--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can make a successful run for…" description: "\"“You can make a successful run for political office in this country without an especially thick résumé, any exceptional talent for expressing yourself,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/frank-bruni-16963_america_you-can-make-a-successful-run-for-politi_645999.png" --- # You can make a successful run for political office in this… ![“You can make a successful run for political office in this country without an especially thick résumé, any exceptional talent for expressing yourself, a noteworthy education or, for that matter, a basic grasp of science. But you better have religion. You better be ready to profess your faith in…” quote by Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/frank-bruni-16963_america_you-can-make-a-successful-run-for-politi_645999.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/frank-bruni-16963_america_you-can-make-a-successful-run-for-politi_645999.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/frank-bruni-16963_america_you-can-make-a-successful-run-for-politi_645999.png) > ““You can make a successful run for political office in this country without an especially thick résumé, any exceptional talent for expressing yourself, a noteworthy education or, for that matter, a basic grasp of science. But you better have religion. You better be ready to profess your faith in and fealty to God — the Judeo-Christian one, of course. And you better be convincing. A dust-up last week in the 2014 race for a United States Senate seat from Arkansas provided a sad reminder of this, showing once again that our ballyhooed separation of church and state is less canyon than itty-bitty crack.”” [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that in U.S. politics, personal religious affiliation often outweighs qualifications, highlighting a recent Senate race where faith was a decisive factor. **In simple terms:** Religion can be more important than experience in elections. Key Takeaway Cultivate authenticity beyond religious signaling. Themes politics religion ethics public perception Mood critical skeptical Type analysis commentary When to use this quote - campaign strategy - voter outreach - policy debates Key Concepts identity voter behavior separation of church and state media narratives Questions to Reflect On - How does religious rhetoric shape voter decisions? - Should personal faith be a political credential? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on faith can marginalize non‑believers and reduce policy focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Arkansas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arkansas/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-and-state/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Expressing yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expressing-yourself/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [First amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-amendment/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Separation of church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-church-and-state/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Superstition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superstition/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [He who has art and science also has religion, but those who do not have them better have religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/he-who-has-art-and-science-also-has-religion-but-those-who-do-not/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Through the computer, the heralds say, we will make education better, religion better, politics better, our minds better — best of all, ourselves better.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/through-the-computer-the-heralds-say-we-will-make-education-better/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [Some people believe the alternative to bad religion is secularism, but that's wrong . . . . The answer to bad religion is better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-wallis/some-people-believe-the-alternative-to-bad-religion-is-secularism-but/) [Jim Wallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-wallis/) > [The best response to bad religion is better religion, not secularism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-wallis/the-best-response-to-bad-religion-is-better-religion-not-secularism/) [Jim Wallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-wallis/) > [The call to religion is not a call to be better than your fellows, but to be better than yourself. Religion is relative to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/the-call-to-religion-is-not-a-call-to-be-better-than-your-fellows-but/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [ I do love this people \[the French\] with all my heart, and think that with a better religion and a better form of government… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-do-love-this-people-the-french-with-all-my-heart-and-think-that/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [You are not supposed to convert anybody, that's God's job. But at the same time, you can be His disciple and live for Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-kershaw/you-are-not-supposed-to-convert-anybody-that-s-god-s-job-but-at-the/) [Clayton Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-kershaw/) > [Vast multitudes of professing Christians fit into the category spoken of here. They call Jesus 'Lord,' but they practice lawlessness. They profess faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/vast-multitudes-of-professing-christians-fit-into-the-category-spoken/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [It is not enough to profess faith in the democratic process; we must do something about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-t-grasso/it-is-not-enough-to-profess-faith-in-the-democratic-process-we-must/) [Ella T. Grasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-t-grasso/) > [Those two principles: We're supposed to love one another and we're supposed to work together to make the experience better. That's all the religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/those-two-principles-we-re-supposed-to-love-one-another-and-we-re/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [Every week I get letters from people worldwide who feel that the possibilian point of view represents their understanding better than either religion or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/every-week-i-get-letters-from-people-worldwide-who-feel-that-the/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [Gambling is not as destructive as war or as boring as pornography. It is not as immoral as business or as suicidal as watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/gambling-is-not-as-destructive-as-war-or-as-boring-as-pornography-it/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [Since my life as a prisoner has begun I have heard the teachings of the white man's religion, and in many respects believe it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geronimo/since-my-life-as-a-prisoner-has-begun-i-have-heard-the-teachings-of/) [Geronimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geronimo/) > [... it