--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've run for office, and I've stood on…" description: "\"I've run for office, and I've stood on street corners, while people walked by me and didn't want to talk to me, and did not think I was a credible cand..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/matt-gonzalez-20749_corners_i-ve-run-for-office-and-i-ve-stood-on-st_2173164.jpg" --- # I've run for office, and I've stood on street corners… ![“I've run for office, and I've stood on street corners, while people walked by me and didn't want to talk to me, and did not think I was a credible candidate. And then four years later, I was nearly elected mayor of San Francisco, so I know what it takes.” quote by Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/matt-gonzalez-20749_corners_i-ve-run-for-office-and-i-ve-stood-on-st_2173164.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/matt-gonzalez-20749_corners_i-ve-run-for-office-and-i-ve-stood-on-st_2173164.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/matt-gonzalez-20749_corners_i-ve-run-for-office-and-i-ve-stood-on-st_2173164.jpg) > “I've run for office, and I've stood on street corners, while people walked by me and didn't want to talk to me, and did not think I was a credible candidate. And then four years later, I was nearly elected mayor of San Francisco, so I know what it takes.” [Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Persistence and visibility can turn initial rejection into eventual success, especially in politics. **In simple terms:** Keep trying despite being ignored. Key Takeaway Never give up on your goals. Themes politics resilience public perception leadership campaigning Mood determined optimistic Type motivational political. When to use this quote - Running for office - building community support - overcoming skepticism Key Concepts Grassroots activism electoral dynamics media strategy Questions to Reflect On - What strategies helped you gain credibility? - How can others maintain motivation after rejection? A Different Perspective Success may also depend on timing and external factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mayor/) [Mayors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mayors/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [San francisco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/san-francisco/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [When I thought about the calibre of people in the room I realized we might just have a credible candidate for Mayor who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-baker/when-i-thought-about-the-calibre-of-people-in-the-room-i-realized-we/) Herbert Baker > [Basically what they're saying is, if you want to be on TV, if you want to be a credible candidate, you've got to buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/basically-what-they-re-saying-is-if-you-want-to-be-on-tv-if-you-want/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I got elected as the mayor of Philadelphia and yes I am black. 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It's the easiest solution. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-allen/if-you-want-to-change-something-come-talk-to-me-it-s-the-easiest/) Jake Allen > [I'm not ignoring you I'm just waiting to see f you'll make an effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-ignoring-you-i-m-just-waiting-to-see-f-you-ll-make-an-effort/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can assure you that everyone that talks to me doesn't share my views. 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And when I got home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/how-did-you-escape-syd-i-fought-my-way-out-in-a-manner-that-would/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) ## More by Matt Gonzalez > [This idea that once you get into politics... you are now signed up for lifelong duty being in elective office, makes a fundamental error…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/this-idea-that-once-you-get-into-politics-you-are-now-signed-up-for/) [Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/) > [When in some communities selling drugs is so lucrative that that's a pretty big enticement that we have to break down. Part of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/when-in-some-communities-selling-drugs-is-so-lucrative-that-that-s-a/) [Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/) > [You don't have to be wealthy to run for mayor. I'm a Green Party candidate running for mayor and I'm being taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/you-don-t-have-to-be-wealthy-to-run-for-mayor-i-m-a-green-party/) [Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/) > [At some point the rhetoric runs out, and we have to ask ourselves, 'Are we simply going to standby while somebody's rhetoric is good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/at-some-point-the-rhetoric-runs-out-and-we-have-to-ask-ourselves-are/) [Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/) > [If you engage people honestly, and you're willing to do the leg work, people will respond to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/if-you-engage-people-honestly-and-you-re-willing-to-do-the-leg-work/) [Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/) > [I really am disappointed when I run into people who are angry I'm leaving office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/i-really-am-disappointed-when-i-run-into-people-who-are-angry-i-m/) [Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/) > [I don't have to be in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/i-don-t-have-to-be-in-politics/) [Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/) > [As a young boy I won a few dollars in 1972 when Riva Ridge won the Kentucky Derby. 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I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. 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