--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nixon was no more a saint than he was a…" description: "\"Nixon was no more a saint than he was a great president.\" — Hunter S. Thompson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/hunter-s-thompson-278_great_nixon-was-no-more-a-saint-than-he-was-a_2201042.jpg" --- # Nixon was no more a saint than he was a great president. ![“Nixon was no more a saint than he was a great president.” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/hunter-s-thompson-278_great_nixon-was-no-more-a-saint-than-he-was-a_2201042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/hunter-s-thompson-278_great_nixon-was-no-more-a-saint-than-he-was-a_2201042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9f/hunter-s-thompson-278_great_nixon-was-no-more-a-saint-than-he-was-a_2201042.jpg) > “Nixon was no more a saint than he was a great president.” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nixon was a complex figure, neither saintly nor wholly great, reflecting the duality of political legacy. **In simple terms:** Nixon was neither saint nor great. Key Takeaway Recognize political figures as flawed humans. Themes politics legacy leadership morality history Mood critical analytical Type historical political When to use this quote - political commentary - biographical writing - media critique - public discourse - leadership studies Key Concepts political analysis human complexity historical assessment Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance criticism and admiration of leaders? - What criteria define a 'great' president? A Different Perspective Simplifying leaders ignores nuanced impacts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-president-410901/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nixon/) [Nixon Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nixon-saint-4835141/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Saint Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint-great-1560826/) ## Related quotes > [I claim there ain't Another Saint As great as Valentine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/i-claim-there-ain-t-another-saint-as-great-as-valentine/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [That was my choice at that time, and I still say Nixon was a great president. A very beautiful and wise man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-burke/that-was-my-choice-at-that-time-and-i-still-say-nixon-was-a-great/) [Solomon Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-burke/) > [Donald Trump would make a great president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/donald-trump-would-make-a-great-president/) [Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Richard Nixon was an evil man - evil in a way that only those who believe in the physical reality of the Devil can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/richard-nixon-was-an-evil-man-evil-in-a-way-that-only-those-who/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Nixon had the unique ability to make his enemies seem honorable, and we developed a keen sense of fraternity. Some of my best friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/nixon-had-the-unique-ability-to-make-his-enemies-seem-honorable-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Richard Nixon was a criminally insane Monster - Bill Clinton is a black-hearted Swine of a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/richard-nixon-was-a-criminally-insane-monster-bill-clinton-is-a-black/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Nixon was a bad loser. He hated losing worse than death, and that is why I enjoyed him. We were both football fans, both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/nixon-was-a-bad-loser-he-hated-losing-worse-than-death-and-that-is/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Nixon represents that dark, venal and incurably violent side of the American character almost every other country in the world has learned to fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/nixon-represents-that-dark-venal-and-incurably-violent-side-of-the/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [George McGovern, for all his mistakes... understands what a fantastic monument to all the best instincts of the human race this country might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/george-mcgovern-for-all-his-mistakes-understands-what-a-fantastic/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Richard Nixon has never been one of my favorite people, anyway. For years I've regarded his very existence as a monument to all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/richard-nixon-has-never-been-one-of-my-favorite-people-anyway-for/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The prevailing quality of life in America -- by any accepted methods of measuring -- was unarguably freer and more politically open under Nixon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-prevailing-quality-of-life-in-america-by-any-accepted-methods-of/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [The trouble with Nixon is that he's a serious politics junkie. He's totally hooked ... and like any other junkie, he'sa bummer to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-trouble-with-nixon-is-that-he-s-a-serious-politics-junkie-he-s/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [ I'd almost prefer \[Richard\] Nixon. I'd say \[Bill\] Clinton is every bit as corrupt as Nixon, but a lot smoother. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-d-almost-prefer-richard-nixon-i-d-say-bill-clinton-is-every-bit-as/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [I miss Nixon. Compared to these Nazis we have in the White House now, Richard Nixon was a flaming liberal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-miss-nixon-compared-to-these-nazis-we-have-in-the-white-house-now/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. 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