--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't decide to run for president to…" description: "\"I didn't decide to run for president to start a national crusade for the political reforms I believed in, or to run a campaign as if it were some grand..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/john-mccain-465_ambition_i-didn-t-decide-to-run-for-president-to_1990967.png" --- # I didn't decide to run for president to start a national… ![“I didn't decide to run for president to start a national crusade for the political reforms I believed in, or to run a campaign as if it were some grand act of patriotism. In truth, I wanted to be president because it had become my ambition to be president.” quote by John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/john-mccain-465_ambition_i-didn-t-decide-to-run-for-president-to_1990967.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/john-mccain-465_ambition_i-didn-t-decide-to-run-for-president-to_1990967.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/john-mccain-465_ambition_i-didn-t-decide-to-run-for-president-to_1990967.png) > “I didn't decide to run for president to start a national crusade for the political reforms I believed in, or to run a campaign as if it were some grand act of patriotism. In truth, I wanted to be president because it had become my ambition to be president.” [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He ran for president driven by personal ambition rather than ideological crusade. **In simple terms:** Ambition, not ideals, motivated his candidacy. Key Takeaway Recognize personal motives behind public actions. Themes politics ambition leadership Mood reflective serious Type political personal When to use this quote - campaign strategy - personal branding - public scrutiny Key Concepts self‑interest public perception career goals Questions to Reflect On - What personal goals drive your public decisions? - How do you balance ambition with responsibility? A Different Perspective Ambition may conflict with public expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Crusades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crusades/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-reform/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) ## Related quotes > [Many people wants to be the president...they have ambition. Just ambition is not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/many-people-wants-to-be-the-president-they-have-ambition-just/) [Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/) > [I never had ambition to become president of the state or to accomplish more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalia-grybauskaite/i-never-had-ambition-to-become-president-of-the-state-or-to/) [Dalia Grybauskaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalia-grybauskaite/) > [I've run my whole campaign on putting Georgians first, and I'm going to continue to do that, unlike Ms. Abrams, who wants to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kemp/i-ve-run-my-whole-campaign-on-putting-georgians-first-and-i-m-going/) [Brian Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kemp/) > [“I had never run a campaign, but I was an organizer. My job was to create momentum by mobilizing the constituency we had, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/i-had-never-run-a-campaign-but-i-was-an-organizer-my-job-was-to/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [When I am the candidate, I run the campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/when-i-am-the-candidate-i-run-the-campaign/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [If someone wants to run a campaign about '90s nostalgia, it's not going to be very successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/if-someone-wants-to-run-a-campaign-about-90s-nostalgia-it-s-not-going/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [I am not antigovernment. I would not run a campaign against government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/i-am-not-antigovernment-i-would-not-run-a-campaign-against-government/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [Do not run a campaign that would embarrass your mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/do-not-run-a-campaign-that-would-embarrass-your-mother/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [Every district is going to be different, but if you wanted me to give advice to those candidates: Run your own campaign, the DCCC…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zephyr-teachout/every-district-is-going-to-be-different-but-if-you-wanted-me-to-give/) [Zephyr Teachout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zephyr-teachout/) > [I run a campaign where we do not take on debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-glenn/i-run-a-campaign-where-we-do-not-take-on-debt/) [Darryl Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-glenn/) > [Every race I've been in, I calculated race into the equation. If you're in America, you calculate it into the equation. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-gantt/every-race-i-ve-been-in-i-calculated-race-into-the-equation-if-you-re/) [Harvey Gantt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-gantt/) > [I do a lot of referendums. They can't talk back. They don't have wives. They don't have friends who tell you how to run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/i-do-a-lot-of-referendums-they-can-t-talk-back-they-don-t-have-wives/) [Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/) > [We very constantly run this campaign to encourage people to go and get Identity Documents, to register, and so on. We'll continue to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/we-very-constantly-run-this-campaign-to-encourage-people-to-go-and/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [Just because you can win a campaign doesn't always mean you should run a campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laphonza-butler/just-because-you-can-win-a-campaign-doesn-t-always-mean-you-should/) [Laphonza Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laphonza-butler/) > [I don't think I would have to run a campaign that's financed like General Motors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/i-don-t-think-i-would-have-to-run-a-campaign-that-s-financed-like/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) ## More by John McCain > [I have the utmost confidence in General Mattis, General Flynn, General Kelly, Dan Coates. I couldn't have picked a better team. And so I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-have-the-utmost-confidence-in-general-mattis-general-flynn-general/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Washington is a Hollywood for ugly people. Hollywood is a Washington for the simpleminded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/washington-is-a-hollywood-for-ugly-people-hollywood-is-a-washington/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I think that it's important that we understand the importance of the Hispanic vote in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-think-that-it-s-important-that-we-understand-the-importance-of-the/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [It is perhaps my greatest hope, Mr. President, that some day we'll consider tax and spending measures with no one else in mind but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/it-is-perhaps-my-greatest-hope-mr-president-that-some-day-we-ll/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [This kind of horror has become all too familiar to us. As parents, Cindy and I offer our prayers to the memory of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/this-kind-of-horror-has-become-all-too-familiar-to-us-as-parents/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [The truth is sometimes a hard pill to swallow. It sometimes causes us difficulties at home and abroad. It is sometimes used by our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/the-truth-is-sometimes-a-hard-pill-to-swallow-it-sometimes-causes-us/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Countries, not just their armies, win wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/countries-not-just-their-armies-win-wars/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [My greatest fear is the Iranians acquire a nuclear weapon and give it to a terrorist organization. And there is a real threat of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/my-greatest-fear-is-the-iranians-acquire-a-nuclear-weapon-and-give-it/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Presidential ambition is a disease that can only be cured by embalming fluid .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/presidential-ambition-is-a-disease-that-can-only-be-cured-by/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [3 "amnesty" didn't mean rewarding illegal behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/3-amnesty-didn-t-mean-rewarding-illegal-behavior/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [On the subject of Osama bin Laden... we will track him down. We will capture him. We will bring him to justice, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/on-the-subject-of-osama-bin-laden-we-will-track-him-down-we-will/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [That's Joe Biden right there - unbowed, unbroken and unable to stop talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/that-s-joe-biden-right-there-unbowed-unbroken-and-unable-to-stop/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) [Explore all 539 John McCain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't decide to run for president to start a national crusade for the political reforms I believed in, or to run a campaign as if it were some grand act of patriotism. 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