--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A gaffe in Washington is someone telling…" description: "\"A gaffe in Washington is someone telling the truth, and telling the truth has never hurt me.\" — Joe Biden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/joe-biden-454_hurt_a-gaffe-in-washington-is-someone-telling_2243180.jpg" --- # A gaffe in Washington is someone telling the truth, and… ![“A gaffe in Washington is someone telling the truth, and telling the truth has never hurt me.” quote by Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/joe-biden-454_hurt_a-gaffe-in-washington-is-someone-telling_2243180.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/joe-biden-454_hurt_a-gaffe-in-washington-is-someone-telling_2243180.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/joe-biden-454_hurt_a-gaffe-in-washington-is-someone-telling_2243180.jpg) > “A gaffe in Washington is someone telling the truth, and telling the truth has never hurt me.” [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speaking truth can be politically risky, yet it can also be powerful and authentic. **In simple terms:** Truth can be risky but powerful. Key Takeaway Speak honestly despite potential backlash. Themes politics honesty risk authenticity Mood candid serious Type political motivational When to use this quote - political debates - press interviews - campaign rallies Key Concepts public speaking media relations Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance honesty with political strategy? - When is truth more valuable than diplomacy? A Different Perspective Truth may alienate allies or voters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gaffe Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaffe-washington-1516937/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Hurt me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-me/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Telling the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-the-truth/) [Telling truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-truth/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-hurt-293510/) [Truth Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-telling-731035/) [Washington Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington-telling-2346307/) ## Related quotes > [Someone once noted that a 'gaffe' in Washington is when a politician accidentally tells the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/someone-once-noted-that-a-gaffe-in-washington-is-when-a-politician/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [Start telling the truth now and never stop. Begin by telling the truth to yourself about yourself. Then tell the truth to yourself about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/start-telling-the-truth-now-and-never-stop-begin-by-telling-the-truth/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [My function as a writer is not story-telling but truth-telling: to make things plain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-riding/my-function-as-a-writer-is-not-story-telling-but-truth-telling-to/) [Laura Riding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-riding/) > [Most people don't care if you're telling them the truth or if you're telling them a lie, as long as they're entertained by it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-people-don-t-care-if-you-re-telling-them-the-truth-or-if-you-re-2/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [“Telling a lie causes more centres of the brain to light up than telling the truth. Telling a lie implies that you know the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/telling-a-lie-causes-more-centres-of-the-brain-to-light-up-than/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [Trust is built on telling the truth, not telling people what they want to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/trust-is-built-on-telling-the-truth-not-telling-people-what-they-want/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [“I was beginning to understand something I couldn't articulate. It was a jazzy feeling in my chest, a fluttering, a kind of buzzing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/i-was-beginning-to-understand-something-i-couldn-t-articulate-it-was/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [Sometimes I don't tell the truth, which is telling the truth about not telling the truth. I think people don't tell the truth when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cher/sometimes-i-don-t-tell-the-truth-which-is-telling-the-truth-about-not/) [Cher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cher/) > [I've never feared anyone or worried what they said as long as what I'm telling is the truth, and I'm not telling lies about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-askren/i-ve-never-feared-anyone-or-worried-what-they-said-as-long-as-what-i/) [Ben Askren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-askren/) > [“If someone tells you a lie, they're not telling you the truth, but they are telling you something. It just takes longer to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-livesey/if-someone-tells-you-a-lie-they-re-not-telling-you-the-truth-but-they/) [Margot Livesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-livesey/) > [Telling the truth - telling thoughtful truths - should not be a revolutionary act. Speaking truths to power should not be sacrificial, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/telling-the-truth-telling-thoughtful-truths-should-not-be-a/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [Most people don't care if you're telling them the truth or if you're telling them a lie, as long as they're entertained by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-people-don-t-care-if-you-re-telling-them-the-truth-or-if-you-re/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I resent Washington telling states, or the residents of those states, what to do and what to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fortuno/i-resent-washington-telling-states-or-the-residents-of-those-states/) [Luis Fortuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fortuno/) > [I think there are too many bosses in Washington telling Nashville Diesel College and Harvard University how to run - how to run their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/i-think-there-are-too-many-bosses-in-washington-telling-nashville/) [Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/) > [The question for America is pretty simple: either we want a bunch of bureaucrats in Washington telling us what we can't do, or we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gaetz/the-question-for-america-is-pretty-simple-either-we-want-a-bunch-of/) [Matt Gaetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gaetz/) ## More by Joe Biden > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I always kid the president in different circumstances. Mr. President, a country's never going to be more optimistic than the president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-always-kid-the-president-in-different-circumstances-mr-president-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Anybody who pretends that how you read the 10th and 11th Amendment doesn't have a fundamental impact on the things we care