--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't need to be speaker because I…" description: "\"I didn't need to be speaker because I needed a fancy title or a big office. I wanted to be speaker so I could lead an effort to deal with the serious i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/john-boehner-7050_because_i-didn-t-need-to-be-speaker-because-i-ne_1842478.png" --- # I didn't need to be speaker because I needed a fancy title… ![“I didn't need to be speaker because I needed a fancy title or a big office. I wanted to be speaker so I could lead an effort to deal with the serious issues that are facing our country.” quote by John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/john-boehner-7050_because_i-didn-t-need-to-be-speaker-because-i-ne_1842478.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/john-boehner-7050_because_i-didn-t-need-to-be-speaker-because-i-ne_1842478.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/john-boehner-7050_because_i-didn-t-need-to-be-speaker-because-i-ne_1842478.png) > “I didn't need to be speaker because I needed a fancy title or a big office. I wanted to be speaker so I could lead an effort to deal with the serious issues that are facing our country.” [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership is about purpose, not titles or prestige. **In simple terms:** Lead to solve problems, not for status. Key Takeaway Serve with intention. Themes leadership service integrity Mood determined serious Type political inspirational When to use this quote - political office - community projects - policy reform - crisis management Key Concepts public service politics Questions to Reflect On - What issue would you champion if you led? - How do you stay humble in leadership? A Different Perspective Power can corrupt intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deal/) [Didn Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-need/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Facing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facing/) [Fancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Need Speaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-speaker-2361591/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [Speaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaker/) [Speaker Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaker-lead-2361593/) [Speaker Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaker-needed-2361592/) [Title](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/title/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Speaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-speaker-2361590/) ## Related quotes > [“somehow, that night, I realized that I didn’t need to worry about tomorrow. I was fine where I was. I just needed to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/somehow-that-night-i-realized-that-i-didn-t-need-to-worry-about/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) > [“I didn't need his criticism. I carried enough guilt on my own. I had done everything wrong. I had the highest marks in school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/i-didn-t-need-his-criticism-i-carried-enough-guilt-on-my-own-i-had/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [I didn’t need you, you idiot. I picked you. And then you picked me back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-didn-t-need-you-you-idiot-i-picked-you-and-then-you-picked-me-back/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [It seemed like a very small possibility for me to become an artist. I didn't have the need to be on the stage; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurora/it-seemed-like-a-very-small-possibility-for-me-to-become-an-artist-i/) [Aurora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurora/) > [President Bush has said that he does not need approval from the UN to wage war, and I'm thinking, well, hell, he didn't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/president-bush-has-said-that-he-does-not-need-approval-from-the-un-to/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I used to try to figure out precisely what I was seeing all the time, until I discovered I didn't need to. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-evans/i-used-to-try-to-figure-out-precisely-what-i-was-seeing-all-the-time/) [Walker Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-evans/) > [“I didn’t need to be liked. I didn’t need friends, and I centrainly didn’t need the kid trying to guild me into being something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/i-didn-t-need-to-be-liked-i-didn-t-need-friends-and-i-centrainly-didn/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [“intern that Lizzy didn’t need or want,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-ragan/intern-that-lizzy-didn-t-need-or-want/) [T.R. Ragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-ragan/) > [People who didn't need people needed people around to know that they were the kind of people who didn't need people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/people-who-didn-t-need-people-needed-people-around-to-know-that-they/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Ronan didn't need physics. He could intimidate even a piece of plywood into doing what he wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/ronan-didn-t-need-physics-he-could-intimidate-even-a-piece-of-plywood/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I didn't love you because I needed someone, I loved you because you were there for me when I didn't need you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-didn-t-love-you-because-i-needed-someone-i-loved-you-because-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I didn't need the elf outfit to play an elf; I could just play an elf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-didn-t-need-the-elf-outfit-to-play-an-elf-i-could-just-play-an-elf/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [I moved to L.A. right after I finished high school, for three years, because everybody was telling me it was important to get down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-thieriot/i-moved-to-l-a-right-after-i-finished-high-school-for-three-years/) [Max Thieriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-thieriot/) > [“Men tend to think all of their points were good, and they sure as hell didn’t need me to boost their already inflated egos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/men-tend-to-think-all-of-their-points-were-good-and-they-sure-as-hell/) [J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/) > [I didn't need more fame or money. I needed more heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/i-didn-t-need-more-fame-or-money-i-needed-more-heart/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) ## More by John Boehner > [House Republicans want to pass a strong border security, illegal immigration bill. We want a bill. There is no ifs, ands or buts about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/house-republicans-want-to-pass-a-strong-border-security-illegal/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [The American people think the government in Washington is too big. That it spends too much. And - and that it's totally out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/the-american-people-think-the-government-in-washington-is-too-big/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [You can't be somebody that you're not, because all of you shows up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/you-can-t-be-somebody-that-you-re-not-because-all-of-you-shows-up/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [They know the importance of their mission and of America's commitment to combating and defeating terrorism abroad, and they know that they are making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/they-know-the-importance-of-their-mission-and-of-america-s-commitment/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [I’ll commit suicide before I vote on a clean minimum-wage bill,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/i-ll-commit-suicide-before-i-vote-on-a-clean-minimum-wage-bill/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [But make no mistake, the President will find in our new majority the voice of the American people as they've expressed it tonight: standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/but-make-no-mistake-the-president-will-find-in-our-new-majority-the/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [The United States did not choose to fight Islamic extremists. These terrorists chose to fight our way of life. They chose to challenge our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/the-united-states-did-not-choose-to-fight-islamic-extremists-these/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [During the 1990s, world leaders looked at the mounting threat of terrorism, looked up, looked away, and hoped the problem would go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/during-the-1990s-world-leaders-looked-at-the-mounting-threat-of/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [House and Senate Republicans are now united in adopting earmark bans. We hope President Obama will follow through on his support for an earmark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/house-and-senate-republicans-are-now-united-in-adopting-earmark-bans/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [And that is why marriage and family law has emphasized the importance of marriage as the foundation of family, addressing the needs of children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/and-that-is-why-marriage-and-family-law-has-emphasized-the-importance/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [Our challenge, our opportunity is to pass common-sense solutions ... that repeal ObamaCare and replace it with patient-centered reforms that will help our constituents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/our-challenge-our-opportunity-is-to-pass-common-sense-solutions-that/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [The bill that was about jobs, jobs, jobs has turned into a bill that's about spending, spending, spending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/the-bill-that-was-about-jobs-jobs-jobs-has-turned-into-a-bill-that-s/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [Each and every day, Israel's very existence is at stake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/each-and-every-day-israel-s-very-existence-is-at-stake/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [ALEC, has been I think a wonderful organization. Not only does it bring like-minded legislators together. But the private sector engagement in partnership in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/alec-has-been-i-think-a-wonderful-organization-not-only-does-it-bring/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) > [They have called Operation Iraqi Freedom a war of choice that isn't part of the real war on terror. Someone should tell that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boehner/they-have-called-operation-iraqi-freedom-a-war-of-choice-that-isn-t/) [John Boehner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) [Explore all 95 John Boehner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boehner/) ## More Because quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [There were songs that we cut out after we chose the name, because 'Praise Break' turned out to be an underlying concept that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/there-were-songs-that-we-cut-out-after-we-chose-the-name-because/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-was-also-known-as-frodo-because-i-was-an-early-adopter-of-the-lord/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/sometimes-when-full-and-in-fear-that-i-will-continue-to-eat-unwanted/) [Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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