is better to study how to live rather than how to die; ... it is better to have a religion of deeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltairine-de-cleyre/it-is-better-to-study-how-to-live-rather-than-how-to-die-it-is-better/) [Voltairine de Cleyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltairine-de-cleyre/) > [If you have science and art, You also have religion; But if you don't have them, You better have religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/if-you-have-science-and-art-you-also-have-religion-but-if-you-don-t/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More by Frank Bruni > [We are constantly bemoaning that we have two nominees, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, who are when you put them together as unpopular a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/we-are-constantly-bemoaning-that-we-have-two-nominees-hillary-clinton/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [“Books are personal, passionate. They stir emotions and spark thought in a manner all their own, and I'm convinced that the shattered world has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/books-are-personal-passionate-they-stir-emotions-and-spark-thought-in/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [We still write too many stories that are "state of the race" stories that are informed almost solely by what the polling shows and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/we-still-write-too-many-stories-that-are-state-of-the-race-stories/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [But fairness is where we’re heading, at least in regard to marriage, which has emerged as the terrain on which Americans are hashing out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/but-fairness-is-where-we-re-heading-at-least-in-regard-to-marriage/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [Campaigns waged with lies presage governments racked by distrust. The sclerosis starts there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/campaigns-waged-with-lies-presage-governments-racked-by-distrust-the/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [I think with Donald Trump we're seeing the sort of utterly vanished line at long last of enter - between entertainment and politics. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/i-think-with-donald-trump-we-re-seeing-the-sort-of-utterly-vanished/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [I remember going to a Trump rally in South Carolina, and it was really important and it was really interesting to talk to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/i-remember-going-to-a-trump-rally-in-south-carolina-and-it-was-really/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [“Thin people, God bless them, God curse them, don't get it: If you're not thin, you need to be careful and conscious about when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/thin-people-god-bless-them-god-curse-them-don-t-get-it-if-you-re-not/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [I think the Donald Trump's obsession is, is bigger than just polling. I mean it's funny because we've been harping on polls like never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/i-think-the-donald-trump-s-obsession-is-is-bigger-than-just-polling-i/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [You're encouraging a response in citizens and the public, that has nothing to do with an informed decision, that has nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/you-re-encouraging-a-response-in-citizens-and-the-public-that-has/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [Writers and reporters need to remind themselves they're not to be judged solely by the number of clicks or eyeballs on a given story,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/writers-and-reporters-need-to-remind-themselves-they-re-not-to-be/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [Another way in which our system is unfair. Why do Iowans get so much of a bigger voice every four years than everybody else?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/another-way-in-which-our-system-is-unfair-why-do-iowans-get-so-much/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [I wanted us to be careful about, going to the corner diner, interviewing three people and saying, "here's the mood of the public."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/i-wanted-us-to-be-careful-about-going-to-the-corner-diner/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [After all, a creature without passionate conviction doesn't cling to extremes. He surveys the scenery and makes sure his outfit doesn't clash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/after-all-a-creature-without-passionate-conviction-doesn-t-cling-to/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [We've given people both in print and even more so on TV these enormous doses of Donald Trump because people are consuming enormous doses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/we-ve-given-people-both-in-print-and-even-more-so-on-tv-these/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) [Explore all 38 Frank Bruni quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You can make a successful run for political office in this country without an especially thick résumé, any exceptional talent for expressing yourself, a noteworthy education or, for that matter, a basic grasp of science. But you better have religion. You better be ready to profess your faith in and fealty to God — the Judeo-Christian one, of course. And you better be convincing. A dust-up last week in the 2014 race for a United States Senate seat from Arkansas provided a sad reminder of this, showing once again that our ballyhooed separation of church and state is less canyon than itty-bitty crack.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Bruni" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/you-can-make-a-successful-run-for-political-office-in-this-country/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/you-can-make-a-successful-run-for-political-office-in-this-country/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/frank-bruni-16963_america_you-can-make-a-successful-run-for-politi_645999.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/frank-bruni-16963_america_you-can-make-a-successful-run-for-politi_645999.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/frank-bruni-16963_america_you-can-make-a-successful-run-for-politi_645999.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can make a successful run for political office in this country without an especially thick résumé, any…” — Frank Bruni", "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": "Frank Bruni", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You can make a successful run...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/you-can-make-a-successful-run-for-political-office-in-this-country/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/you-can-make-a-successful-run-for-political-office-in-this-country/#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 } } ] } ```