--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He wanted me to understand two big…" description: "\"“He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody, whether..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/joe-biden-454_big-things_he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-thing_27986.jpg" --- # He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that… ![“He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody, whether or not they'll like what he has to say. And second, that politics was a matter of personal honor. A man's word is his bond. You give your word, you…” quote by Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/joe-biden-454_big-things_he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-thing_27986.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/joe-biden-454_big-things_he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-thing_27986.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/joe-biden-454_big-things_he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-thing_27986.jpg) > ““He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody, whether or not they'll like what he has to say. And second, that politics was a matter of personal honor. A man's word is his bond. You give your word, you keep it. For as long as I can remember, I've had a sort of romantic notion of what politics should be- and can be. If you do politics the right way, I believe, you can actually make people's lives better. And integrity is the minimum ante to get into the game. Nearly forty years after I first got involved, I remain captivated by the possibilities of politics and public service. In fact, I believe- as I know my grandpop did- that my chosen profession is a noble calling.”” [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. The speaker emphasizes equality before the law, the duty of public servants to be honest, and politics as a noble, honor‑driven vocation that can improve lives. **In simple terms:** Equality, honesty, honor in politics Key Takeaway Politics should serve people with integrity Themes Equality Integrity Public Service Honor Political Idealism Mood Hopeful Idealistic Respectful Type Political Philosophical When to use this quote - Political leadership - Public speaking - Policy making - Community engagement Key Concepts Public duty Personal honor Nobility of service Practical Applications - Ethical governance - Civic education Questions to Reflect On - How can personal honor shape policy decisions? - What safeguards ensure public servants remain accountable? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-things/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Public servants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-servants/) [Public service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-service/) [Right way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-way/) ## Related quotes > [If you do politics the right way, I believe, you can actually make people's lives better. And integrity is the minimum ante to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/if-you-do-politics-the-right-way-i-believe-you-can-actually-make/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The cooking profession, while it's a noble craft and a noble calling, 'cause you're doing something useful - you're feeding people, you're nurturing them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/the-cooking-profession-while-it-s-a-noble-craft-and-a-noble-calling/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [The whole notion of politics is they always present you with this or this or this. I’ll get a newspaper to read between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/the-whole-notion-of-politics-is-they-always-present-you-with-this-or/) [Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/) > [Education must become central to any viable notion of politics willing to imagine a life and future outside of casino capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/education-must-become-central-to-any-viable-notion-of-politics/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Network news accustoms audiences to assertion not argument. Over time, it reinforces the notion that politics is about visceral identification and apposition, not complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hall-jamieson/network-news-accustoms-audiences-to-assertion-not-argument-over-time/) [Kathleen Hall Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hall-jamieson/) > [“Politics had seemed to become, even well before the age of Trump, a mortal affair. It was now zero-sum: When one side profited, another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/politics-had-seemed-to-become-even-well-before-the-age-of-trump-a/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [“anyone would fight for things that matter; true heroes take their personal honor so seriously they will fight for things that don’t matter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/anyone-would-fight-for-things-that-matter-true-heroes-take-their/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [Before the word 'resignation' became a euphemism for being fired, it connoted a sense of public integrity and personal honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/before-the-word-resignation-became-a-euphemism-for-being-fired-it/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [It is by no means enough that an officer should be capable. . . . He should be as well a gentleman of liberal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-jones/it-is-by-no-means-enough-that-an-officer-should-be-capable-he-should/) [John Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-jones/) > [You know, at the end of the day, the only thing you have is trust and honor in this world. That's all you have.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-tenet/you-know-at-the-end-of-the-day-the-only-thing-you-have-is-trust-and/) [George Tenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-tenet/) > [Throughout my career, I have lived by the principles of personal honor and professional integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/throughout-my-career-i-have-lived-by-the-principles-of-personal-honor/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [“Like Newt Gingrich shifting the focus from local to national, social media has transformed politics from the public to the personal. Whereas, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-yates-sexton/like-newt-gingrich-shifting-the-focus-from-local-to-national-social/) [Jared Yates Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-yates-sexton/) > [I was definitely one of those kids who, for whatever reason, followed politics and public policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/i-was-definitely-one-of-those-kids-who-for-whatever-reason-followed/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [It was not my wish to come into politics. I was not a public person; I preferred to spend my birthdays with family and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bidzina-ivanishvili/it-was-not-my-wish-to-come-into-politics-i-was-not-a-public-person-i/) [Bidzina Ivanishvili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bidzina-ivanishvili/) > [Is it a coincidence that stories from the private life became more popular just as the grand hope for public redemption through revolution was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/is-it-a-coincidence-that-stories-from-the-private-life-became-more/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [Two million felons have tried to buy a gun and, because of the background check, have been denied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/two-million-felons-have-tried-to-buy-a-gun-and-because-of-the/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) [Explore all 546 Joe Biden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) ## More Big things quotes > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [I want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/little-things-make-the-difference-everyone-is-well-prepared-in-the/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [I would not have lasted a minute, literally a minute, on this Earth without God and angels by my side, because I was born.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mattie-stepanek/i-would-not-have-lasted-a-minute-literally-a-minute-on-this-earth/) [Mattie Stepanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mattie-stepanek/) > [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth. I work because I enjoy what I'm doing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/it-s-silly-to-have-as-one-s-sole-object-in-life-just-making-money/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-dale-bell/show-me-a-man-who-cannot-bother-to-do-little-things-and-i-ll-show-you/) Lawrence Dale Bell > [ITS FUNNY HOW YOU CAN MAKE SILENT HAPPINESS TO OTHER PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR NONE SENSE ACTIONS. BECAUSE SOMETHINGS IT MAYBE LITTLE AS WE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-voice/its-funny-how-you-can-make-silent-happiness-to-other-people-out-of/) NO VOICE > [The little things, I can obey. But the big things - how we think, what we value - those you must choose yourself. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie-schwartz/the-little-things-i-can-obey-but-the-big-things-how-we-think-what-we/) [Morrie Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie-schwartz/) > [The little things are being early to meetings and lifts, stretching and warming up - doing all these things consistently, the walk-throughs that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-herbert/the-little-things-are-being-early-to-meetings-and-lifts-stretching/) [Justin Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-herbert/) > [I promise you this: at the end of your days, you will discover that the things you now perceive to be the big things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/i-promise-you-this-at-the-end-of-your-days-you-will-discover-that-the/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [“When it comes to big things in life, there are no accidents. Everything happens for a reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/when-it-comes-to-big-things-in-life-there-are-no-accidents-everything/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [President Barack Obama is a doer. And we in America will do big things with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/president-barack-obama-is-a-doer-and-we-in-america-will-do-big-things/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [There are experts in little things but there are no experts in big things. There are experts in this fact and that fact but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/there-are-experts-in-little-things-but-there-are-no-experts-in-big/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [It is not necessary to be in a big place to do big things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-sunday/it-is-not-necessary-to-be-in-a-big-place-to-do-big-things/) [Billy Sunday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-sunday/) [Browse all 748 Big things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody, whether or not they'll like what he has to say. And second, that politics was a matter of personal honor. A man's word is his bond. You give your word, you keep it. 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