--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On Politics: When our people get to the…" description: "\"On Politics: When our people get to the point where they can do us some good, they stop being our people.\" — M. Stanton Evans" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84b/m-stanton-evans-51171_can-do_on-politics-when-our-people-get-to-the-p_1641126.jpg" --- # On Politics: When our people get to the point where they… ![“On Politics: When our people get to the point where they can do us some good, they stop being our people.” quote by M. Stanton Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84b/m-stanton-evans-51171_can-do_on-politics-when-our-people-get-to-the-p_1641126.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84b/m-stanton-evans-51171_can-do_on-politics-when-our-people-get-to-the-p_1641126.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84b/m-stanton-evans-51171_can-do_on-politics-when-our-people-get-to-the-p_1641126.jpg) > “On Politics: When our people get to the point where they can do us some good, they stop being our people.” [M. Stanton Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-stanton-evans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When a group becomes useful to those in power, they lose their independent identity and become tools of the establishment. **In simple terms:** Useful groups become co‑opted. Key Takeaway Guard autonomy of activist groups. Themes politics power co‑optation Mood cautionary critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - activist organizing - policy advocacy - community building - maintaining independent voice Key Concepts social movements elite capture identity erosion Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards protect group independence? - How does co‑optation affect long‑term goals? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex motivations of individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [At the end of the day, no matter how well you score, you've got to be able to stop people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-musselman/at-the-end-of-the-day-no-matter-how-well-you-score-you-ve-got-to-be/) Eric Musselman > [We can't stop people from thinking what they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-fazal/we-can-t-stop-people-from-thinking-what-they-want-to/) [Ali Fazal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-fazal/) > [For me, running the point, it's good and that's where I feel comfortable the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-mills/for-me-running-the-point-it-s-good-and-that-s-where-i-feel/) [Patty Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-mills/) > [The point is to be good-to be sensitive and sincere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/the-point-is-to-be-good-to-be-sensitive-and-sincere/) [J. 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That's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-cummings/voting-is-crucial-and-i-don-t-give-a-damn-how-you-look-at-it-there/) [Elijah Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-cummings/) > [You can't stop people from talking about you, but you can stop giving them something to talk about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/you-can-t-stop-people-from-talking-about-you-but-you-can-stop-giving/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [When people with power see things happen of which they disapprove, they drop bombs and send in tanks. When people without power see things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-people-with-power-see-things-happen-of-which-they-disapprove/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Obstacles can't stop you. Problems can't stop you. Most of all, other people can't stop you. Only you can stop you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/obstacles-can-t-stop-you-problems-can-t-stop-you-most-of-all-other/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by M. Stanton Evans > [There will be a debate on Firing Line between Buckley and Gore Vidal on the proposition: "This nation cannot survive as long as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-stanton-evans/there-will-be-a-debate-on-firing-line-between-buckley-and-gore-vidal/) [M. Stanton Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-stanton-evans/) > [A modern liberal is someone who doesn't care what you do, as long as it's compulsory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-stanton-evans/a-modern-liberal-is-someone-who-doesn-t-care-what-you-do-as-long-as/) [M. Stanton Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-stanton-evans/) > [No matter how bad you think something is, when you look into it, it's always worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-stanton-evans/no-matter-how-bad-you-think-something-is-when-you-look-into-it-it-s/) [M. Stanton Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-stanton-evans/) > [Once our people get themselves into a position to make policy, they cease being our people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-stanton-evans/once-our-people-get-themselves-into-a-position-to-make-policy-they/) [M. Stanton Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-stanton-evans/) > [He who writes the Resolved Clause, wins the debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-stanton-evans/he-who-writes-the-resolved-clause-wins-the-debate/) [M. 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