--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't tell you how many times I've had…" description: "\"I can't tell you how many times I've had conversations with politicians who've done something morally reprehensible but not indictable, yet still think..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/gail-collins-3567_able_i-can-t-tell-you-how-many-times-i-ve-had_3193457.png" --- # I can't tell you how many times I've had conversations… ![“I can't tell you how many times I've had conversations with politicians who've done something morally reprehensible but not indictable, yet still think they should be able to stay in office. The office isn't a 'right.' It's a kind of loan.” quote by Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/gail-collins-3567_able_i-can-t-tell-you-how-many-times-i-ve-had_3193457.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/gail-collins-3567_able_i-can-t-tell-you-how-many-times-i-ve-had_3193457.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5a/gail-collins-3567_able_i-can-t-tell-you-how-many-times-i-ve-had_3193457.png) > “I can't tell you how many times I've had conversations with politicians who've done something morally reprehensible but not indictable, yet still think they should be able to stay in office. The office isn't a 'right.' It's a kind of loan.” [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politicians often act immorally without legal consequences, yet claim a right to stay in office, which is actually a temporary trust. **In simple terms:** Politicians are like borrowers, not owners, of public trust. Key Takeaway Treat political office as a public trust, not a right. Themes ethics politics trust Mood critical concerned Type opinion political When to use this quote - election cycles - legislative debates - media scrutiny Key Concepts accountability public service democratic norms Questions to Reflect On - Should moral standards limit office tenure? - How can voters enforce accountability? A Different Perspective Legal standards may lag behind moral expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [If you go to a diner in the middle of America, people are having these conversations, but our politicians are too scared to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump-jr/if-you-go-to-a-diner-in-the-middle-of-america-people-are-having-these/) [Donald Trump, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump-jr/) > [When you start to think about politicians, you've got to realize these are strange creatures. 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But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-work-family-divide-is-the-biggest-issue-for-american-women-but-in/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [I don't think the folks in the low-tax states really want to go into a fairness discussion. 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