---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The function of the politician…"
description: "\"The function of the politician, therefore, is one of continuous watchfulness and activity, and he must have intimate knowledge of details if he would w..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/john-george-nicolay-34087_activity_the-function-of-the-politician-therefore_1082866.png"
---

#  The function of the politician, therefore, is one of…

![“The function of the politician, therefore, is one of continuous watchfulness and activity, and he must have intimate knowledge of details if he would work out grand results.” quote by John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/john-george-nicolay-34087_activity_the-function-of-the-politician-therefore_1082866.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/john-george-nicolay-34087_activity_the-function-of-the-politician-therefore_1082866.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/john-george-nicolay-34087_activity_the-function-of-the-politician-therefore_1082866.png)

> “The function of the politician, therefore, is one of continuous watchfulness and activity, and he must have intimate knowledge of details if he would work out grand results.”

[John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Politicians must stay vigilant, understand details, and use that knowledge to achieve big goals.

**In simple terms:** Leaders need detail and vigilance.

Key Takeaway

Stay informed and active.

Themes

leadership vigilance detail

Mood

analytical strategic

Type

political motivational

When to use this quote

- policy making
- crisis management
- legislative work

Key Concepts

political theory strategic planning

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance detail with vision?
- What detail is most critical for your role?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on detail can hinder big-picture vision.

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[Intimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimate/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Watchfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watchfulness/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/)

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## More by John George Nicolay

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Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes

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