--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can remember when a good politician had…" description: "\"I can remember when a good politician had to be 75 percent ability and 25 percent actor, but I can well see the day when the reverse could be true.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/harry-s-truman-898_ability_i-can-remember-when-a-good-politician-ha_1451255.jpg" --- # I can remember when a good politician had to be 75 percent… ![“I can remember when a good politician had to be 75 percent ability and 25 percent actor, but I can well see the day when the reverse could be true.” quote by Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/harry-s-truman-898_ability_i-can-remember-when-a-good-politician-ha_1451255.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/harry-s-truman-898_ability_i-can-remember-when-a-good-politician-ha_1451255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/harry-s-truman-898_ability_i-can-remember-when-a-good-politician-ha_1451255.jpg) > “I can remember when a good politician had to be 75 percent ability and 25 percent actor, but I can well see the day when the reverse could be true.” [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political success may shift from competence to performance; skill sets can invert over time. **In simple terms:** Politics can become theater. Key Takeaway Stay adaptable and develop both ability and presentation. Themes politics skill performance Mood critical analytical Type political observational When to use this quote - campaigns - public office - media relations Key Concepts leadership public perception Questions to Reflect On - Are you valuing substance over style? - How can leaders balance authenticity with charisma? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on image can erode substance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Good politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-politicians/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Remember when](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-when/) ## Related quotes > [A lawyer's performance in the courtroom is responsible for about 25 percent of the outcome; the remaining 75 percent depends on the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-belli/a-lawyer-s-performance-in-the-courtroom-is-responsible-for-about-25/) [Melvin Belli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-belli/) > [In 1750, 75 percent of people on the planet worked to support the top 25 percent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/in-1750-75-percent-of-people-on-the-planet-worked-to-support-the-top/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [A lawyers performance in the courtroom is responsible for about 25 percent of the outcome; the remaining 75 percent depends on the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-belli/a-lawyers-performance-in-the-courtroom-is-responsible-for-about-25/) [Melvin Belli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-belli/) > [I know if I stopped hosting 'Wine Library TV,' we'd probably lose 75 percent of our audience, but the remaining 25 percent is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-know-if-i-stopped-hosting-wine-library-tv-we-d-probably-lose-75/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [In my day it was 75 percent car and mechanic, 25 percent driver and luck. Today it's 95 percent car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-manuel-fangio/in-my-day-it-was-75-percent-car-and-mechanic-25-percent-driver-and/) [Juan Manuel Fangio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-manuel-fangio/) > [I don't think I would be a good politician. I kid about it when I get a standing ovation. Sometimes I'll say, "I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberace/i-don-t-think-i-would-be-a-good-politician-i-kid-about-it-when-i-get/) [Liberace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberace/) > [Yes, I'm married. But my wife understands that a good politician has to be appealing to the ladies. The fact that I haven't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aziz-ansari/yes-i-m-married-but-my-wife-understands-that-a-good-politician-has-to/) [Aziz Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aziz-ansari/) > [In the end, Ted Kennedy was a politician, plain and simple. Yet he embodied how politics and public service can be successfully intertwined. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/in-the-end-ted-kennedy-was-a-politician-plain-and-simple-yet-he/) [Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/) > [I never thought Hillary Clinton was a very good politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/i-never-thought-hillary-clinton-was-a-very-good-politician/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) > [Even a good politician, someone who is very ambitious, chooses not to see trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sarsgaard/even-a-good-politician-someone-who-is-very-ambitious-chooses-not-to/) [Peter Sarsgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sarsgaard/) > [I don't see Sarah Palin suddenly spilling over to a wider group where suddenly they go, "Wait a minute, I've heard her message, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/i-don-t-see-sarah-palin-suddenly-spilling-over-to-a-wider-group-where/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I don't know if I am a very good politician. I'm not a good hater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-xenophon/i-don-t-know-if-i-am-a-very-good-politician-i-m-not-a-good-hater/) [Nick Xenophon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-xenophon/) > [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 different, because the mission is always to get the necessary votes. A good politician goes through everything in terms of mission and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-different-because-the-mission-is-always-to-get-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I suppose it's part of being a good politician to be able to spot the most important men in any group without outside assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-ford/i-suppose-it-s-part-of-being-a-good-politician-to-be-able-to-spot-the/) [Leslie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-ford/) ## More by Harry S. Truman > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [We can never tell what is in store for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/we-can-never-tell-what-is-in-store-for-us/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be remarked for their vices and follies than not be noticed at all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/men-often-mistake-notoriety-for-fame-and-would-rather-be-remarked-for/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [It is ignorance that causes most mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-is-ignorance-that-causes-most-mistakes/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Most of the time most people know the right thing to do ...its the doing of it that gives them trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/most-of-the-time-most-people-know-the-right-thing-to-do-its-the-doing/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/secrecy-and-a-free-democratic-government-don-t-mix/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [It can be lost, and it will be, if the time ever comes when these documents are regarded not as the supreme expression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-can-be-lost-and-it-will-be-if-the-time-ever-comes-when-these/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [On tight money: It reflects a reversion to the old idea that the tree can be fertilized at the top instead of at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/on-tight-money-it-reflects-a-reversion-to-the-old-idea-that-the-tree/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [The United States should not under any circumstances throw away our gun until we are sure the rest of the world cannot arm against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/the-united-states-should-not-under-any-circumstances-throw-away-our/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Democracy maintains that government is established for the benefit of the individual, and is charged with the responsibility of protecting the individual, and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-maintains-that-government-is-established-for-the-benefit-of/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Although I hold the highest civil honour in the world, I have always regarded my rank and title as a Past Grand Master of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/although-i-hold-the-highest-civil-honour-in-the-world-i-have-always/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Some of the presidents were great and some of them weren't. I can say that, because I wasn't one of the great presidents, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/some-of-the-presidents-were-great-and-some-of-them-weren-t-i-can-say/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [A person who is fundamentally honest doesn't need a code of ethics. The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount are all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/a-person-who-is-fundamentally-honest-doesn-t-need-a-code-of-ethics/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Our goal must not be peace in our time but peace for all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/our-goal-must-not-be-peace-in-our-time-but-peace-for-all-time/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) [Explore all 336 Harry S. Truman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can remember when a good politician had to be 75 percent ability and 25 percent actor, but I can well see the day when the reverse could be true.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry S. Truman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/i-can-remember-when-a-good-politician-had-to-be-75-percent-ability/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/i-can-remember-when-a-good-politician-had-to-be-75-percent-ability/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/harry-s-truman-898_ability_i-can-remember-when-a-good-politician-ha_1451255.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/harry-s-truman-898_ability_i-can-remember-when-a-good-politician-ha_1451255.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43c/harry-s-truman-898_ability_i-can-remember-when-a-good-politician-ha_1451255.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can remember when a good politician had to be 75 percent ability and 25 percent actor, but I can well see…” — Harry S. Truman", "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": "Harry S. Truman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can remember when a good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/i-can-remember-when-a-good-politician-had-to-be-75-percent-ability/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/i-can-remember-when-a-good-politician-had-to-be-75-percent-ability/#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 } } ] } ```