--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is more selfishness and less…" description: "\"There is more selfishness and less principle among members of Congress than I had any conception of, before I became President of the U.S.\" — James K. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6d/james-k-polk-15119_conception_there-is-more-selfishness-and-less-princ_3028598.png" --- # There is more selfishness and less principle among members… ![“There is more selfishness and less principle among members of Congress than I had any conception of, before I became President of the U.S.” quote by James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6d/james-k-polk-15119_conception_there-is-more-selfishness-and-less-princ_3028598.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6d/james-k-polk-15119_conception_there-is-more-selfishness-and-less-princ_3028598.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6d/james-k-polk-15119_conception_there-is-more-selfishness-and-less-princ_3028598.png) > “There is more selfishness and less principle among members of Congress than I had any conception of, before I became President of the U.S.” [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Congress members appear more selfish and less principled than expected. **In simple terms:** Congress seems selfish and lacking principle. Key Takeaway Demand higher integrity from legislators. Themes politics integrity selfishness principles government Mood cynical concerned Type political critical When to use this quote - legislative voting - public advocacy - policy reform - citizen engagement Key Concepts civic disappointment ethical standards Questions to Reflect On - What drives perceived selfishness in Congress? - How can citizens promote principle? A Different Perspective Generalizations may overlook good legislators. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) ## Related quotes > [The passion for office among members of Congress is very great, if not absolutely disreputable, and greatly embarrasses the operations of the Government. 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The rotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/everybody-complains-about-pork-but-members-of-congress-keep-spending/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [A lot of what is preventing us from getting things done on the federal level is that there is too much influence from special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/a-lot-of-what-is-preventing-us-from-getting-things-done-on-the/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [You have to be local. You have to focus on your local members of Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-g-levin/you-have-to-be-local-you-have-to-focus-on-your-local-members-of/) [Ezra G. Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-g-levin/) > [I request that they may be considered in confidence, until the members of Congress are fully possessed of their contents, and shall have had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-request-that-they-may-be-considered-in-confidence-until-the-members/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [If there's a distinct group of Americans who harbor open contempt for constitutional principles and rule of law, it's lawyers, judges and members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-there-s-a-distinct-group-of-americans-who-harbor-open-contempt-for/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [I haven't met a single person, Republican or Democrat, who thinks it's just fine for members of Congress to sit on the boards of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-malinowski/i-haven-t-met-a-single-person-republican-or-democrat-who-thinks-it-s/) [Tom Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-malinowski/) > [Congress is the third branch of government... which makes every one of the 535 members of Congress 1/535th of that important one-third, which works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-pruden/congress-is-the-third-branch-of-government-which-makes-every-one-of/) [Wesley Pruden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-pruden/) > [If a trip is worth taking, members of Congress should be prepared to justify paying for it out of their office accounts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-feingold/if-a-trip-is-worth-taking-members-of-congress-should-be-prepared-to/) [Russ Feingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-feingold/) > [What is required from members of Congress and the public alike is a new spirit of devotion to the national welfare beyond party or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-bayh/what-is-required-from-members-of-congress-and-the-public-alike-is-a/) [Evan Bayh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-bayh/) > [WASHINGTON - Ever since President Obama ordered American warplanes to begin bombing terrorist targets in Iraq and Syria last year, members of Congress have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-baker/washington-ever-since-president-obama-ordered-american-warplanes-to/) [Peter Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-baker/) > [We have some of the most influential Members of Congress here today, and I do hope that we can get this appropriation for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-have-some-of-the-most-influential-members-of-congress-here-today/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I firmly believe that if members of Congress fail to perform their most basic duty in passing a budget, then they do not deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-schrader/i-firmly-believe-that-if-members-of-congress-fail-to-perform-their/) [Kurt Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-schrader/) > [About one-half of the members of Congress are seekers for office at the nomination of the President. Of the remainder, at least one-half have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/about-one-half-of-the-members-of-congress-are-seekers-for-office-at/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) ## More by James K. Polk > [No union exists between church and state, and perfect freedom of opinion is guaranteed to all sects and creeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/no-union-exists-between-church-and-state-and-perfect-freedom-of/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [The gratitude ... should be commensurate with the boundless blessings which we enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/the-gratitude-should-be-commensurate-with-the-boundless-blessings/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [Minorities have a right to appeal to the Constitution as a shield against such oppression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/minorities-have-a-right-to-appeal-to-the-constitution-as-a-shield/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [Our relations with the various Indian tribes continue to be of a pacific