--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When people start believing that all…" description: "\"“When people start believing that all politicians are liars and crooks, the truly corrupt escape scrutiny, and cynicism grows.”\" — Hillary Rodham Clinton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_pessimism_when-people-start-believing-that-all-pol_870161.jpg" --- # When people start believing that all politicians are liars… ![“When people start believing that all politicians are liars and crooks, the truly corrupt escape scrutiny, and cynicism grows.” quote by Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_pessimism_when-people-start-believing-that-all-pol_870161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_pessimism_when-people-start-believing-that-all-pol_870161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_pessimism_when-people-start-believing-that-all-pol_870161.jpg) > ““When people start believing that all politicians are liars and crooks, the truly corrupt escape scrutiny, and cynicism grows.”” [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) ## 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 warns that widespread belief that all politicians are corrupt lets truly corrupt individuals evade scrutiny, increasing cynicism. **In simple terms:** Assuming all politicians are corrupt lets the worst hide, fueling cynicism. Key Takeaway Demand accountability and avoid blanket cynicism. Themes politics trust corruption public perception accountability Mood cautious critical concerned Type political ethical reflective When to use this quote - elections - policy debates - media analysis - civic education Key Concepts cynicism political disengagement ethical standards Questions to Reflect On - How can we differentiate between systemic issues and individual misconduct? - What role does media play in shaping political cynicism? A Different Perspective It may generalize and ignore honest public servants. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believing Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-politicians-943645/) [Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) [Cynicism Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism-grows-943642/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Politicians Liars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians-liars-943643/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Scrutiny Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scrutiny-cynicism-943644/) [Start believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-believing/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [I hope people can stop believing everything politicians say about Mexico and the United States, and the problems that we share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demian-bichir/i-hope-people-can-stop-believing-everything-politicians-say-about/) [Demian Bichir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demian-bichir/) > [Popular culture tells you that schools and parents don't know what's going on, the police are dogs, politicians are all liars and scum, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-crouch/popular-culture-tells-you-that-schools-and-parents-don-t-know-what-s/) [Stanley Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-crouch/) > [No one ever died from smoking marijuana, but millions of people have died by believing politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/no-one-ever-died-from-smoking-marijuana-but-millions-of-people-have/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [“Politics bores you?" Bronsen said. Julien smiled. "It does. Apologies, sir, and it is not that I haven't tried to be fascinated. But careful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-pears/politics-bores-you-bronsen-said-julien-smiled-it-does-apologies-sir/) [Iain Pears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-pears/) > [“the question is not “Are you flawed?” It’s “What do you do about your flaws?” Do you learn from your mistakes so you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/the-question-is-not-are-you-flawed-it-s-what-do-you-do-about-your/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [I start out by believing the worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/i-start-out-by-believing-the-worst/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Real isn't what they try to tell you. Time isn't. Grown-ups hammer down all these markers, bells, schedules, coffee-breaks, to stake down time so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/real-isn-t-what-they-try-to-tell-you-time-isn-t-grown-ups-hammer-down/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [A bright future knocks; when you start believing and have faith in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asif-z-warsi/a-bright-future-knocks-when-you-start-believing-and-have-faith-in/) [Asif Z Warsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asif-z-warsi/) > [The more you doubt yourself , the more you cant do anything! so start believing and see results...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-you-doubt-yourself-the-more-you-cant-do-anything-so-start/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But if I start believing that, then I have to believe in your God. I'd have to love your God. 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I am not a stupid joke, or a trippy game, or an experiment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-fagan/the-watching-feeling-is-getting-worse-i-am-not-an-experiment-i-am-not/) [Jenni Fagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-fagan/) > [Stop expecting, Start believing¦ If you truly love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-expecting-start-believing-if-you-truly-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Start believing that things are going to change for the better. Not because you deserve it, but simply because God loves you that much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-believing-that-things-are-going-to-change-for-the-better-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Hillary Rodham Clinton > [“Putin has positioned himself as the leader of an authoritarian, xenophobic international movement that wants to expel immigrants, break up the European Union, weaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/putin-has-positioned-himself-as-the-leader-of-an-authoritarian/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“It’s true, though, that we struggled to stay on message. My advisors had to deal with a candidate—me—who often wanted something new to say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/it-s-true-though-that-we-struggled-to-stay-on-message-my-advisors-had/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“He reminded me to focus on the “trendlines,” not just the headlines, and to relish the experiences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/he-reminded-me-to-focus-on-the-trendlines-not-just-the-headlines-and/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“Democrats should reevaluate a lot of our assumptions about which policies are politically viable. 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If you want to go far, go together”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/if-you-want-to-go-quickly-go-alone-if-you-want-to-go-far-go-together/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“On her very first day, when she politely raised questions about Bernie’s health care plan—she has a master’s degree in public health and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/on-her-very-first-day-when-she-politely-raised-questions-about-bernie/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“Too many saw the world in zero-sum terms, believing that gains made by fellow Americans they viewed as “other”—people of color, immigrants, women, LGBT…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/too-many-saw-the-world-in-zero-sum-terms-believing-that-gains-made-by/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“Usually when I meet people who are frustrated and angry, my instinctive response is to talk about how we can fix things. That’s why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/usually-when-i-meet-people-who-are-frustrated-and-angry-my/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“In the words of Secretary Clinton, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance in the world to pursue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/in-the-words-of-secretary-clinton-never-doubt-that-you-are-valuable/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“To quote Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in the U.S. Cabinet, under FDR, “The accusation that I’m a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/to-quote-secretary-of-labor-frances-perkins-the-first-woman-to-serve/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“While there are few problems in today’s world that the United States can solve alone, there are even fewer that can be solved without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/while-there-are-few-problems-in-today-s-world-that-the-united-states/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“if he knows that the Donald J. Trump Foundation is little more than a personal piggy bank, he’ll turn around and accuse, with no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/if-he-knows-that-the-donald-j-trump-foundation-is-little-more-than-a/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“One of the most important but least recognized facts in American politics is that Republicans tend to win in places where more people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/one-of-the-most-important-but-least-recognized-facts-in-american/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) [Explore all 336 Hillary Rodham Clinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) ## More Cynicism quotes > [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) > [“Wish in one hand, shit in the other, see which one fills up faster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-oxenhandler/wish-in-one-hand-shit-in-the-other-see-which-one-fills-up-faster/) [Noelle Oxenhandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-oxenhandler/) > [There's a distinct unease about Americans when they are outside the United States. I can't say quite what it is, but they are easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-osborne/there-s-a-distinct-unease-about-americans-when-they-are-outside-the/) [Lawrence Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-osborne/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [There have been times when a particularly heavy dose of such cynicism has caused me to reflect that surely this is the age and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-have-been-times-when-a-particularly-heavy-dose-of-such-cynicism/) [Gordon B. 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