--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What struck me more than anything is how…" description: "\"What struck me more than anything is how the people that are involved in government start out from a place of really wanting to do well, no matter what..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/jimmy-smits-3297_computers_what-struck-me-more-than-anything-is-how_69232.jpg" --- # What struck me more than anything is how the people that… ![“What struck me more than anything is how the people that are involved in government start out from a place of really wanting to do well, no matter what kind of political spectrum they're on, how they have to hold onto that warm fuzzy place in their heart while they're stuck in the machine.” quote by Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/jimmy-smits-3297_computers_what-struck-me-more-than-anything-is-how_69232.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/jimmy-smits-3297_computers_what-struck-me-more-than-anything-is-how_69232.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/jimmy-smits-3297_computers_what-struck-me-more-than-anything-is-how_69232.jpg) > “What struck me more than anything is how the people that are involved in government start out from a place of really wanting to do well, no matter what kind of political spectrum they're on, how they have to hold onto that warm fuzzy place in their heart while they're stuck in the machine.” [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) ## 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 observes that public servants often begin with sincere intentions, yet become constrained by bureaucratic systems that can erode their idealism. **In simple terms:** Idealism vs. bureaucracy Key Takeaway Good intentions can be compromised by institutional inertia Themes public service bureaucracy idealism political spectrum human nature Mood reflective cautious empathetic Type observation commentary When to use this quote - policy drafting - legislative negotiations - government agency work - public sector leadership Key Concepts motivation institutional pressure ethical compromise Practical Applications - designing reforms to preserve employee morale - training programs on ethical decision‑making Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions safeguard the original motivations of their staff? - What mechanisms can prevent bureaucratic fatigue? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political spectrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-spectrum/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [He convinced me that if we're going to have honest government that you can't leave it up to the crooks and that honest people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-scott/he-convinced-me-that-if-we-re-going-to-have-honest-government-that/) [Bill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-scott/) > [If you start getting involved with government on, this one gets this pay and this one gets that pay, then you say, where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-you-start-getting-involved-with-government-on-this-one-gets-this/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [You're a sovereign as a citizen. If you're not involved in your government, you're not doing your job. In the long run that's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-novak/you-re-a-sovereign-as-a-citizen-if-you-re-not-involved-in-your/) [Michael Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-novak/) > [When the people become involved in their government, government becomes more accountable, and our society is stronger, more compassionate, and better prepared for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/when-the-people-become-involved-in-their-government-government/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I've never been involved in any kind of political movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issey-miyake/i-ve-never-been-involved-in-any-kind-of-political-movement/) [Issey Miyake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issey-miyake/) > [I like being my age. 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I start with a perspective concerned about the growth of that power, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-cuccinelli/i-start-with-a-concern-about-the-growth-of-federal-government-i-start/) [Ken Cuccinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-cuccinelli/) > [If you're looking for ways to cut waste in government, you can start with John Prescott.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/if-you-re-looking-for-ways-to-cut-waste-in-government-you-can-start/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [Government must start to look at mobile infrastructure as a critical national resource and not just a resource for tax dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/borje-ekholm/government-must-start-to-look-at-mobile-infrastructure-as-a-critical/) [Borje Ekholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/borje-ekholm/) > [I don't bring God into my life to - to, you know, kind of be a political person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-don-t-bring-god-into-my-life-to-to-you-know-kind-of-be-a-political/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I know that the right kind of political leader for the Labour Party is a desiccated calculating machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-bevan/i-know-that-the-right-kind-of-political-leader-for-the-labour-party/) [Aneurin Bevan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-bevan/) > [Our job as a government is to start with the great underpinnings of our current economic growth - particularly defence and mining - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-weatherill/our-job-as-a-government-is-to-start-with-the-great-underpinnings-of/) [Jay Weatherill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-weatherill/) > [Red lines are kind of political arguments that are used to try to put people in a corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/red-lines-are-kind-of-political-arguments-that-are-used-to-try-to-put/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Art is not politics. The glory of the novel is that in its essence, it is a democratic form, because it treats individuals as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/art-is-not-politics-the-glory-of-the-novel-is-that-in-its-essence-it/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) ## More by Jimmy Smits > [Growing up in New York, we lived all around the city depending on our economic circumstance. I also lived in Puerto Rico for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/growing-up-in-new-york-we-lived-all-around-the-city-depending-on-our/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I left 'L.A. Law' after five years when my contract