character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/our-relations-with-the-various-indian-tribes-continue-to-be-of-a/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [I would bring the government back to what it was intended to be - a plain economical government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/i-would-bring-the-government-back-to-what-it-was-intended-to-be-a/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [The Constitution itself, plainly written as it is, the safeguard of our federative compact, the offspring of concession and compromise, binding together in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/the-constitution-itself-plainly-written-as-it-is-the-safeguard-of-our/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [Under the blessings of Divine Providence ... It becomes us in humility to make our devout acknowledgments to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/under-the-blessings-of-divine-providence-it-becomes-us-in-humility-to/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure. If he entrusts the details and smaller matters to subordinates constant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/no-president-who-performs-his-duties-faithfully-and-conscientiously/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [Under the benignant providence of Almighty God the representatives of the States and of the people are again brought together to deliberate for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/under-the-benignant-providence-of-almighty-god-the-representatives-of/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [Thank God, under our Constitution there was no connection between church and state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/thank-god-under-our-constitution-there-was-no-connection-between/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [The Presidency is not a bed of roses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/the-presidency-is-not-a-bed-of-roses/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [Although in our country the Chief Magistrate must almost of necessity be chosen by a party and stand pledged to its principles and measures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/although-in-our-country-the-chief-magistrate-must-almost-of-necessity/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [The whole frame of the Federal Constitution proves that the government which it creates was intended to be one of limited and specified powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/the-whole-frame-of-the-federal-constitution-proves-that-the/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [All distinctions of birth or of rank have been abolished. All citizens, whether native or adopted, are placed upon terms of precise equality. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/all-distinctions-of-birth-or-of-rank-have-been-abolished-all-citizens/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [Senator Badger did not call. During the whole of the last session of Congress, he did not call on me. He is a bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/senator-badger-did-not-call-during-the-whole-of-the-last-session-of/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) [Explore all 44 James K. Polk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) ## More Conception quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“Take sex, for instance.' 'What do you want me to do with it?' 'Try to be serious for a moment. Take the sex life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/take-sex-for-instance-what-do-you-want-me-to-do-with-it-try-to-be/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [Bring the viewer to your side, include him in your thought. He is not a bystander. You have the power to increase his perceptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/bring-the-viewer-to-your-side-include-him-in-your-thought-he-is-not-a/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [Most conservatives - by which I mean normal people - have little conception of the aggressive and revolutionary force that confronts them. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bethell/most-conservatives-by-which-i-mean-normal-people-have-little/) [Tom Bethell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bethell/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [For the utilitarian, there is a fact of the matter about the good (the general happiness, or whatever conception of the good the utilitarian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/for-the-utilitarian-there-is-a-fact-of-the-matter-about-the-good-the/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [The fight against syphilis demands a fight against prostitution, against prejudices, old habits, against previous conceptions, general views among them not least the false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-fight-against-syphilis-demands-a-fight-against-prostitution/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Our modern conception of the universe is so foreign to what even scientists generally believed a mere century ago that it is a tribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/our-modern-conception-of-the-universe-is-so-foreign-to-what-even/) [Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/) > [Of Rhetoric various definitions have been given by different writers; who, however, seem not so much to have disagreed in their conceptions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/of-rhetoric-various-definitions-have-been-given-by-different-writers/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Music comes from the heart and returns to the heart... music is spontaneous, impulsive expression... its range is without limit... music is forever growing...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-stokowski/music-comes-from-the-heart-and-returns-to-the-heart-music-is/) [Leopold Stokowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-stokowski/) > [The oppressed without hope are mysteriously quiet. When the conception of change is beyond the limits of the possible, there are no words to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-rowbotham/the-oppressed-without-hope-are-mysteriously-quiet-when-the-conception/) [Sheila Rowbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-rowbotham/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [ \[Joseph\] Stalin closes the exposition of these \[Leon Trotsky\] ideas with the words, "Such are in general the characteristic features of \[Vladimir\] Lenin's conception… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/joseph-stalin-closes-the-exposition-of-these-leon-trotsky-ideas-with/) [Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/) [Browse all 865 Conception quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is more selfishness and less principle among members of Congress than I had any conception of, before I became President of the U.S.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James K. 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