--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I decided to run for Congress, I saw…" description: "\"When I decided to run for Congress, I saw it as an opportunity to serve the South Jersey community that had become my home after signing to play for th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/jon-runyan-30713_after_when-i-decided-to-run-for-congress-i-saw_1213455.jpg" --- # When I decided to run for Congress, I saw it as an… ![“When I decided to run for Congress, I saw it as an opportunity to serve the South Jersey community that had become my home after signing to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. I didn't choose public service out of political ambition or a desire for power, and never once thought of making a career of…” quote by Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/jon-runyan-30713_after_when-i-decided-to-run-for-congress-i-saw_1213455.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/jon-runyan-30713_after_when-i-decided-to-run-for-congress-i-saw_1213455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/jon-runyan-30713_after_when-i-decided-to-run-for-congress-i-saw_1213455.jpg) > “When I decided to run for Congress, I saw it as an opportunity to serve the South Jersey community that had become my home after signing to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. I didn't choose public service out of political ambition or a desire for power, and never once thought of making a career of it.” [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Running for office was motivated by community service, not personal ambition or power. **In simple terms:** Service, not ambition, drove the decision. Key Takeaway Prioritize community needs over personal gain. Themes public service humility community integrity Mood determined hopeful serious Type political motivational When to use this quote - local elections - nonprofit work - volunteer initiatives - policy advocacy Key Concepts civic duty motivational psychology leadership ethics Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to serve? - How can you stay grounded in public office? A Different Perspective Political roles often involve ambition and power dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire for power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-for-power/) [Eagles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eagles/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Philadelphia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philadelphia/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-ambition/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Public service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-service/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [An exceptional career is one that provides an opportunity to serve. It is a satisfying career in which you can't wait to get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/an-exceptional-career-is-one-that-provides-an-opportunity-to-serve-it/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [Leadership is an opportunity to serve. It is not a trumpet call to self- importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leadership-is-an-opportunity-to-serve-it-is-not-a-trumpet-call-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The opportunity to serve our country—that is all we ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smith/the-opportunity-to-serve-our-country-that-is-all-we-ask/) [John Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smith/) > [God gives us opportunity to serve him by serving humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shri-radhe-maa/god-gives-us-opportunity-to-serve-him-by-serving-humanity/) [Shri Radhe Maa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shri-radhe-maa/) > [Everyone has an opportunity to be great because everyone has an opportunity to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/everyone-has-an-opportunity-to-be-great-because-everyone-has-an/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I'd like to have another opportunity to serve. I believe in service. I enjoy it. I also like coming and going, you know, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deval-patrick/i-d-like-to-have-another-opportunity-to-serve-i-believe-in-service-i/) [Deval Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deval-patrick/) > [One should see any opportunity to serve as a rare and precious gift...and never waste such an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/one-should-see-any-opportunity-to-serve-as-a-rare-and-precious-gift/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [For me, life is an opportunity to serve Him, and death is the privilege of getting to be with Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-dibaj/for-me-life-is-an-opportunity-to-serve-him-and-death-is-the-privilege/) [Mehdi Dibaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-dibaj/) > [By getting an opportunity to serve society, we get a chance to repay our debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/by-getting-an-opportunity-to-serve-society-we-get-a-chance-to-repay/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Any opportunity to serve in the Church is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-b-wickman/any-opportunity-to-serve-in-the-church-is-a-blessing/) [Lance B. Wickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-b-wickman/) > [For me politics is an opportunity to serve the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bappi-lahiri/for-me-politics-is-an-opportunity-to-serve-the-country/) [Bappi Lahiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bappi-lahiri/) > [“Whenever you get opportunity to serve, serve with all your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/whenever-you-get-opportunity-to-serve-serve-with-all-your-heart/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The opportunity to serve is everywhere if the heart is seeking and there is a willingness to take action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hon/the-opportunity-to-serve-is-everywhere-if-the-heart-is-seeking-and/) [Henry Hon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hon/) > [Let's always remember that we work for the people of Louisiana. They honored us with the opportunity to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bel-edwards/let-s-always-remember-that-we-work-for-the-people-of-louisiana-they/) [John