--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I joined the ANC, I never thought I…" description: "\"When I joined the ANC, I never thought I would be anything. In no way, did I say, 'One day I could be the president. I think I am good material for the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/jacob-zuma-10526_day_when-i-joined-the-anc-i-never-thought-i_565703.jpg" --- # When I joined the ANC, I never thought I would be… ![“When I joined the ANC, I never thought I would be anything. In no way, did I say, 'One day I could be the president. I think I am good material for the presidency.' Not at all.” quote by Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/jacob-zuma-10526_day_when-i-joined-the-anc-i-never-thought-i_565703.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/jacob-zuma-10526_day_when-i-joined-the-anc-i-never-thought-i_565703.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ce/jacob-zuma-10526_day_when-i-joined-the-anc-i-never-thought-i_565703.jpg) > “When I joined the ANC, I never thought I would be anything. In no way, did I say, 'One day I could be the president. I think I am good material for the presidency.' Not at all.” [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses surprise at his rise from modest expectations to presidential ambition, highlighting unexpected personal growth. **In simple terms:** He never imagined becoming president, but later saw himself as suitable. Key Takeaway Recognize that aspirations can evolve beyond initial doubts. Themes politics leadership personal growth humility Mood reflective determined hopeful Type motivational political personal When to use this quote - joining a political party - career advancement - public service - leadership contests Key Concepts self‑efficacy role models political ambition Questions to Reflect On - How did your self‑perception change after joining? - What responsibilities come with unexpected leadership? A Different Perspective Unexpected success can bring pressure and scrutiny, challenging original values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anc Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anc-thought-4680980/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Joined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joined/) [Joined Anc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joined-anc-4680979/) [Material Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material-presidency-4680981/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [One day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-day/) [Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-think-331895/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think Cheney started off in 2000 with a burning desire to become vice-president. 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I just don't think you can do the work if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/when-you-re-running-for-president-i-think-you-have-an-obligation-to/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I think the American public wants a solemn ass as a president, and I think I'll go along with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/i-think-the-american-public-wants-a-solemn-ass-as-a-president-and-i/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Donald Trump praised Russia's strong man, Vladimir Putin, even taking the astonishing step of suggesting that he prefers the Russian president to our American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/donald-trump-praised-russia-s-strong-man-vladimir-putin-even-taking/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I just want to say that I want to endorse Tan Jee Say for President because I think he really has what it takes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-seah/i-just-want-to-say-that-i-want-to-endorse-tan-jee-say-for-president/) [Nicole Seah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-seah/) > [I prepared to be president. And I think that's a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-prepared-to-be-president-and-i-think-that-s-a-good-thing/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I do not believe the United States and the Americans are going to let Donald Trump become president... I think the challenge is Donald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/i-do-not-believe-the-united-states-and-the-americans-are-going-to-let/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [I see The Rock running in 2020 and being a two-term president. I think he would be great, and I'm joking when I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-foley/i-see-the-rock-running-in-2020-and-being-a-two-term-president-i-think/) [Mick Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-foley/) > [I think, before Obama, there was a glass ceiling. That's a big change. As a president, I think he was the best. I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/i-think-before-obama-there-was-a-glass-ceiling-that-s-a-big-change-as/) [Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/) > [Do I think that American democracy ends if Trump is president? No! I think, there are plenty of checks and balances in place. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/do-i-think-that-american-democracy-ends-if-trump-is-president-no-i/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) ## More by Jacob Zuma > [...The people love him. So how can we condemn him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/the-people-love-him-so-how-can-we-condemn-him/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [There is no cloud above my head - there is not even a mist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/there-is-no-cloud-above-my-head-there-is-not-even-a-mist/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [Me? Well, I don't know, I must go to a dictionary and learn what a crook is. I've never been a crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/me-well-i-don-t-know-i-must-go-to-a-dictionary-and-learn-what-a-crook/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [The majority in this country have not seen anything wrong with Zuma. I go with the overwhelming feeling of this country. If the majority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/the-majority-in-this-country-have-not-seen-anything-wrong-with-zuma-i/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [The ANC is more important than the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/the-anc-is-more-important-than-the-constitution/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [We are a constitutional democracy. 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When I was growing up, ‘ungqingili’ \[homosexuals in isiZulu\] could not stand… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/same-sex-marriage-is-a-disgrace-to-the-nation-and-to-god-when-i-was/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [Africa has decided to take matters of instability into its own hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/africa-has-decided-to-take-matters-of-instability-into-its-own-hands/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [As a citizen of this country, I've got to be honest to the people of South Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/as-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-ve-got-to-be-honest-to-the-people-of/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [African problems should have African solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/african-problems-should-have-african-solutions/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [You don't just end up with freedom when you have the vote. The struggle continues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/you-don-t-just-end-up-with-freedom-when-you-have-the-vote-the/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [No one person can be above the ANC. He can't be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/no-one-person-can-be-above-the-anc-he-can-t-be/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [We South Africans are also crazy about football, so the World Cup can be nothing but successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/we-south-africans-are-also-crazy-about-football-so-the-world-cup-can/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [People are constantly applying double standards. Take the United States, for example. 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We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [Valentine's Day: Rubbing singles' noses in their lack of a mate and the noses of couples in their lack of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mclaughlin/valentine-s-day-rubbing-singles-noses-in-their-lack-of-a-mate-and-the/) [Emma McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mclaughlin/) > [One day I woke up and Juventus wanted me, another Manchester United and what I know is that there were approaches made. 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