---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is this concept of politics as a…"
description: "\"There is this concept of politics as a dirty game. It's a difficult game, but it doesn't have to be dirty. I think this is what we need to bring to pol..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/george-papandreou-9739_around-the-world_there-is-this-concept-of-politics-as-a-d_2299922.jpg"
---

#  There is this concept of politics as a dirty game. It's a…

![“There is this concept of politics as a dirty game. It's a difficult game, but it doesn't have to be dirty. I think this is what we need to bring to politics. I think politics around the world has very often been captured by big interests - 'lobbies' they call them in the States.” quote by George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/george-papandreou-9739_around-the-world_there-is-this-concept-of-politics-as-a-d_2299922.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/george-papandreou-9739_around-the-world_there-is-this-concept-of-politics-as-a-d_2299922.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/george-papandreou-9739_around-the-world_there-is-this-concept-of-politics-as-a-d_2299922.jpg)

> “There is this concept of politics as a dirty game. It's a difficult game, but it doesn't have to be dirty. I think this is what we need to bring to politics. I think politics around the world has very often been captured by big interests - 'lobbies' they call them in the States.”

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Politics can be competitive and harsh, yet it need not be corrupt; integrity and transparency can replace dirty tactics.

**In simple terms:** Politics can be clean if we choose honesty over corruption.

Key Takeaway

Promote transparency and ethical standards in governance.

Themes

politics integrity reform corruption public trust

Mood

concerned hopeful determined

Type

political ethical inspirational

When to use this quote

- campaign strategy
- legislative drafting
- public advocacy
- anti‑lobbying reforms

Key Concepts

ethical leadership institutional accountability democratic renewal

Questions to Reflect On

- How can citizens enforce ethical behavior in their leaders?
- What mechanisms best deter lobbying excesses?

A Different Perspective

Changing entrenched interests is difficult and may face strong resistance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [There is this concept of politics as a dirty game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/there-is-this-concept-of-politics-as-a-dirty-game/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [I think politics is a dirty game. We've seen the sides that they take; we've seen the commentary they have had on my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump-jr/i-think-politics-is-a-dirty-game-we-ve-seen-the-sides-that-they-take/)

[Donald Trump, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump-jr/)

> [You may not think about politics, but politics think about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/you-may-not-think-about-politics-but-politics-think-about-you/)

[Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/)

> [I've always followed politics, and I think politics is everybody's business because we're electing someone who's going to be making important decisions that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-ve-always-followed-politics-and-i-think-politics-is-everybody-s/)

[John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/)

> [Never has the divide between the iPhone world and the politics world been so clear: I saw a bunch of people very well-served by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-williams/never-has-the-divide-between-the-iphone-world-and-the-politics-world/)

Kevin Williams

> [You can't get away from the right-wing politics but that's the same all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-sayer/you-can-t-get-away-from-the-right-wing-politics-but-that-s-the-same/)

[Leo Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-sayer/)

> [Young people understand the world. They should be listened to on matters of politics and world organization. But they know nothing of their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/young-people-understand-the-world-they-should-be-listened-to-on/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [Politics is not a world for the squeamish or fainthearted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-saatchi/politics-is-not-a-world-for-the-squeamish-or-fainthearted/)

[Maurice Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-saatchi/)

> [Men are strange about politics. I have been around the world twice and I know politicians from many cultures. They are all alike. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryon-pearson/men-are-strange-about-politics-i-have-been-around-the-world-twice-and/)

[Maryon Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryon-pearson/)

> [“Looking at politics of the world, all I may say is I have noticed that everyone who is for abortion, has already been born!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-aman/looking-at-politics-of-the-world-all-i-may-say-is-i-have-noticed-that/)

[Usman Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-aman/)

> [We thought Donald Trump was leaving that world of entertainment and climbing over the wall into politics. In fact, what he did was he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/we-thought-donald-trump-was-leaving-that-world-of-entertainment-and/)

[Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/)

> [Politics is its own world. It is a court and if the king's eye lights on you, you are a powerful figure. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-saatchi/politics-is-its-own-world-it-is-a-court-and-if-the-king-s-eye-lights/)

[Maurice Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-saatchi/)

> [The rhetoric of hate and binarisms pervades the politics of the "Third-World" and of the West.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyla-ali-khan/the-rhetoric-of-hate-and-binarisms-pervades-the-politics-of-the-third/)

[Nyla Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyla-ali-khan/)

> [All the politics in the world are nothing else but a kind of analysis of the quantity of probability in casual events, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/all-the-politics-in-the-world-are-nothing-else-but-a-kind-of-analysis/)

[John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/)

> [Politics is a dirty game. We have our rules in boxing. In politics, no rules. Especially a young democracy like Ukraine. It's more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/politics-is-a-dirty-game-we-have-our-rules-in-boxing-in-politics-no/)

[Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/)

