--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anybody who runs for public office today…" description: "\"Anybody who runs for public office today has got to know his life or her life will be an open book. I've decided that if you want to run for public off..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/helen-thomas-7044_age_anybody-who-runs-for-public-office-today_246228.jpg" --- # Anybody who runs for public office today has got to know… ![“Anybody who runs for public office today has got to know his life or her life will be an open book. I've decided that if you want to run for public office you have to decide at the age of 5 and live accordingly.” quote by Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/helen-thomas-7044_age_anybody-who-runs-for-public-office-today_246228.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/helen-thomas-7044_age_anybody-who-runs-for-public-office-today_246228.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/helen-thomas-7044_age_anybody-who-runs-for-public-office-today_246228.jpg) > “Anybody who runs for public office today has got to know his life or her life will be an open book. I've decided that if you want to run for public office you have to decide at the age of 5 and live accordingly.” [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that a lifelong commitment and early decision are required to pursue a career in public service, emphasizing transparency and dedication. **In simple terms:** Public service demands early, lifelong commitment. Key Takeaway Commit early and stay transparent. Themes public service dedication transparency career planning Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type motivational ethical When to use this quote - political campaigns - career counseling - ethics training Key Concepts early decision life-long commitment ethical responsibility Questions to Reflect On - Are you ready to commit early? - How to you maintain openness? A Different Perspective Early decisions may be unrealistic for many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Open book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-book/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Public office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-office/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [If you want to be President, decide it at the age of five, and then live accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/if-you-want-to-be-president-decide-it-at-the-age-of-five-and-then/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [If you are prepared to run for public office, you also have to be willing to accept a debate about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-schauble/if-you-are-prepared-to-run-for-public-office-you-also-have-to-be/) [Wolfgang Schauble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-schauble/) > [I don't claim any moral or ethical high ground, but I also have chosen not to run for public office. Shouldn't there be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/i-don-t-claim-any-moral-or-ethical-high-ground-but-i-also-have-chosen/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [My mother at the age of 65 decided she was going to run for mayor. She had never run for public office, and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-mathews-burwell/my-mother-at-the-age-of-65-decided-she-was-going-to-run-for-mayor-she/) [Sylvia Mathews Burwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-mathews-burwell/) > [You don't run for public office unless you have a specific vision. You are driven by ideas and a vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-nixon-eisenhower/you-don-t-run-for-public-office-unless-you-have-a-specific-vision-you/) [Julie Nixon Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-nixon-eisenhower/) > [We shouldn't leave the work of politics to people who run for public office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-shouldn-t-leave-the-work-of-politics-to-people-who-run-for-public/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office...that's what Jesus would do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/jesus-was-too-smart-to-ever-run-for-public-office-that-s-what-jesus/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [I think the rules are going to have to change for me to ever run for public office. My checkered past will always keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/i-think-the-rules-are-going-to-have-to-change-for-me-to-ever-run-for/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [To get your name well enough known that you can run for a public office, some people do it by being great lawyers or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/to-get-your-name-well-enough-known-that-you-can-run-for-a-public/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [I am really rich. All of my life I have heard a truly successful, and even a modestly successful person, cannot run for public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-am-really-rich-all-of-my-life-i-have-heard-a-truly-successful-and/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Honestly, if you are going to run for public office, I think it's incumbent... to speak up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tancredo/honestly-if-you-are-going-to-run-for-public-office-i-think-it-s/) [Tom Tancredo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tancredo/) > [You either decide to age gracefully or not to age. I'm definitely the latter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyah-willcox/you-either-decide-to-age-gracefully-or-not-to-age-i-m-definitely-the/) [Toyah Willcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyah-willcox/) > [I have never run a public company. I spent my entire life working for a private company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ovitz/i-have-never-run-a-public-company-i-spent-my-entire-life-working-for/) [Michael Ovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ovitz/) > [“Sometimes, I just want to run away from it all - Fruits Basket”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takaya-natsuki/sometimes-i-just-want-to-run-away-from-it-all-fruits-basket/) Takaya Natsuki > [I want to run for eternal glory and track is great, but it's not what life is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allyson-felix/i-want-to-run-for-eternal-glory-and-track-is-great-but-it-s-not-what/) [Allyson Felix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allyson-felix/) ## More by Helen Thomas > [I never thought about heaven per se. I think when you're dead, you're dead. If anything happens after that, you just hope you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-never-thought-about-heaven-per-se-i-think-when-you-re-dead-you-re/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [President Bush has asserted the right to wiretap and eavesdrop on any American without a warrant in the name of fighting terrorism. He has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/president-bush-has-asserted-the-right-to-wiretap-and-eavesdrop-on-any/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I'm of Arab background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-m-of-arab-background/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [There are better ways we can transform this virulent hatred - by living our ideals, the Peace Corps, exchange students, teachers, exporting our music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/there-are-better-ways-we-can-transform-this-virulent-hatred-by-living/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I think I'll work all my life. When you're having fun, why stop having fun?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-think-i-ll-work-all-my-life-when-you-re-having-fun-why-stop-having/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [American journalism's crazy old aunt in the attic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/american-journalism-s-crazy-old-aunt-in-the-attic/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [“Today, because of the immediacy of the live TV appearance with the direct quote, the presidency seems hamstrung with governing by polls and turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/today-because-of-the-immediacy-of-the-live-tv-appearance-with-the/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Maybe the Jefferson case will give members of Congress second thoughts the next time they get ready to legislate away the rights of ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/maybe-the-jefferson-case-will-give-members-of-congress-second/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I'm a liberal, I was born a liberal, I'll be one 'til I die, what else should a reporter be when you see so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-m-a-liberal-i-was-born-a-liberal-i-ll-be-one-til-i-die-what-else/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [If you want to be President, decide it at the age of five, and then live accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/if-you-want-to-be-president-decide-it-at-the-age-of-five-and-then/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [We are the only institution in our society that can question a president on a regular basis and make him accountable. Otherwise, he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/we-are-the-only-institution-in-our-society-that-can-question-a/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I had a lot of fun bantering back and forth with Kennedy. But for ease and comfort, it would be Gerald Ford. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-had-a-lot-of-fun-bantering-back-and-forth-with-kennedy-but-for-ease/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [“Anybody in public life is well aware of how important the judgments of the press are. I'm firmly convinced that if the good Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/anybody-in-public-life-is-well-aware-of-how-important-the-judgments/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [All presidents rail against the press. It goes with the turf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/all-presidents-rail-against-the-press-it-goes-with-the-turf/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Get the hell out of Palestine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/get-the-hell-out-of-palestine/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) [Explore all 95 Helen Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? 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That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Anybody who runs for public office today has got to know his life or her life will be an open book. 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