--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sir, I would rather be right than to be…" description: "\"“Sir, I would rather be right than to be President.”\" — Henry Clay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/henry-clay-13771_patriotism_sir-i-would-rather-be-right-than-to-be-p_2523637.png" --- # Sir, I would rather be right than to be President. ![“Sir, I would rather be right than to be President.” quote by Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/henry-clay-13771_patriotism_sir-i-would-rather-be-right-than-to-be-p_2523637.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/henry-clay-13771_patriotism_sir-i-would-rather-be-right-than-to-be-p_2523637.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/henry-clay-13771_patriotism_sir-i-would-rather-be-right-than-to-be-p_2523637.png) > ““Sir, I would rather be right than to be President.”” [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing moral correctness over power; integrity matters more than position. **In simple terms:** Being right is more important than being president. Key Takeaway Prioritize truth over ambition. Themes integrity politics ethics Mood reflective serious Type political ethical When to use this quote - political campaigns - personal decisions - public office Key Concepts moral philosophy leadership Questions to Reflect On - Is it possible to stay ethical in high office? - What sacrifices does integrity demand? A Different Perspective May be unrealistic in competitive politics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [“Sir, I had rather be right than to be President.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/sir-i-had-rather-be-right-than-to-be-president/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I had rather be right than be President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-had-rather-be-right-than-be-president/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I'd rather be right than President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-d-rather-be-right-than-president/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I never worked with Marilyn Monroe, but if she'd lived, I think she would have been all right. She would have been President of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/i-never-worked-with-marilyn-monroe-but-if-she-d-lived-i-think-she/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [Barry Goldwater once said, 'I'd rather be right than president.' I can't tell you how much I disagree with that Barry Goldwater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/barry-goldwater-once-said-i-d-rather-be-right-than-president-i-can-t/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [I don't care what anybody says, I think that George Bush is absolutely the right president to oversea the end of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/i-don-t-care-what-anybody-says-i-think-that-george-bush-is-absolutely/) [Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/) > [This president can ask us to be patient. This president can tell us it was someone elses fault. This president can tell us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/this-president-can-ask-us-to-be-patient-this-president-can-tell-us-it/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I'm not going to put my lot in with economists, because I know if we get it right, if we actually did it right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-not-going-to-put-my-lot-in-with-economists-because-i-know-if-we/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Representative William McK. Springer, remarks in the House, quoting Henry Clay: As for me, I would rather be right than be President. Reed: Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/representative-william-mck-springer-remarks-in-the-house-quoting/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [I would like to introduce right now the next president of the United States, Mr. Joe Walsh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-eagles/i-would-like-to-introduce-right-now-the-next-president-of-the-united/) [The Eagles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-eagles/) > [A man can be right and president, but he can't be both at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finley-peter-dunne/a-man-can-be-right-and-president-but-he-can-t-be-both-at-the-same-time/) [Finley Peter Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finley-peter-dunne/) > [I reserve the right, as president of the United States to meet with anybody at a time and place of my choosing if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-reserve-the-right-as-president-of-the-united-states-to-meet-with/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There is not a single person in the national defense apparatus of this country that can guarantee you are going to be 100 percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/there-is-not-a-single-person-in-the-national-defense-apparatus-of/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I think with the right leadership on both sides and the right president, we can get a lot done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/i-think-with-the-right-leadership-on-both-sides-and-the-right/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [You are Americans. You love this country. Together we are entrusted with the principles that represent mankind's greatest political and social achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/you-are-americans-you-love-this-country-together-we-are-entrusted/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) ## More by Henry Clay > [“I hope that it will yet be said, America is America's best customer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-hope-that-it-will-yet-be-said-america-is-america-s-best-customer/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [The arts of power and its minions are the same in all countries and in all ages. It marks its victim; denounces it; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-arts-of-power-and-its-minions-are-the-same-in-all-countries-and/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [Political parties serve to keep each other in check, one keenly watching the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/political-parties-serve-to-keep-each-other-in-check-one-keenly/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [An oppressed people are authorized whenever they can to rise and break their fetters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/an-oppressed-people-are-authorized-whenever-they-can-to-rise-and/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [In a scheme of policy which is devised for a nation, we should not limit our views to its operation during a single year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/in-a-scheme-of-policy-which-is-devised-for-a-nation-we-should-not/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [A nation's character is the sum of its splendid deeds; they constitute one common patrimony, the nation's inheritance. They awe foreign powers, they arouse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/a-nation-s-character-is-the-sum-of-its-splendid-deeds-they-constitute/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [Precedents deliberately established by wise men are entitled to great weight. They are evidence of truth, but only evidence...But a solitary precedent...which has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/precedents-deliberately-established-by-wise-men-are-entitled-to-great/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I have no commiseration for princes. My sympathies are reserved for the great mass of mankind ….](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-have-no-commiseration-for-princes-my-sympathies-are-reserved-for/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I had rather be right than be President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-had-rather-be-right-than-be-president/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [The Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the generation that then existed, but for posterity- unlimited, undefined, endless, perpetual posterity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-constitution-of-the-united-states-was-made-not-merely-for-the/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [Honor and good faith and justice are equally due from this country toward the weak as toward the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/honor-and-good-faith-and-justice-are-equally-due-from-this-country/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [The measure of the wealth of a nation is indicated by the measure of its protection of its industry; the measure of the poverty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-measure-of-the-wealth-of-a-nation-is-indicated-by-the-measure-of/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [We have had good and bad Presidents, and it is a consoling reflection that the American Nation possesses such elements of prosperity that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/we-have-had-good-and-bad-presidents-and-it-is-a-consoling-reflection/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [There is no power like oratory. Caesar controlled men by exciting their fears, Cicero by . . . swaying their passions. The influence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/there-is-no-power-like-oratory-caesar-controlled-men-by-exciting/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I am not, sir, in favor of cherishing the passion of conquest. I am permitted ... to indulge the hope of seeing, ere long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-am-not-sir-in-favor-of-cherishing-the-passion-of-conquest-i-am/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) [Explore all 49 Henry Clay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) ## More Patriotism quotes > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/you-have-expressive-nationalism-i-mean-very-identity-driven-which/) [Subrahmanyam Jaishankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subrahmanyam-jaishankar/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. 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They have the power to divide the best of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-deverakonda/cricket-politics-and-cinema-is-what-a-majority-in-our-country-are/) [Vijay Deverakonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-deverakonda/) > [“A man full of warm, speculative benevolence may wish his society otherwise constituted than he finds it; but a good patriot, and a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-man-full-of-warm-speculative-benevolence-may-wish-his-society/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I will do everything I can always for my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-massa/i-will-do-everything-i-can-always-for-my-country/) [Felipe Massa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-massa/) > [All the people in Korea are cheering me like I'm a gold medalist or something, so I have a responsibility to my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psy/all-the-people-in-korea-are-cheering-me-like-i-m-a-gold-medalist-or/) [PSY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/psy/) [Browse all 5,882 Patriotism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sir, I would rather be right than to be President.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Clay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/sir-i-would-rather-be-right-than-to-be-president/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Patriotism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/sir-i-would-rather-be-right-than-to-be-president/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/henry-clay-13771_patriotism_sir-i-would-rather-be-right-than-to-be-p_2523637.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/henry-clay-13771_patriotism_sir-i-would-rather-be-right-than-to-be-p_2523637.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/henry-clay-13771_patriotism_sir-i-would-rather-be-right-than-to-be-p_2523637.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sir, I would rather be right than to be President.” — Henry Clay", "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": "Henry Clay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Sir, I would rather be right...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/sir-i-would-rather-be-right-than-to-be-president/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/sir-i-would-rather-be-right-than-to-be-president/#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 } } ] } ```