--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always prided myself on being apart…" description: "\"I always prided myself on being apart from the ruling class. I think it's always important, not just in Washington but in life, to be able to able to b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/mark-leibovich-14257_able_i-always-prided-myself-on-being-apart-fr_1660545.jpg" --- # I always prided myself on being apart from the ruling… ![“I always prided myself on being apart from the ruling class. I think it's always important, not just in Washington but in life, to be able to able to balance your sense of belonging with what it's like to be someone who doesn't belong.” quote by Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/mark-leibovich-14257_able_i-always-prided-myself-on-being-apart-fr_1660545.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/mark-leibovich-14257_able_i-always-prided-myself-on-being-apart-fr_1660545.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/mark-leibovich-14257_able_i-always-prided-myself-on-being-apart-fr_1660545.jpg) > “I always prided myself on being apart from the ruling class. I think it's always important, not just in Washington but in life, to be able to able to balance your sense of belonging with what it's like to be someone who doesn't belong.” [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing belonging with outsider perspective fosters critical insight and humility. **In simple terms:** Balance belonging and outsider view. Key Takeaway Cultivate both inclusion and critical distance. Themes identity perspective politics belonging Mood reflective analytical Type thoughtful inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - community building - policy analysis Key Concepts social dynamics critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain connection while questioning norms? - When does outsider insight become isolation? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on outsider status can alienate allies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apart/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Belong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belong/) [Belonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belonging/) [Belonging Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belonging-like-752667/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Ruling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling/) [Ruling class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling-class/) [Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense/) [Sense Belonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-belonging-306694/) [Sense Of Belonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-belonging/) [Someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/someone/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington/) [Washington Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington-life-752668/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [Then you begin to give up the very idea of belonging. 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Punditry has replaced reporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/media-has-changed-dramatically-as-you-and-i-know-we-re-in-a-world-now/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Washington has always had a pretty healthy amount of self-loathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/washington-has-always-had-a-pretty-healthy-amount-of-self-loathing/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I always keep my repertorial hat on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-always-keep-my-repertorial-hat-on/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [The shaming of Washington, insofar as it is even possible, is a very noble pursuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-shaming-of-washington-insofar-as-it-is-even-possible-is-a-very/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Washington has become this place that people don't leave. It has become this permanent feudal class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/washington-has-become-this-place-that-people-don-t-leave-it-has/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I'm just a journalist. I shine a mirror to the culture. I give the cop-out answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-m-just-a-journalist-i-shine-a-mirror-to-the-culture-i-give-the-cop/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [“a mantra she attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: women in politics, she said, “need to develop skin as tough as a rhinoceros hide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/a-mantra-she-attributed-to-eleanor-roosevelt-women-in-politics-she/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I work for a big newspaper, and I guess I'm an insider. 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