## More by George Papandreou

> [I will always be upfront with the Greek people, so we can solve the country's problems together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/i-will-always-be-upfront-with-the-greek-people-so-we-can-solve-the/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [I am proud of being a Greek of the diaspora.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/i-am-proud-of-being-a-greek-of-the-diaspora/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [Unfortunately, corruption is widespread in government agencies and public enterprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/unfortunately-corruption-is-widespread-in-government-agencies-and/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [I never thought about becoming a politician. But during the military dictatorship, my grandfather was put in prison six times and my father twice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/i-never-thought-about-becoming-a-politician-but-during-the-military/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [I would say we are a friend in need and I am sure that the Greek people would very much welcome the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/i-would-say-we-are-a-friend-in-need-and-i-am-sure-that-the-greek/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [The unemployed in Greece can get a voucher and choose a training program somewhere in Europe to be retrained during this crisis and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/the-unemployed-in-greece-can-get-a-voucher-and-choose-a-training/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [If you put all the European countries together, we are the biggest economy in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/if-you-put-all-the-european-countries-together-we-are-the-biggest/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [As long as I feel I am doing what I think is right and just for my country, for the Greek people, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/as-long-as-i-feel-i-am-doing-what-i-think-is-right-and-just-for-my/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [Despite the deep reforms we are making, traders and speculators have forced interest rates on Greek bonds to record highs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/despite-the-deep-reforms-we-are-making-traders-and-speculators-have/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [There is this concept of politics as a dirty game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/there-is-this-concept-of-politics-as-a-dirty-game/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [Markets themselves are looking for stability, and I think we have underestimated the capacity of Europe... to actually create a more stable framework for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/markets-themselves-are-looking-for-stability-and-i-think-we-have/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [This idea that you're a successful tough guy if you evade taxes and deceive the state has got to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/this-idea-that-you-re-a-successful-tough-guy-if-you-evade-taxes-and/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [We have a rise of extremism because we need to give a sense that we are targeting some of the deeper problems in Greece,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/we-have-a-rise-of-extremism-because-we-need-to-give-a-sense-that-we/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [I have been supporting the European Union, but we are still a work in progress. We have to become more of a United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/i-have-been-supporting-the-european-union-but-we-are-still-a-work-in/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

> [My hope is that we will turn Greece into maybe the most transparent country in the world with everything on the web.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/my-hope-is-that-we-will-turn-greece-into-maybe-the-most-transparent/)

[George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

[Explore all 70 George Papandreou quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/)

## More Around the world quotes

> [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/)

[Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/)

> [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/)

[Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/)

> [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [It's difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-s-difficult-to-believe-in-yourself-because-the-idea-of-self-is-an/)

[Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/)

> [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/)

[Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/)

> [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/)

[Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/)

> [Once, as an experiment, I travelled around the world with a single suit. Before I left, I went to a tailor in Savile Row…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/once-as-an-experiment-i-travelled-around-the-world-with-a-single-suit/)

[George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/)

> [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/)

[Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/)

> [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [“The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior week abroad, in which the press became increasingly frustrated over Romney’s refusal to talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-low-point-occurred-in-july-during-romney-s-junior-week-abroad-in/)

[Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/)

> [I believe there definitely are good things about social networking. It's a way for people to connect all around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/i-believe-there-definitely-are-good-things-about-social-networking-it/)

[Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/)

> [“Isn’t everyone on the planet or at least everyone on the planet called me stuck between the two impulses of wanting to walk away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/isn-t-everyone-on-the-planet-or-at-least-everyone-on-the-planet/)

[Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/)

> [You always can improve and I think that's the beauty of international cricket, particularly test cricket, is playing all around the world against different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/you-always-can-improve-and-i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-international/)

[Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/)

> [Trump is reviled around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/trump-is-reviled-around-the-world/)

[Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/)

[Browse all 3,349 Around the world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There is this concept of politics as a dirty game. It's a difficult game, but it doesn't have to be dirty. I think this is what we need to bring to politics. I think politics around the world has very often been captured by big interests - 'lobbies' they call them in the States.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Papandreou"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/there-is-this-concept-of-politics-as-a-dirty-game-it-s-a-difficult/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Around the world"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/there-is-this-concept-of-politics-as-a-dirty-game-it-s-a-difficult/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/george-papandreou-9739_around-the-world_there-is-this-concept-of-politics-as-a-d_2299922.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/george-papandreou-9739_around-the-world_there-is-this-concept-of-politics-as-a-d_2299922.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/george-papandreou-9739_around-the-world_there-is-this-concept-of-politics-as-a-d_2299922.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There is this concept of politics as a dirty game. It's a difficult game, but it doesn't have to be dirty. I…” — George Papandreou",
                "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": "George Papandreou",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There is this concept of politics...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/there-is-this-concept-of-politics-as-a-dirty-game-it-s-a-difficult/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/there-is-this-concept-of-politics-as-a-dirty-game-it-s-a-difficult/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
