--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a state senator and then a…" description: "\"As a state senator and then a congressman, I've had the privilege of trying to do good things for people to whom I owe so much and can never fully repa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/gary-ackerman-19373_congressman_as-a-state-senator-and-then-a-congressma_2174428.png" --- # As a state senator and then a congressman, I've had the… ![“As a state senator and then a congressman, I've had the privilege of trying to do good things for people to whom I owe so much and can never fully repay.” quote by Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/gary-ackerman-19373_congressman_as-a-state-senator-and-then-a-congressma_2174428.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/gary-ackerman-19373_congressman_as-a-state-senator-and-then-a-congressma_2174428.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/gary-ackerman-19373_congressman_as-a-state-senator-and-then-a-congressma_2174428.png) > “As a state senator and then a congressman, I've had the privilege of trying to do good things for people to whom I owe so much and can never fully repay.” [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on public service as a privilege and a debt to constituents, acknowledging gratitude and responsibility. **In simple terms:** Public service is a grateful duty to those we serve. Key Takeaway Serve with humility and gratitude. Themes public service gratitude responsibility Mood respectful inspirational Type political ethical When to use this quote - community outreach - policy making - constituent engagement Key Concepts civic duty ethical leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can officials balance personal ambition with public duty? - What practices ensure accountability to constituents? A Different Perspective Self‑interest can conflict with duty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congressman/) [Fully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fully/) [Fully Repay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fully-repay-4258298/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Owe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owe/) [Owe Fully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owe-fully-4669787/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Owe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-owe-1357340/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Privilege Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege-trying-4669788/) [Repay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repay/) [Senator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senator/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Whom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whom/) ## Related quotes > [We can never fully repay the debt of our proud nation to those who have laid down their lives for our country. The best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/we-can-never-fully-repay-the-debt-of-our-proud-nation-to-those-who/) [Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/) > [I'll go back and take what the people owe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-ll-go-back-and-take-what-the-people-owe-me/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [There's certain people that you owe it to, for the things they've done for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/there-s-certain-people-that-you-owe-it-to-for-the-things-they-ve-done/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [My Motto: The only people I owe my loyalty to are the ones who never made me question theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhiess-krieg/my-motto-the-only-people-i-owe-my-loyalty-to-are-the-ones-who-never/) [Jhiess Krieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhiess-krieg/) > [Scott Aukerman and Judd Apatow are two people who I owe a lot to, and it's always great to work with Scott whenever I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rust/scott-aukerman-and-judd-apatow-are-two-people-who-i-owe-a-lot-to-and/) [Paul Rust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rust/) > [Mind your own business in the face of angry people. You owe them nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mind-your-own-business-in-the-face-of-angry-people-you-owe-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only people you owe your loyalty to are those who never made you question theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/the-only-people-you-owe-your-loyalty-to-are-those-who-never-made-you/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [“My mother holds these markers all over town; people who owe her a favour. It might be a peek into planning documents, or preferential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-millennial/my-mother-holds-these-markers-all-over-town-people-who-owe-her-a/) [I.M. Millennial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-millennial/) > [Other people do not owe me their availability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/other-people-do-not-owe-me-their-availability/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [“Each man must seek for himself the people who hold the essential beauty, and each man must eventually say to himself as I do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/each-man-must-seek-for-himself-the-people-who-hold-the-essential/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [“Some people owe everything they have to the bank accounts of their parents. I owe the state. Put simply, the state educated me, fixed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/some-people-owe-everything-they-have-to-the-bank-accounts-of-their/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [One kid said to me, he said, Mr. Lloyd, we really owe you. And I explained to him, man, you owe me absolutely nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-lloyd/one-kid-said-to-me-he-said-mr-lloyd-we-really-owe-you-and-i-explained/) [Earl Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-lloyd/) > [The only people I owe my loyalty to are those who never made me question theirs!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-people-i-owe-my-loyalty-to-are-those-who-never-made-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I talk to the guy who busted his butt all week to buy a color TV, and the woman who's raising her kids, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-jackson/i-talk-to-the-guy-who-busted-his-butt-all-week-to-buy-a-color-tv-and/) [Keith Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-jackson/) > [The sum which two married people owe to one another defies calculation. It is an infinite debt, which can only be discharged through all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-sum-which-two-married-people-owe-to-one-another-defies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More by Gary Ackerman > [For some reason, the military seems more afraid of gay people than they are against terrorists, but they're very brave with the terrorists... If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/for-some-reason-the-military-seems-more-afraid-of-gay-people-than/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [Looking forward, it might prove constructive to examine the true historical record of an issue prior to assuming the worst of anyone's motive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/looking-forward-it-might-prove-constructive-to-examine-the-true/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [The media has changed. We now give broadcast licenses to philosophies instead of people. People get confused and think there is no difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/the-media-has-changed-we-now-give-broadcast-licenses-to-philosophies/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [People more than ever since I can remember are concerned about being out of step and out of line with their political party and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/people-more-than-ever-since-i-can-remember-are-concerned-about-being/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [I just thought it was unconscionable for the Congress to insert itself into this debate. We are particularly unqualified to make that decision and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/i-just-thought-it-was-unconscionable-for-the-congress-to-insert/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [No, you can't call your vote in. You have to be there on the floor to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/no-you-can-t-call-your-vote-in-you-have-to-be-there-on-the-floor-to/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [You can compromise between good, better, and best, and you can compromise between bad and worse and terrible. But you can't compromise between good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/you-can-compromise-between-good-better-and-best-and-you-can/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [Without a musket to raise, a barricade to storm, a flag to wave, the question hit me in the face like the cold air:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/without-a-musket-to-raise-a-barricade-to-storm-a-flag-to-wave-the/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [I am always fascinated by India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/i-am-always-fascinated-by-india/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [We have some Jewish members of Congress, not a lot but there's a bunch of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/we-have-some-jewish-members-of-congress-not-a-lot-but-there-s-a-bunch/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [From the U.S. Capitol Building to the White House, our national symbols that represent freedom to so many of us, were built by people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/from-the-u-s-capitol-building-to-the-white-house-our-national-symbols/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [And it's absolutely hypocritical for the political party that talks about states rights, to suddenly ignore states rights, that say that the federal government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/and-it-s-absolutely-hypocritical-for-the-political-party-that-talks/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [Sometimes people who are Jewish are held to a higher standard which sometimes we take great pride in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/sometimes-people-who-are-jewish-are-held-to-a-higher-standard-which/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [Whether rich people make money or lose money, they get no sympathy from the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/whether-rich-people-make-money-or-lose-money-they-get-no-sympathy/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) > [It used to be you had real friends on the other side of the aisle. Its not like that anymore. Society has changed. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/it-used-to-be-you-had-real-friends-on-the-other-side-of-the-aisle-its/) [Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) [Explore all 32 Gary Ackerman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/) ## More Congressman quotes > [Unpleasant questions are being raised about Mother's Day. Is this day necessary? . . . Isn't it bad public policy? . . . No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/unpleasant-questions-are-being-raised-about-mother-s-day-is-this-day/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [You don't have to be a spiritual seeker, you can be a businessman dealing with the revolution in computers. You could be a congressman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-spiritual-seeker-you-can-be-a-businessman/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Jack Abramoff is going to testify against some of the other weasels in Congress. A lobbyist testifying against congressmen? How many Bibles are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/jack-abramoff-is-going-to-testify-against-some-of-the-other-weasels/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [ Leo Crowley, Harry \[Truman\]'s Foreign Economic Administrator, tells Congressmen the theory...: 'If you create good governments in foreign countries, automatically you will have better… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leo-crowley-harry-truman-s-foreign-economic-administrator-tells/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dan Coats, retiring senator from Indiana, a mild-mannered man, a former United States ambassador to Germany, former congressman, said of Ted Cruz he's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/dan-coats-retiring-senator-from-indiana-a-mild-mannered-man-a-former/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [African American Congressman Bobby Rush wore a hoodie on the floor of Congress to make a point this week. And they threw him out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/african-american-congressman-bobby-rush-wore-a-hoodie-on-the-floor-of/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [The sport of wrestling is a tremendous builder of the values and characteristics which are needed to succeed in any walk of life. Much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/the-sport-of-wrestling-is-a-tremendous-builder-of-the-values-and/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [It's amazing to me that people have any interest in such a low-level sex scandal. 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Talking with congressmen is strictly special effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/talking-with-most-people-usually-involves-a-search-for-truth-talking/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [America, not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/america-not-keith-ellison-decides-what-book-a-congressman-takes-his/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [ Now, \[Donald\] Trump has thus far gotten endorsements from illustrious group, that includes Sarah Palin, David Duke, Dennis Rodman, racially profiling birther sheriff, Joe… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/now-donald-trump-has-thus-far-gotten-endorsements-from-illustrious/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [Congressmen are like diapers - You need to change them often, and for the same reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-mccloskey/congressmen-are-like-diapers-you-need-to-change-them-often-and-for/) [Pete McCloskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-mccloskey/) [Browse all 284 Congressman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congressman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a state senator and then a congressman, I've had the privilege of trying to do good things for people to whom I owe so much and can never fully repay.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary Ackerman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/as-a-state-senator-and-then-a-congressman-i-ve-had-the-privilege-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Congressman" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/as-a-state-senator-and-then-a-congressman-i-ve-had-the-privilege-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/gary-ackerman-19373_congressman_as-a-state-senator-and-then-a-congressma_2174428.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/gary-ackerman-19373_congressman_as-a-state-senator-and-then-a-congressma_2174428.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/gary-ackerman-19373_congressman_as-a-state-senator-and-then-a-congressma_2174428.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As a state senator and then a congressman, I've had the privilege of trying to do good things for people to…” — Gary Ackerman", "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": "Gary Ackerman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As a state senator and then...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/as-a-state-senator-and-then-a-congressman-i-ve-had-the-privilege-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/as-a-state-senator-and-then-a-congressman-i-ve-had-the-privilege-of/#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 } } ] } ```