was up because I felt I had done all I could do with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-left-l-a-law-after-five-years-when-my-contract-was-up-because-i/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I don't feel I have to acknowledge how I'm doing by an award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-don-t-feel-i-have-to-acknowledge-how-i-m-doing-by-an-award/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [People become actors because they want to hide, and it's not easy to talk about myself. I accept that a certain responsibility goes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/people-become-actors-because-they-want-to-hide-and-it-s-not-easy-to/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [As an actor, you think to yourself, 'I want to do good work,' but you also want the work that you do to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/as-an-actor-you-think-to-yourself-i-want-to-do-good-work-but-you-also/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I have no tattoos at all - it was a huge undertaking for me in the '80s to let my parents know I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-have-no-tattoos-at-all-it-was-a-huge-undertaking-for-me-in-the-80s/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [It just makes you feel proud, more than anything else, that the work has in some way transcended itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/it-just-makes-you-feel-proud-more-than-anything-else-that-the-work/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [The most obvious thing that comes to mind is the loss of one's privacy. Your life becomes an open book, but I've found ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/the-most-obvious-thing-that-comes-to-mind-is-the-loss-of-one-s/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [Michael C. Hall is an incredibly detailed actor who can convey so much with just an eyebrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/michael-c-hall-is-an-incredibly-detailed-actor-who-can-convey-so-much/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [The Fourth of July concert is invigorating in so many ways, in terms of what it feels like to be an American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/the-fourth-of-july-concert-is-invigorating-in-so-many-ways-in-terms/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [You have to be like a sponge and use what you can and how it relates because TV is fluid. Things change on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/you-have-to-be-like-a-sponge-and-use-what-you-can-and-how-it-relates/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [California has been very good to me in terms of the professional arena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/california-has-been-very-good-to-me-in-terms-of-the-professional-arena/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I save the rage for the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-save-the-rage-for-the-stage/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I almost feel like sometimes when I'm on location, you miss your home and your family and all that stuff, but it keeps you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-almost-feel-like-sometimes-when-i-m-on-location-you-miss-your-home/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I have carried the burden of being a role model for some time. And that's great. The body of work I've done has afforded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-have-carried-the-burden-of-being-a-role-model-for-some-time-and/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) [Explore all 134 Jimmy Smits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) ## More Computers quotes > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“Probably it goes without saying, but time machine guys don't get a lot of action. 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They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-sheridan/note-found-in-the-patron-suggestion-box-you-have-signs-up-near-the/) [Gina Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-sheridan/) > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. 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No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cjs-hayward/alan-turing-proposed-the-turing-test-a-computer-is-intelligent-if-you/) [CJS Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cjs-hayward/) > [Computers can be taught that certain tune or certain chords changes will sound pleasant together, but I don't think it's going to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/computers-can-be-taught-that-certain-tune-or-certain-chords-changes/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [“According to this model, human beings are, at least in one aspect, sensation-receiving machines; and although our receptory apparatus is competent to select and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cruce-stark/according-to-this-model-human-beings-are-at-least-in-one-aspect/) Cruce Stark > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) [Browse all 9,389 Computers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What struck me more than anything is how the people that are involved in government start out from a place of really wanting to do well, no matter what kind of political spectrum they're on, how they have to hold onto that warm fuzzy place in their heart while they're stuck in the machine.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jimmy Smits" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/what-struck-me-more-than-anything-is-how-the-people-that-are-involved/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Computers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/what-struck-me-more-than-anything-is-how-the-people-that-are-involved/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/jimmy-smits-3297_computers_what-struck-me-more-than-anything-is-how_69232.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/jimmy-smits-3297_computers_what-struck-me-more-than-anything-is-how_69232.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/jimmy-smits-3297_computers_what-struck-me-more-than-anything-is-how_69232.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What struck me more than anything is how the people that are involved in government start out from a place…” — Jimmy Smits", "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": "Jimmy Smits", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What struck me more than anything...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/what-struck-me-more-than-anything-is-how-the-people-that-are-involved/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/what-struck-me-more-than-anything-is-how-the-people-that-are-involved/#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 } } ] } ```