--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Believe it or not, one of the things I…" description: "\"Believe it or not, one of the things I try to do around here is try to look for opportunities to work with people across the aisle. I know that's not t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/john-cornyn-11060_believe_believe-it-or-not-one-of-the-things-i-tr_2383991.jpg" --- # Believe it or not, one of the things I try to do around… ![“Believe it or not, one of the things I try to do around here is try to look for opportunities to work with people across the aisle. I know that's not the common narrative. But the truth is if you want to get anything done, that's an absolute requirement.” quote by John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/john-cornyn-11060_believe_believe-it-or-not-one-of-the-things-i-tr_2383991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/john-cornyn-11060_believe_believe-it-or-not-one-of-the-things-i-tr_2383991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/john-cornyn-11060_believe_believe-it-or-not-one-of-the-things-i-tr_2383991.jpg) > “Believe it or not, one of the things I try to do around here is try to look for opportunities to work with people across the aisle. I know that's not the common narrative. But the truth is if you want to get anything done, that's an absolute requirement.” [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collaboration across political divides is essential for achieving results, despite prevailing narratives. **In simple terms:** Working together across parties gets things done. Key Takeaway Seek bipartisan cooperation. Themes politics collaboration effectiveness Mood optimistic determined Type political inspirational When to use this quote - legislative negotiations - community projects - cross‑party initiatives Key Concepts bipartisanship policy making Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster trust with ideological opponents? - What common goals can unite diverse groups? A Different Perspective Partisan pressures can hinder cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunities/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [There are enormous opportunities to work for a world that is more free, peaceful and just.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-enormous-opportunities-to-work-for-a-world-that-is-more/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If there are any offers, opportunities to work abroad in the U.S., then why not? I'll definitely try that out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pia-wurtzbach/if-there-are-any-offers-opportunities-to-work-abroad-in-the-u-s-then/) [Pia Wurtzbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pia-wurtzbach/) > [I look for my opportunities, not trying to go outside of my genuine realm, because leadership has to be genuine and authentic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rodgers/i-look-for-my-opportunities-not-trying-to-go-outside-of-my-genuine/) [Aaron Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rodgers/) > [Those who continually look for opportunities are destined to fail. Good opportunities always seem to find you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-continually-look-for-opportunities-are-destined-to-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always look for opportunities to support the arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-morgan/i-always-look-for-opportunities-to-support-the-arts/) [Sonja Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-morgan/) > [“Cultivating ‘partners-in-crime’: looking for the ‘win-win’ opportunities to work with equally savvy, equally useful and equally inspiring people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-allcott/cultivating-partners-in-crime-looking-for-the-win-win-opportunities/) [Graham Allcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-allcott/) > [I'll be reaching across the aisle to find opportunities to work with Democrats on the issues that desperately need to be addressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/i-ll-be-reaching-across-the-aisle-to-find-opportunities-to-work-with/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [When people say to me: "Oh don't worry, if one door closes another one opens..." If one door closes for me, go through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-clarke/when-people-say-to-me-oh-don-t-worry-if-one-door-closes-another-one/) [Noel Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-clarke/) > [“Feeling unlucky? Find opportunities, work your butts off and nail them!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-saifuddin/feeling-unlucky-find-opportunities-work-your-butts-off-and-nail-them/) [Mustafa Saifuddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-saifuddin/) > [Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-j-kaiser-2/problems-are-only-opportunities-in-work-clothes/) Henry J Kaiser > [I want to be the best version of me, I want to improve, to give opportunities through my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tite/i-want-to-be-the-best-version-of-me-i-want-to-improve-to-give/) [Tite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tite/) > [Members of trusting teams accept questions and input about their areas or responsibility, appreciate and tap into one another's skills and experiences, and look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/members-of-trusting-teams-accept-questions-and-input-about-their/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I am happy that, post-'Aashiqui 2,' I am getting opportunities to work with big names.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aditya-roy-kapur/i-am-happy-that-post-aashiqui-2-i-am-getting-opportunities-to-work/) [Aditya Roy Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aditya-roy-kapur/) > [Look for opportunities to help someone else, but don't give expecting something in return. Give knowing that if we give we receive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david/look-for-opportunities-to-help-someone-else-but-don-t-give-expecting/) [David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david/) > [I look back and I look at all the opportunities that I've had to work really hard and really challenge myself, and I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-swank/i-look-back-and-i-look-at-all-the-opportunities-that-i-ve-had-to-work/) [Hilary Swank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-swank/) ## More by John Cornyn > [There is no doubt where the founding fathers stood on this issue. They believed that people of faith should be permitted to express themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/there-is-no-doubt-where-the-founding-fathers-stood-on-this-issue-they/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [I am pleased to report that Texas is known for having one of the strongest set of open government laws in our Nation. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/i-am-pleased-to-report-that-texas-is-known-for-having-one-of-the/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [You can always find a reason to say no. It's the easiest vote. It's also not exactly a red badge of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/you-can-always-find-a-reason-to-say-no-it-s-the-easiest-vote-it-s/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [The enemy is not just terrorism. It is the threat posed specifically by Islamist terrorism, by Bin Ladin and others who draw on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/the-enemy-is-not-just-terrorism-it-is-the-threat-posed-specifically/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [But I think the - what the tea party movement demonstrates, and I think the, the, the enthusiasm that we're seeing from independents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/but-i-think-the-what-the-tea-party-movement-demonstrates-and-i-think/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [If there is a nuclear tactic being used here, I submit it is the use of that obstruction where a willful minority blocks a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/if-there-is-a-nuclear-tactic-being-used-here-i-submit-it-is-the-use/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Think for a moment about what Obamacare has done: The federal government has come up with its own (ever-evolving) definition of 'health insurance,' which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/think-for-a-moment-about-what-obamacare-has-done-the-federal/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [The Supreme Court has never ruled that Congress can use the Commerce Clause to require individuals to engage in an activity they have chosen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/the-supreme-court-has-never-ruled-that-congress-can-use-the-commerce/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Depictions or expressions of sex, violence, crime are all permitted virtually without limit; but religion, it seems, never.No wonder many in America seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/depictions-or-expressions-of-sex-violence-crime-are-all-permitted/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [But I do think its unwise, and it - to build a mosque at the site where 3,000 Americans lost their lives as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/but-i-do-think-its-unwise-and-it-to-build-a-mosque-at-the-site-where/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Sometimes, it might be called conservative; sometimes it might be called liberal. But the point is that the meaning of the Constitution and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/sometimes-it-might-be-called-conservative-sometimes-it-might-be/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Raising taxes is the last thing we should do amid the weakest economic recovery since World War II. Unfortunately, even if we avoid the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/raising-taxes-is-the-last-thing-we-should-do-amid-the-weakest/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [And if you like 14.4 percent unemployment, if you like the fact that 70 percent of home mortgages in Nevada are underwater, then stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/and-if-you-like-14-4-percent-unemployment-if-you-like-the-fact-that/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Our military service members put their lives on the line to protect the rights and freedoms of all Americans - yet many still face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/our-military-service-members-put-their-lives-on-the-line-to-protect/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [By the Obama administration's reasoning, it would be constitutionally permissible to make Americans purchase nearly any product (broccoli, gym membership) that improved their health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/by-the-obama-administration-s-reasoning-it-would-be-constitutionally/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) [Explore all 62 John Cornyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [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/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Believe it or not, one of the things I try to do around here is try to look for opportunities to work with people across the aisle. I know that's not the common narrative. 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