Bel Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bel-edwards/) > [While I've been asked to run for Congress, I really believe we need to defend freedom locally. And by doing that, by just standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-shea/while-i-ve-been-asked-to-run-for-congress-i-really-believe-we-need-to/) [Matt Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-shea/) ## More by Jon Runyan > [It was Hurricane Sandy that not only decimated parts of my district but pushed me to the brink of my frustrations with the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/it-was-hurricane-sandy-that-not-only-decimated-parts-of-my-district/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [I always step back and look at - you know, look at my background in playing team sports my whole life and taking that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/i-always-step-back-and-look-at-you-know-look-at-my-background-in/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [It's been in the back of my head for five or six years, but more on the local level to get involved and try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/it-s-been-in-the-back-of-my-head-for-five-or-six-years-but-more-on/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [I take ownership of every mistake I've ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/i-take-ownership-of-every-mistake-i-ve-ever-made/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [A lot of people are in politics to make friends, too, instead of making positive change. Theyre worried about getting re-elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/a-lot-of-people-are-in-politics-to-make-friends-too-instead-of-making/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [After a great deal of thought and discussions with my family, I have decided not to seek re-election in 2014. Politics shouldn't be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/after-a-great-deal-of-thought-and-discussions-with-my-family-i-have/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [Ive been blessed with a lot of great things in my life, and one of them was work ethic. And with work ethic, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/ive-been-blessed-with-a-lot-of-great-things-in-my-life-and-one-of/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [The biggest change we have to tackle that's out there is that we're digging the hole deeper and deeper and spending is totally out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/the-biggest-change-we-have-to-tackle-that-s-out-there-is-that-we-re/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [People have challenged me all my life, told me I wasn't fast enough, wasn't smart enough, but you know what? No one's ever outworked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/people-have-challenged-me-all-my-life-told-me-i-wasn-t-fast-enough/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [I've been blessed with a lot of great things in my life, and one of them was work ethic. And with work ethic, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/i-ve-been-blessed-with-a-lot-of-great-things-in-my-life-and-one-of/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [Believe it or not, there are members of Congress who actually want to govern and get stuff done. Unfortunately, there are others whose agendas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/believe-it-or-not-there-are-members-of-congress-who-actually-want-to/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [I tell you how I feel and how we're going to solve it. That's my unique personality and that's how I carry myself. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/i-tell-you-how-i-feel-and-how-we-re-going-to-solve-it-that-s-my/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [I think the Jets came in with a legitimate offer. At that point, I hadn't had one from the Eagles. I had to think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/i-think-the-jets-came-in-with-a-legitimate-offer-at-that-point-i-hadn/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [South Jersey is home to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, one of the finest military installations in the world, and it was my honor to represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/south-jersey-is-home-to-joint-base-mcguire-dix-lakehurst-one-of-the/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) > [When you look at my campaign, I don't go around sugarcoating things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-runyan/when-you-look-at-my-campaign-i-don-t-go-around-sugarcoating-things/) [Jon Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) [Explore all 17 Jon Runyan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-runyan/) ## More After quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. It's there with a bunch of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/at-the-drop-of-a-hat-people-will-say-there-are-no-roles-for-women/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/) Deke Richards > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I have a lot of success and make a good living, but after while, you start going 'Why? Why are you doing all this?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-lot-of-success-and-make-a-good-living-but-after-while-you/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [See to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/see-to-do-good-and-you-will-find-that-happiness-will-run-after-you/) [James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [After The Wizard Of Oz I was typecast as a lion, and there aren't all that many parts for lions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-lahr/after-the-wizard-of-oz-i-was-typecast-as-a-lion-and-there-aren-t-all/) Bert Lahr > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [I'd like an omelet named after me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-sewell/i-d-like-an-omelet-named-after-me/) [Rufus Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-sewell/) Browse all 3,411 After quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I decided to run for Congress, I saw it as an opportunity to serve the South Jersey community that had become my home after signing to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. 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