--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was on NPR's All Things Considered…" description: "\"I was on NPR's All Things Considered yesterday. The question was, 'You're on the torture rack, they're going to kill you, who are you going to vote for..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/gary-johnson-3710_all-things_i-was-on-npr-s-all-things-considered-yes_1557228.png" --- # I was on NPR's All Things Considered yesterday. The… ![“I was on NPR's All Things Considered yesterday. The question was, 'You're on the torture rack, they're going to kill you, who are you going to vote for? Mitt Romney, or Barack Obama? I said, 'Look, I've climbed Mount Everest. I know how to do what it takes. Take this to the bank: I would rather…” quote by Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/gary-johnson-3710_all-things_i-was-on-npr-s-all-things-considered-yes_1557228.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/gary-johnson-3710_all-things_i-was-on-npr-s-all-things-considered-yes_1557228.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/gary-johnson-3710_all-things_i-was-on-npr-s-all-things-considered-yes_1557228.png) > “I was on NPR's All Things Considered yesterday. The question was, 'You're on the torture rack, they're going to kill you, who are you going to vote for? Mitt Romney, or Barack Obama? I said, 'Look, I've climbed Mount Everest. I know how to do what it takes. Take this to the bank: I would rather die.'” [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses a willingness to sacrifice personal safety for principle, refusing to support either candidate under duress **In simple terms:** He would rather die than compromise his values Key Takeaway Stand firm on principles despite pressure Themes courage principle politics Mood defiant serious Type political ethical When to use this quote - political decision - ethical dilemma - personal integrity - public pressure Key Concepts Moral integrity personal sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - What values are non‑negotiable for you? - How do you balance principle with practical outcomes? A Different Perspective His stance may be seen as unrealistic in pragmatic politics ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-things/) [Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Everest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everest/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mitt romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mitt-romney/) [Mount everest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mount-everest/) [Npr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/npr/) [Obama Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obama-said/) [Question Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-torture-4307121/) [Racks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racks/) [Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romney/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Vote Mitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote-mitt-1125416/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) [Yesterday Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday-question-612879/) ## Related quotes > [If you keep chasing yesterday's question, you're gonna miss tomorrow's answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-keep-chasing-yesterday-s-question-you-re-gonna-miss-tomorrow-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The alternative position to whether torture is acceptable - that's not an alternative position, that's barbarism. The question here is not whether torture is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/the-alternative-position-to-whether-torture-is-acceptable-that-s-not/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [And frankly, I don't understand - I mean, I'm obviously a card-carrying Democrat - but I can't understand why any woman would want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/and-frankly-i-don-t-understand-i-mean-i-m-obviously-a-card-carrying/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I don't like Mitt Romney. I wouldn't vote for Mitt Romney in a million years. Mitt Romney is no ally of the gay community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-don-t-like-mitt-romney-i-wouldn-t-vote-for-mitt-romney-in-a-million/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [The grass roots are energized because the absolutely highest priority in the country in November is to defeat Barack Obama. I have spoken with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-grass-roots-are-energized-because-the-absolutely-highest-priority/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The thinking person's case for Romney, murmured by many of his backers, amounts to this: Vote for Mitt, you know he doesn't believe a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/the-thinking-person-s-case-for-romney-murmured-by-many-of-his-backers/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [A vote for Mitt Romney is a vote for Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-keller/a-vote-for-mitt-romney-is-a-vote-for-satan/) [Bill Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-keller/) > [I climbed Mount Everest. I don't quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-climbed-mount-everest-i-don-t-quit/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Mr. Obama said that he personally told Mr. Putin to knock it off and vows to retaliate. But the Obama presidency is coming to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/mr-obama-said-that-he-personally-told-mr-putin-to-knock-it-off-and/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [ Speaking of \[Colin\] Kaepernick, did you see what \[Barack\] Obama said about Kaepernick? I mean this was the biggest dodge I have ever seen.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/speaking-of-colin-kaepernick-did-you-see-what-barack-obama-said-about/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [President Obama , I guess, is starting to confess to some of his anxieties. In a recent interview, President Obama said, 'I miss being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-i-guess-is-starting-to-confess-to-some-of-his/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Obama said if elected his government would "harness technology to confront the biggest challenges that America faces".