted by one of the seven cardinal sins.” quote by Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/eugene-mccarthy-16990_presidency_no-man-could-be-equipped-for-the-preside_1287607.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/eugene-mccarthy-16990_presidency_no-man-could-be-equipped-for-the-preside_1287607.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/eugene-mccarthy-16990_presidency_no-man-could-be-equipped-for-the-preside_1287607.jpg) > “No man could be equipped for the presidency if he has never been tempted by one of the seven cardinal sins.” [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership requires confronting personal moral failings, as power reveals the temptation to succumb to vice. **In simple terms:** Leaders must face temptations to avoid corruption. Key Takeaway Acknowledge temptation, seek accountability. Themes leadership ethics temptation political power Mood cautionary serious Type political ethical When to use this quote - political campaigns - executive decision‑making - public service - ethics training Key Concepts moral philosophy political science Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can leaders install against moral lapses? - How does personal integrity affect public trust? A Different Perspective Temptation alone doesn’t guarantee moral failure; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) ## Related quotes > [Selfishness is much more than an ordinary problem because it activates all the cardinal sins! It is the detonator in the breaking of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/selfishness-is-much-more-than-an-ordinary-problem-because-it/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Just as, at least in one religion, accidia is the first of the cardinal sins, so bordom, and particularly the incredible circumstance of waking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/just-as-at-least-in-one-religion-accidia-is-the-first-of-the-cardinal/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [There art two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/there-art-two-cardinal-sins-from-which-all-others-spring-impatience/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [One of the cardinal sins in our country is profanity -- the taking of the name of the Lord in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/one-of-the-cardinal-sins-in-our-country-is-profanity-the-taking-of/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [In life and business, there are two cardinal sins. The first is to act precipitously without thought and the second is to not act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-icahn/in-life-and-business-there-are-two-cardinal-sins-the-first-is-to-act/) [Carl Icahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-icahn/) > ['Tis no sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/tis-no-sin-to-be-tempted-but-to-be-overcome/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [There were times when I was tempted to do wrong, and could have went that way. But I knew it wasn't for me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-briggs/there-were-times-when-i-was-tempted-to-do-wrong-and-could-have-went/) [Shannon Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-briggs/) > [The more one is absorbed in fighting evil, the less one is tempted to place the good in question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/the-more-one-is-absorbed-in-fighting-evil-the-less-one-is-tempted-to/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [It is a great joy to believe that Jesus has been tempted in all points just as we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/it-is-a-great-joy-to-believe-that-jesus-has-been-tempted-in-all/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Do not grieve over temptations you suffer. When the Lord intends to bestow a particular virtue on us, He often permits us first to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-grieve-over-temptations-you-suffer-when-the-lord-intends-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not tempted to write a song about George W. Bush. I couldn't figure out what sort of song I would write. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-m-not-tempted-to-write-a-song-about-george-w-bush-i-couldn-t-figure/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [Most religion-mongers have bated their paradises with a bit of toasted cheese. They have tempted the body with large promises of possessions in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/most-religion-mongers-have-bated-their-paradises-with-a-bit-of/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [He's earned all his money himself, with his fists. He didn't steal it like the rest of our politicians. And he'll be less tempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/he-s-earned-all-his-money-himself-with-his-fists-he-didn-t-steal-it/) [Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/) > [The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [I admit that invective is one of my pleasures. This only brings me problems in life, but that's it. I attack, I insult. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/i-admit-that-invective-is-one-of-my-pleasures-this-only-brings-me/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) ## More by Eugene McCarthy > [I'm kind of an accidental instrument, really, through which I hope that the judgment and the will of this nation can be expressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/i-m-kind-of-an-accidental-instrument-really-through-which-i-hope-that/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [Whatever is morally necessary must be made politically possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/whatever-is-morally-necessary-must-be-made-politically-possible/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [Let us pick up again these lost strands and weave them again into the fabric of America, sort out the music from the sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/let-us-pick-up-again-these-lost-strands-and-weave-them-again-into-the/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [Broken things are powerful."Things about to break are stronger still.The last shot from the brittle bow is truest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/broken-things-are-powerful-things-about-to-break-are-stronger-still/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [Have you ever tried to split sawdust?