--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Politics /n/: from 'poly ticks', short…" description: "\"Politics /n/: from 'poly ticks', short for 'many small bloodsucking insects'.\" — Henry Spencer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/henry-spencer-36503_democracy_politics-n-from-poly-ticks-short-for-man_2408219.png" --- # Politics /n/: from 'poly ticks', short for 'many small… ![“Politics /n/: from 'poly ticks', short for 'many small bloodsucking insects'.” quote by Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/henry-spencer-36503_democracy_politics-n-from-poly-ticks-short-for-man_2408219.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/henry-spencer-36503_democracy_politics-n-from-poly-ticks-short-for-man_2408219.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/henry-spencer-36503_democracy_politics-n-from-poly-ticks-short-for-man_2408219.png) > “Politics /n/: from 'poly ticks', short for 'many small bloodsucking insects'.” [Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The term “politics” humorously likens political actors to numerous tiny bloodsucking insects. **In simple terms:** Politics is compared to many tiny annoying insects. Key Takeaway Recognize the pettiness in political conflicts. Themes politics humor critique Mood skeptical witty Type satirical observational When to use this quote - election cycles - policy debates - media coverage Key Concepts metaphor social commentary Questions to Reflect On - How does humor reveal political truths? - What are the limits of such analogies? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex political systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Insects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insects/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [There ain't no ticks like poly-ticks. Bloodsuckers all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davy-crockett/there-ain-t-no-ticks-like-poly-ticks-bloodsuckers-all/) [Davy Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davy-crockett/) > [Tell me what ticks you off, and I will tell you what makes you tick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-john-ogilvie/tell-me-what-ticks-you-off-and-i-will-tell-you-what-makes-you-tick/) [Lloyd John Ogilvie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-john-ogilvie/) > [Poly means more than one, and ticks are bloodsucking parasites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinky-friedman/poly-means-more-than-one-and-ticks-are-bloodsucking-parasites/) [Kinky Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinky-friedman/) > [While the nature of Texas fever is by no means made clear as yet, we are able to affirm that ticks can produce it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theobald-smith/while-the-nature-of-texas-fever-is-by-no-means-made-clear-as-yet-we/) [Theobald Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theobald-smith/) > [“The clock always ticks. There are times you don’t hear it, and there are times that you do. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-clock-always-ticks-there-are-times-you-don-t-hear-it-and-there/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I wonder if Dracula ever has ticks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-wonder-if-dracula-ever-has-ticks/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [The confirmed man of trout should resolve to get along with wood ticks. Any other procedure would fail because the wood tick is determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-macquarrie/the-confirmed-man-of-trout-should-resolve-to-get-along-with-wood/) Gordon MacQuarrie > [“The time to right the wrong ticks with precission.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneta-cruz/the-time-to-right-the-wrong-ticks-with-precission/) [Aneta Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneta-cruz/) > [I don't have those superstitious ticks that people have to have something for the road. I like to have good food on the bus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-alaina/i-don-t-have-those-superstitious-ticks-that-people-have-to-have/) [Lauren Alaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-alaina/) > [I live with deer and coyotes. Lyme ticks are a daily concern and mystery, but, yes, what do they mean? I don't know yet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-hunt/i-live-with-deer-and-coyotes-lyme-ticks-are-a-daily-concern-and/) [Samantha Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-hunt/) > [I've pulled ticks off of me before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-ve-pulled-ticks-off-of-me-before/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [“A Watched Clock never ticks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwha/a-watched-clock-never-ticks/) Mwha > [The blonde was always careful to remove her watch before putting on bug spray because she didn't want it to kill the ticks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/the-blonde-was-always-careful-to-remove-her-watch-before-putting-on/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Those who grieve frequently find themselves alone. Missed is the laughter of children, the commotion of teenagers, and the tender, loving concern of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-grieve-frequently-find-themselves-alone-missed-is-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [I take apart restaurant menus everywhere I go. I kind of tick off a lot of chefs in restaurants because I'll say, 'You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-williams/i-take-apart-restaurant-menus-everywhere-i-go-i-kind-of-tick-off-a/) [Montel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-williams/) ## More by Henry Spencer > [Programming graphics in X is like finding the square root of PI using Roman numerals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/programming-graphics-in-x-is-like-finding-the-square-root-of-pi-using/) [Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) > [If I must be ruled by larcenous bullies, I much prefer that they be located far away. Local bullies know far more about me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/if-i-must-be-ruled-by-larcenous-bullies-i-much-prefer-that-they-be/) [Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) > [Altruism is a fine motive, but if you want results, greed works much better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/altruism-is-a-fine-motive-but-if-you-want-results-greed-works-much/) [Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) > [“Indeed, "brute force" solutions are often characteristic of advanced cultures, not primitive ones. The Romans and their predecessors spent a long time figuring out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/indeed-brute-force-solutions-are-often-characteristic-of-advanced/) [Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) > [“8th Commandment: "Thou shalt make thy program's purpose and structure clear to thy fellow man by using the One True Brace Style, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/8th-commandment-thou-shalt-make-thy-program-s-purpose-and-structure/) [Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) > [A bit of tolerance is worth a megabyte of flamming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/a-bit-of-tolerance-is-worth-a-megabyte-of-flamming/) [Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) > [If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/if-you-lie-to-the-compiler-it-will-get-its-revenge/) [Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) > [C++ is the best example of second-system effect since OS/360.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/c-is-the-best-example-of-second-system-effect-since-os-360/) [Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) > [To err is human, but to really screw things up requires a design committee of bureaucrats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/to-err-is-human-but-to-really-screw-things-up-requires-a-design/) [Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) > [MS-DOS isn't dead, it just smells that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/ms-dos-isn-t-dead-it-just-smells-that-way/) [Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) > [Belief is no substitute for arithmetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/belief-is-no-substitute-for-arithmetic/) [Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) > [Those who do not understand Unix are condemned to reinvent it, poorly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/those-who-do-not-understand-unix-are-condemned-to-reinvent-it-poorly/) [Henry Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) [Explore all 13 Henry Spencer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [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/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Politics /n/: from 'poly ticks', short for 'many small bloodsucking insects'.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Spencer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/politics-n-from-poly-ticks-short-for-many-small-bloodsucking-insects/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/politics-n-from-poly-ticks-short-for-many-small-bloodsucking-insects/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/henry-spencer-36503_democracy_politics-n-from-poly-ticks-short-for-man_2408219.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/henry-spencer-36503_democracy_politics-n-from-poly-ticks-short-for-man_2408219.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/henry-spencer-36503_democracy_politics-n-from-poly-ticks-short-for-man_2408219.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Politics /n/: from 'poly ticks', short for 'many small bloodsucking insects'.” — Henry Spencer", "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 Spencer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spencer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Politics /n/: from 'poly ticks', short...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/politics-n-from-poly-ticks-short-for-many-small-bloodsucking-insects/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spencer/politics-n-from-poly-ticks-short-for-many-small-bloodsucking-insects/#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 } } ] } ```