--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't like to move abstract theoretical…" description: "\"I don't like to move abstract theoretical policies that, on a white paper, sound good. If I wanted to do that, I'd be a professor.\" — Kevin de Leon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/kevin-de-leon-7780_abstract_i-don-t-like-to-move-abstract-theoretica_2572526.jpg" --- # I don't like to move abstract theoretical policies that… ![“I don't like to move abstract theoretical policies that, on a white paper, sound good. If I wanted to do that, I'd be a professor.” quote by Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/kevin-de-leon-7780_abstract_i-don-t-like-to-move-abstract-theoretica_2572526.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/kevin-de-leon-7780_abstract_i-don-t-like-to-move-abstract-theoretica_2572526.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/kevin-de-leon-7780_abstract_i-don-t-like-to-move-abstract-theoretica_2572526.jpg) > “I don't like to move abstract theoretical policies that, on a white paper, sound good. If I wanted to do that, I'd be a professor.” [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Abstract policies look good on paper but lack real-world impact; action requires concrete implementation. **In simple terms:** Paper policies need real action. Key Takeaway Focus on actionable policies. Themes politics policy implementation Mood critical forwardlooking Type analytical practical When to use this quote - legislation - public programs - community projects Key Concepts practicality effectiveness Questions to Reflect On - How to test policies before rollout? - What mechanisms ensure accountability? A Different Perspective Implementation may face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Abstract Theoretical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract-theoretical-1704729/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Like Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-abstract-1704728/) [Move](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move/) [Policies White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policies-white-1704730/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Theoretical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theoretical/) [Theoretical Policies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theoretical-policies-1704727/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-paper/) ## Related quotes > [Something like 'Abstract' can really give people access to the behind-the-scenes of how our physical surroundings take shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjarke-ingels/something-like-abstract-can-really-give-people-access-to-the-behind/) [Bjarke Ingels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjarke-ingels/) > [People like abstract art because it makes them feel clever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-acaster/people-like-abstract-art-because-it-makes-them-feel-clever/) [James Acaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-acaster/) > [I paint like an abstract painter everything is inside nothing is meant to be, I take tattoos off a people I take anything that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-shawn-alexander/i-paint-like-an-abstract-painter-everything-is-inside-nothing-is/) [Jason Shawn Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-shawn-alexander/) > [It's that I don't like white paper backgrounds. 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All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-you-make-people-laugh-or-cry-about-little-black-marks-on-sheets-of/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) ## More by Kevin de Leon > [The D.C. playbook is obsolete. It's time for the people of California to bring the agenda to Washington, not the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/the-d-c-playbook-is-obsolete-it-s-time-for-the-people-of-california/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [We can't cross our fingers and hope that President Donald Trump can 'learn and change.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/we-can-t-cross-our-fingers-and-hope-that-president-donald-trump-can/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [I'm not into political gamesmanship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-m-not-into-political-gamesmanship/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [California Democrats - we fight on the front lines - we don't equivocate on the sidelines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/california-democrats-we-fight-on-the-front-lines-we-don-t-equivocate/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [We will not lift a single finger or spend a single cent to be a cog in the Trump deportation machine, and we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/we-will-not-lift-a-single-finger-or-spend-a-single-cent-to-be-a-cog/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [While we need to provide leadership and stability to the world, we should do that through diplomacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/while-we-need-to-provide-leadership-and-stability-to-the-world-we/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [Unlike Washington, the California legislature has proved that cooperation is both possible and essential to successful policymaking, while stubborn absolutism will have you trailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/unlike-washington-the-california-legislature-has-proved-that/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [My mother passed away young - she died from ovarian cancer at just 54 years old. Her sacrifices for my sisters and I evoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/my-mother-passed-away-young-she-died-from-ovarian-cancer-at-just-54/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [I grew up in the streets of San Diego, and I love this city dearly. I love this city. San Diego is my home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-grew-up-in-the-streets-of-san-diego-and-i-love-this-city-dearly-i/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [I know - firsthand - that California works best when everyone has the opportunity to succeed. 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For example, we have created more jobs in clean energy in California…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/what-we-have-done-dramatically-in-california-is-lead-the-entire/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [Yes, we absolutely need to eliminate the single-use plastic bag, but we don't have to eliminate the jobs of hardworking Californians to accomplish this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/yes-we-absolutely-need-to-eliminate-the-single-use-plastic-bag-but-we/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) [Explore all 87 Kevin de Leon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) ## 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. 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