about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/anybody-who-pretends-that-how-you-read-the-10th-and-11th-amendment/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-things-first-that-nobody-no-group/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Don't hold against me that I don't own - that I don't own a single stock or bond. Don't hold it - I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/don-t-hold-against-me-that-i-don-t-own-that-i-don-t-own-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“True bravery is when there is very little chance of winning, but you keep fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/true-bravery-is-when-there-is-very-little-chance-of-winning-but-you/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [No public funding for abortion; it imposes a view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/no-public-funding-for-abortion-it-imposes-a-view/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I've known and continue to know every one of these major world leaders by their first names, and I have access to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-ve-known-and-continue-to-know-every-one-of-these-major-world/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [We are working to deploy a powerful new radar network with American early warning systems,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-are-working-to-deploy-a-powerful-new-radar-network-with-american/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I'm joking, I'm joking. Best decision I ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-m-joking-i-m-joking-best-decision-i-ever-made/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [ Somalis have made my city of Wilmington, Delaware, \[their home\] on a smaller scale. There is a large, very identifiable Somali community, i might… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/somalis-have-made-my-city-of-wilmington-delaware-their-home-on-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“And don’t any of you, by the way, any of you guys vote Republican. I’m not supposed to say, this isn’t political. …don’t come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/and-don-t-any-of-you-by-the-way-any-of-you-guys-vote-republican-i-m/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [We also wanted to change the story - change the approach to the 21st century on energy, on education, on transportation, on infrastructure, generally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-also-wanted-to-change-the-story-change-the-approach-to-the-21st/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The spirit of Thanksgiving rests in our recognizing the blessings in our lives, and as we all take stock, I hope you will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-spirit-of-thanksgiving-rests-in-our-recognizing-the-blessings-in/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The president has a big stick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-president-has-a-big-stick/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) [Explore all 546 Joe Biden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) ## More Hurt quotes > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. I made it so hot that I had to get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-crandall/i-locked-the-door-and-turned-on-the-water-to-fill-the-tub-i-made-it/) [Susan Crandall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-crandall/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [It is easier to say you're mad, rather than admitting you're hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-easier-to-say-you-re-mad-rather-than-admitting-you-re-hurt/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [There's only so much for a man to take...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gilchrist/there-s-only-so-much-for-a-man-to-take/) [Kirsten Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gilchrist/) > [A HURTED HEART IS LIKE SMALL BABY WHICH CAN ONLY CRY BT IT WONT B ABLE 2 EXPRESS ITS FEELINGS.SO DONT HURT ANYBODY IN…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butterfly-kisses/a-hurted-heart-is-like-small-baby-which-can-only-cry-bt-it-wont-b/) [Butterfly\_Kisses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butterfly-kisses/) > [The greatest gift you can give to those around you is honesty. Sometimes honest words may sting the heart, but dishonesty pierces deep into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-to-those-around-you-is-honesty/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“I will run every mile, i will save every line, i will say i reached the top and i will fall back down standing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mennah-al-refaey/i-will-run-every-mile-i-will-save-every-line-i-will-say-i-reached-the/) [Mennah al refaey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mennah-al-refaey/) > [Some things hurt, you know, and there's pain. But we magnify the suffering of it often, I think, by our reactions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/some-things-hurt-you-know-and-there-s-pain-but-we-magnify-the/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [You can't force any one to love you, and fighting it, you just gonna hurt yourself badly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mongotleng/you-can-t-force-any-one-to-love-you-and-fighting-it-you-just-gonna/) [Edward Mongotleng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mongotleng/) > [This goes out to someone that was Once the most important person in my life I didn't realize it at the time I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviation/this-goes-out-to-someone-that-was-once-the-most-important-person-in/) [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aviation/) > [It hurt, of course, but more often than not the best things do, I've found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/it-hurt-of-course-but-more-often-than-not-the-best-things-do-i-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) [Browse all 13,577 Hurt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A gaffe in Washington is someone telling the truth, and telling the truth has never hurt me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joe Biden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/a-gaffe-in-washington-is-someone-telling-the-truth-and-telling-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hurt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/a-gaffe-in-washington-is-someone-telling-the-truth-and-telling-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/joe-biden-454_hurt_a-gaffe-in-washington-is-someone-telling_2243180.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/joe-biden-454_hurt_a-gaffe-in-washington-is-someone-telling_2243180.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea7/joe-biden-454_hurt_a-gaffe-in-washington-is-someone-telling_2243180.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A gaffe in Washington is someone telling the truth, and telling the truth has never hurt me.” — Joe Biden", "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": "Joe Biden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A gaffe in Washington is someone...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/a-gaffe-in-washington-is-someone-telling-the-truth-and-telling-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/a-gaffe-in-washington-is-someone-telling-the-truth-and-telling-the/#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 } } ] } ```