--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing in our politics is any longer…" description: "\"Nothing in our politics is any longer driven or designed by individual humans who have a name and a face; we have sunk from theism into impersonal and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/kenny-smith-2406_abstract_nothing-in-our-politics-is-any-longer-dr_2382327.png" --- # Nothing in our politics is any longer driven or designed… ![“Nothing in our politics is any longer driven or designed by individual humans who have a name and a face; we have sunk from theism into impersonal and depersonalizing deism, a scheme of rule by alien and implacable abstract metaphysical forces.” quote by Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/kenny-smith-2406_abstract_nothing-in-our-politics-is-any-longer-dr_2382327.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/kenny-smith-2406_abstract_nothing-in-our-politics-is-any-longer-dr_2382327.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/kenny-smith-2406_abstract_nothing-in-our-politics-is-any-longer-dr_2382327.png) > “Nothing in our politics is any longer driven or designed by individual humans who have a name and a face; we have sunk from theism into impersonal and depersonalizing deism, a scheme of rule by alien and implacable abstract metaphysical forces.” [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politics is now controlled by abstract, impersonal forces rather than identifiable individuals. **In simple terms:** Power is wielded by unseen forces. Key Takeaway Recognize and question unseen influences. Themes politics power abstraction Mood critical reflective Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - elections - policy making - public discourse - media analysis Key Concepts deism impersonal governance metaphysics Questions to Reflect On - Who holds real influence in decision making? - How can citizens reclaim agency? A Different Perspective The claim may overgeneralize complex institutional dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Deism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deism/) [Deism Scheme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deism-scheme-5904176/) [Depersonalizing Deism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depersonalizing-deism-5904174/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Impersonal Depersonalizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impersonal-depersonalizing-5904177/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Metaphysical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphysical/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Schemes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schemes/) [Theism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theism/) [Theism Impersonal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theism-impersonal-5904175/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm always talking to God about whether or not he exists - that's how I know I'm a theist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/i-m-always-talking-to-god-about-whether-or-not-he-exists-that-s-how-i/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [A few years ago the Deists denied the inspiration of the Bible on account of its cruelty. At the same time they worshiped what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-few-years-ago-the-deists-denied-the-inspiration-of-the-bible-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pantheism is sexed-up atheism. Deism is watered-down theism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/pantheism-is-sexed-up-atheism-deism-is-watered-down-theism/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [I don't endorse deism or interventionist theism. My point is just that evolutionary biology is logically compatible with the former and with some versions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-sober/i-don-t-endorse-deism-or-interventionist-theism-my-point-is-just-that/) [Elliott Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-sober/) > [Question with boldness even the existence of a god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/question-with-boldness-even-the-existence-of-a-god/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Mr. Dawkins' assertions are self-refuting- ie. Actual infinity vs. potential infinity easily makes the most reasonable argument for theism and a Deity. Now, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/mr-dawkins-assertions-are-self-refuting-ie-actual-infinity-vs/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [I learned to build bookshelves and brought books to my room, gathering them around me thickly. I read by day and into the night.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-learned-to-build-bookshelves-and-brought-books-to-my-room-gathering/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“It is only in the CREATION that all our ideas and conceptions of a word of God can unite. The Creation speaketh an universal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-only-in-the-creation-that-all-our-ideas-and-conceptions-of-a/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-opposed-to-any-form-of-tyranny-over-the-mind-of-man/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Thus that Upright Judge, whose three Letters my Friend having read, did well approve of 'em, acknowledging, that with great Exactness he had distinguished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stephens/thus-that-upright-judge-whose-three-letters-my-friend-having-read-did/) [William Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stephens/) > [“Pandeism: This is the belief that God created the universe, is now one with it, and so, is no longer a separate conscious entity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dawe/pandeism-this-is-the-belief-that-god-created-the-universe-is-now-one/) [Alan Dawe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dawe/) > [I did not bring Deism into Bavaria more than into Rome. I found it here, in great vigour, more abounding than in any of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-weishaupt/i-did-not-bring-deism-into-bavaria-more-than-into-rome-i-found-it/) [Adam Weishaupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-weishaupt/) > [May it be to the world... to assume the blessings and security of self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/may-it-be-to-the-world-to-assume-the-blessings-and-security-of-self/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, say Smith and Denton, seems to be “colonizing many historical religious traditions and, almost without anyone noticing, converting believers in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenda-creasy-dean/moralistic-therapeutic-deism-say-smith-and-denton-seems-to-be/) [Kenda Creasy Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenda-creasy-dean/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Kenny Smith > [The approach of intellect or noesis will forever be an effete and limited sort of thing by contrast with the vigor and color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-approach-of-intellect-or-noesis-will-forever-be-an-effete-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [One can hardly appreciate how academia has perverted its highest tasks and "ideals" without pondering long and hard the implications of Jacques Barzun's House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/one-can-hardly-appreciate-how-academia-has-perverted-its-highest/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [When academics claim a topic is obsolete, they mean merely they are tired of flogging it with their cliches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/when-academics-claim-a-topic-is-obsolete-they-mean-merely-they-are/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [If you look at the NBA, it's the richest and wealthiest group of African-American men in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/if-you-look-at-the-nba-it-s-the-richest-and-wealthiest-group-of/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [In late modernity we grow more and more accustomed to politicians and public figures who are indebted to their appetites for their "values," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/in-late-modernity-we-grow-more-and-more-accustomed-to-politicians-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [How infinitely happier and more grateful is the whole personality or spirit when it finds something nourishing in art or writing or thinking, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/how-infinitely-happier-and-more-grateful-is-the-whole-personality-or/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [There are a lot more famous fathers out there than me with daughters who wouldn't mind singing careers... but the talent and the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/there-are-a-lot-more-famous-fathers-out-there-than-me-with-daughters/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [Games like 'Call of Duty' and 'NBA Baller Beats' have so much to them. I was more of the 'Pac-Man' generation where we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/games-like-call-of-duty-and-nba-baller-beats-have-so-much-to-them-i/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [The Rockets have a philosophy of what they think their coach should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-rockets-have-a-philosophy-of-what-they-think-their-coach-should-be/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [I've played more park games than NBA games, and I had a 10-year NBA career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/i-ve-played-more-park-games-than-nba-games-and-i-had-a-10-year-nba/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [I'm always the neutral guy, man. I'm able to bring people together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/i-m-always-the-neutral-guy-man-i-m-able-to-bring-people-together/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [People compose the schedules they do out of the priorities they have; and someone who says otherwise is deceiving himself about what he really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/people-compose-the-schedules-they-do-out-of-the-priorities-they-have/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [There's hasn't been a day in my life since I was 9 years old that I haven't touched a basketball or done something connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/there-s-hasn-t-been-a-day-in-my-life-since-i-was-9-years-old-that-i/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [You can have your own thought process about things, but you still need to include and co-exist with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/you-can-have-your-own-thought-process-about-things-but-you-still-need/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [NCAA is looking at how to do a better job enforcing their rules instead of looking at why the predatorial environment is created. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/ncaa-is-looking-at-how-to-do-a-better-job-enforcing-their-rules/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) [Explore all 168 Kenny Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) ## More Abstract quotes > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-is-the-abstract-of-the-past-but-beauty-is-the-promise-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where human eyes have never seen, where human beings have never been, I build a world of abstract dreams, and I wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-ra/where-human-eyes-have-never-seen-where-human-beings-have-never-been-i/) [Sun Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-ra/) > [A little too abstract, a little too wise, It is time for us to kiss the earth again, It is time to let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-little-too-abstract-a-little-too-wise-it-is-time-for-us-to-kiss-the/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“Happy is very abstract, you can't touch it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-veal/happy-is-very-abstract-you-can-t-touch-it/) [Julius Veal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-veal/) > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The more horrible this world (as today, for instance), the more abstract our art, whereas a happy world brings forth an art of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-more-horrible-this-world-as-today-for-instance-the-more-abstract/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Describing comic sensibility is near impossible. It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) [Anthony W. Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-w-ivins/) > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. Some or all of these elements move,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/a-mobile-is-an-abstract-sculpture-made-chiefly-out-of-sheet-metal/) [Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/) > [I'm this superphilosophical kind of person. 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Painting operates through signs which are not abstract and incorporeal like words. The signs of painting are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dubuffet/painting-is-a-richer-language-than-words-painting-operates-through/) [Jean Dubuffet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dubuffet/) [Browse all 1,403 Abstract quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing in our politics is any longer driven or designed by individual humans who have a name and a face; we have sunk from theism into impersonal and depersonalizing deism, a scheme of rule by alien and implacable abstract metaphysical forces.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kenny Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/nothing-in-our-politics-is-any-longer-driven-or-designed-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abstract" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/nothing-in-our-politics-is-any-longer-driven-or-designed-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/kenny-smith-2406_abstract_nothing-in-our-politics-is-any-longer-dr_2382327.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/kenny-smith-2406_abstract_nothing-in-our-politics-is-any-longer-dr_2382327.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/kenny-smith-2406_abstract_nothing-in-our-politics-is-any-longer-dr_2382327.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing in our politics is any longer driven or designed by individual humans who have a name and a face; we…” — Kenny Smith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kenny Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing in our politics is any...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/nothing-in-our-politics-is-any-longer-driven-or-designed-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/nothing-in-our-politics-is-any-longer-driven-or-designed-by/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```