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/obama-said-if-elected-his-government-would-harness-technology-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [President Obama said the small drone that flew over the White House fence yesterday could be bought at any RadioShack. After hearing this, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/president-obama-said-the-small-drone-that-flew-over-the-white-house/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Barack Obama has not only said that he is out to 'change the United States of America,' the people he has been associated with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/barack-obama-has-not-only-said-that-he-is-out-to-change-the-united/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Obama said that his performance at bowling was so bad 'it was like the Special Olympics or something.' Disability, by Obama's definition, was about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-thorne/obama-said-that-his-performance-at-bowling-was-so-bad-it-was-like-the/) [Jack Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-thorne/) ## More by Gary Johnson > [As I told the students every time I visited a campus, you are the director of your own movie, and if you aren't enjoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/as-i-told-the-students-every-time-i-visited-a-campus-you-are-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Using a broad brushstroke, I think Libertarian - most of America are socially accepting and fiscally responsible. I'm in that category. I think, broadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/using-a-broad-brushstroke-i-think-libertarian-most-of-america-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [We do live in an environment of crony capitalism, and the main reason we do is that loopholes are for sale, and both parties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/we-do-live-in-an-environment-of-crony-capitalism-and-the-main-reason/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I think that the best that government can do for you and I as individuals is to empower you and I to make decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-think-that-the-best-that-government-can-do-for-you-and-i-as/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I support gay unions. I think the government should get out of the marriage business completely - leave marriages to the churches. And grant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-support-gay-unions-i-think-the-government-should-get-out-of-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I just feel abandoned. And I feel, I don't feel represented by the Republican Party. I have always had to defend the social side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-just-feel-abandoned-and-i-feel-i-don-t-feel-represented-by-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Am I not correct in saying that Iran has never voiced that they are developing a nuclear weapon, nor do they have any intention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/am-i-not-correct-in-saying-that-iran-has-never-voiced-that-they-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [It is clear from the reaction to our campaign so far that our message is resonating. I look forward to continuing to take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/it-is-clear-from-the-reaction-to-our-campaign-so-far-that-our-message/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I leave abortion to the woman. I just fundamentally end there. I absolutely support a woman's right to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-leave-abortion-to-the-woman-i-just-fundamentally-end-there-i/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Politics is a herd mentality. Politicians don't really lead. Politicians reflect what they think is consensus opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/politics-is-a-herd-mentality-politicians-don-t-really-lead/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [One of the things government should be around for is to deal with catastrophes. It should do that well. To me, that's a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/one-of-the-things-government-should-be-around-for-is-to-deal-with/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [My issue with campaign finance is 100 percent disclosure. Wear a suit with patches from your big contributors. Depending on the size of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/my-issue-with-campaign-finance-is-100-percent-disclosure-wear-a-suit/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I would say that a wasted vote is voting for anybody you don't believe in. If you believe in the third party, that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-would-say-that-a-wasted-vote-is-voting-for-anybody-you-don-t/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I'm one of those who believe the bumper sticker: If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns. The first people who are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-m-one-of-those-who-believe-the-bumper-sticker-if-you-outlaw-guns/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I'm ready for a different America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-m-ready-for-a-different-america/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) [Explore all 123 Gary Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) ## More All things quotes > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [Dear God, I trust that no matter what happens in my life, it is for my highest good. And no matter what happens in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/dear-god-i-trust-that-no-matter-what-happens-in-my-life-it-is-for-my/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Moderation, honey, in all things but love and chocolate. That's my motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bretton/moderation-honey-in-all-things-but-love-and-chocolate-that-s-my-motto/) [Barbara Bretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bretton/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/) [Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/) > [The eternal principle, which never was born, never will die: it is in all things: it is in you now. You are the wave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-eternal-principle-which-never-was-born-never-will-die-it-is-in/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The U.S. Army has recently removed the cross from the insignia worn by chaplains. In its place is a sun with its rays, symbolizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/the-u-s-army-has-recently-removed-the-cross-from-the-insignia-worn-by/) [Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/) > [...God does not possess a private knowledge of Himself and a separate knowledge of all the creatures in common. The universal Cause, by knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/god-does-not-possess-a-private-knowledge-of-himself-and-a-separate/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) [Browse all 2,486 All things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was on NPR's All Things Considered yesterday. The question was, 'You're on the torture rack, they're going to kill you, who are you going to vote for? Mitt Romney, or Barack Obama? I said, 'Look, I've climbed Mount Everest. I know how to do what it takes. 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