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/have-you-ever-tried-to-split-sawdust/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [In politics one may remain aloof and become irrelevant or get involved and get corrupted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/in-politics-one-may-remain-aloof-and-become-irrelevant-or-get/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [We do not need presidents who are bigger than the country, but rather ones who speak for it and support it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/we-do-not-need-presidents-who-are-bigger-than-the-country-but-rather/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [The polls show that 10 percent of the public are ready to vote for me even though they don't know I'm running. We hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/the-polls-show-that-10-percent-of-the-public-are-ready-to-vote-for-me/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [We don't declare war any more; we declare national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/we-don-t-declare-war-any-more-we-declare-national-defense/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [Never say anything in a national campaign that anyone might remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/never-say-anything-in-a-national-campaign-that-anyone-might-remember/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [One thing about a pig, he thinks he's warm if his nose is warm. I saw a bunch of pigs one time that had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/one-thing-about-a-pig-he-thinks-he-s-warm-if-his-nose-is-warm-i-saw-a/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [There are two ways that you can gain territory from another group. One is by conquest. That's essentially the way we took California from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/there-are-two-ways-that-you-can-gain-territory-from-another-group-one/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [This is, I say, the time for all good men not to go to the aid of their party, but to come to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/this-is-i-say-the-time-for-all-good-men-not-to-go-to-the-aid-of-their/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [The function of liberal Republicans is to shoot the wounded after battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/the-function-of-liberal-republicans-is-to-shoot-the-wounded-after/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [The mortician interviewing the corpses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/the-mortician-interviewing-the-corpses/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) [Explore all 38 Eugene McCarthy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) ## More Presidency quotes > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is opposed to every instinct in my body. But as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-have-never-been-a-quitter-to-leave-office-before-my-term-is/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Let's be honest, if the Democrats didn't support ignoring our nation's immigration laws, there is no way they could win the presidency or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/let-s-be-honest-if-the-democrats-didn-t-support-ignoring-our-nation-s/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [It's an appeal as old as America and its presidency: This is an extraordinary country populated by hard-working, big-dreaming, freedom-loving people graced by God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/it-s-an-appeal-as-old-as-america-and-its-presidency-this-is-an/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Donald Trump said he will not decide about a possible run for the presidency until after the current season of Celebrity Apprentice wraps up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/donald-trump-said-he-will-not-decide-about-a-possible-run-for-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Our enemies are innovative and resourceful...They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush-2/our-enemies-are-innovative-and-resourceful-they-never-stop-thinking/) [George W Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush-2/) > [It has been my honor to support and work with President Barack Obama, a man who has brought courage and character to the presidency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reid/it-has-been-my-honor-to-support-and-work-with-president-barack-obama/) [Harry Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reid/) > [We spend less time with each other now than we did during the presidency. When you're president, you're usually out and back in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-spend-less-time-with-each-other-now-than-we-did-during-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The presidency is a huge echo chamber magnifying every little thing he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hess/the-presidency-is-a-huge-echo-chamber-magnifying-every-little-thing/) Stephen Hess > [There's a whole generation coming up behind us that was engaged, inspired, worked for change during the course of my presidency, saw what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/there-s-a-whole-generation-coming-up-behind-us-that-was-engaged/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [People should make distinctions between the office of the presidency and the person who occupies it. You can respect the office even as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-greenberg/people-should-make-distinctions-between-the-office-of-the-presidency/) [David Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-greenberg/) > [ \[A\]n Obama presidency would be an amusing approximation of the Carter administration, complete with vaporous moralizing and foreign policy bungling. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-tyrrell/a-n-obama-presidency-would-be-an-amusing-approximation-of-the-carter/) [Emmett Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-tyrrell/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [Because many people remembered a time when the Republican Party was not so extreme, and hadn't full grasped how much it had changed, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/because-many-people-remembered-a-time-when-the-republican-party-was/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) [Browse all 786 Presidency quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No man could be equipped for the presidency if he has never been tempted by one of the seven cardinal sins.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eugene McCarthy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/no-man-could-be-equipped-for-the-presidency-if-he-has-never-been/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Presidency" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/no-man-could-be-equipped-for-the-presidency-if-he-has-never-been/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/eugene-mccarthy-16990_presidency_no-man-could-be-equipped-for-the-preside_1287607.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/eugene-mccarthy-16990_presidency_no-man-could-be-equipped-for-the-preside_1287607.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cde/eugene-mccarthy-16990_presidency_no-man-could-be-equipped-for-the-preside_1287607.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No man could be equipped for the presidency if he has never been tempted by one of the seven cardinal sins.” — Eugene McCarthy", "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": "Eugene McCarthy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No man could be equipped for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/no-man-could-be-equipped-for-the-presidency-if-he-has-never-been/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/no-man-could-be-equipped-for-the-presidency-if-he-has-never-been/#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 } } ] } ```