---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Politics is a life sentence. It's an…"
description: "\"Politics is a life sentence. It's an obsessive, all-demanding, utterly fascinating, totally committing profession - stimulating, satisfying, stretching..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c81/michael-heseltine-27382_fascinating_politics-is-a-life-sentence-it-s-an-obse_998761.jpg"
---

#  Politics is a life sentence. It's an obsessive…

![“Politics is a life sentence. It's an obsessive, all-demanding, utterly fascinating, totally committing profession - stimulating, satisfying, stretching.” quote by Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c81/michael-heseltine-27382_fascinating_politics-is-a-life-sentence-it-s-an-obse_998761.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c81/michael-heseltine-27382_fascinating_politics-is-a-life-sentence-it-s-an-obse_998761.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c81/michael-heseltine-27382_fascinating_politics-is-a-life-sentence-it-s-an-obse_998761.jpg)

> “Politics is a life sentence. It's an obsessive, all-demanding, utterly fascinating, totally committing profession - stimulating, satisfying, stretching.”

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Politics consumes life, demanding obsession, yet offers fascination and satisfaction.

**In simple terms:** Politics is all-consuming but rewarding.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the challenges of political work.

Themes

politics career obsession

Mood

determined critical

Type

motivational thoughtful

When to use this quote

- campaigning
- legislation
- public service

Key Concepts

commitment fulfillment stress

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives you to stay in politics?
- How do you balance personal life?

A Different Perspective

Politics can lead to burnout and personal sacrifice.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fascinating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascinating/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Sentence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-sentence-350551/) [Obsessive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessive/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Politics Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-life-749225/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) [Profession Stimulating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession-stimulating-2094415/) [Satisfying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfying/) [Sentence Obsessive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentence-obsessive-2094416/) [Sentences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentences/) [Stretching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stretching/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/)

## Related quotes

> [I've been able to watch and to weather a lot of different periods in entertainment, politics and life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-ve-been-able-to-watch-and-to-weather-a-lot-of-different-periods-in/)

[Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/)

> [I don't have an opinion about whether or not politics should appear more in fiction or not, generally. I think politics are a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/i-don-t-have-an-opinion-about-whether-or-not-politics-should-appear/)

[Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/)

> [I've been intrigued by politics my whole life. And, yes, I am very close to the Clintons. I was a Hillary person until I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/i-ve-been-intrigued-by-politics-my-whole-life-and-yes-i-am-very-close/)

[Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/)

> [I've been in politics all my life. In 1945, I committed my first act of civil disobedience during the election campaign for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stewart/i-ve-been-in-politics-all-my-life-in-1945-i-committed-my-first-act-of/)

[Patrick Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stewart/)

> [For me, there is no greater sunshine in politics or in life than to have a job, security for your family, a good school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/for-me-there-is-no-greater-sunshine-in-politics-or-in-life-than-to/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [As important as politics are to me, the life and the spirit of people's emotions are much more important. People live real lives where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/as-important-as-politics-are-to-me-the-life-and-the-spirit-of-people/)

[John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/)

> [I'm more into human nature than politics. But they're intertwined. Obviously, I live in civilization, so politics are part of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-callahan/i-m-more-into-human-nature-than-politics-but-they-re-intertwined/)

[Bill Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-callahan/)

> [I try not to spend too much time on partisan politics. Life's too short for that. I don't really believe that there have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/i-try-not-to-spend-too-much-time-on-partisan-politics-life-s-too/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [Politics is not my life. I have a career in radio and another career in film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/politics-is-not-my-life-i-have-a-career-in-radio-and-another-career/)

[Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/)

> [Politics, life, and business are not spectator sports. You have to get involved to get ahead. Most importantly, when you reach that level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-brown/politics-life-and-business-are-not-spectator-sports-you-have-to-get/)

[Ron Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-brown/)

> [Politics becomes a part of your life once you realize it has been all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/politics-becomes-a-part-of-your-life-once-you-realize-it-has-been-all/)

[Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/)

> [In politics, as in life, we must above all things wish only for the attainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/in-politics-as-in-life-we-must-above-all-things-wish-only-for-the/)

[Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/)

> [I didn't go into politics because I'm a woman. I have done this because I have been interested in politics my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/i-didn-t-go-into-politics-because-i-m-a-woman-i-have-done-this/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [in politics as in life, what is known is not necessarily what is believed, what is shown is not necessarily what is seen, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hall-jamieson/in-politics-as-in-life-what-is-known-is-not-necessarily-what-is/)

[Kathleen Hall Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hall-jamieson/)

> [Politics and life go hand in hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/politics-and-life-go-hand-in-hand/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

## More by Michael Heseltine

> [My preoccupation has been from the very beginning that I believe that the "Brexit" referendum result is the most disastrous peacetime result that we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/my-preoccupation-has-been-from-the-very-beginning-that-i-believe-that/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [I can foresee no circumstance in which I would allow my name to be put forward for the leadership of the Conservative Party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/i-can-foresee-no-circumstance-in-which-i-would-allow-my-name-to-be/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [The two super-powers cannot divide the world into their oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/the-two-super-powers-cannot-divide-the-world-into-their-oyster/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [The market has no morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/the-market-has-no-morality/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [If the basis of trust between the Prime Minister and her Defence Secretary no longer exists, there is no place for me with honour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/if-the-basis-of-trust-between-the-prime-minister-and-her-defence/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [I am humble enough to recognize that I have made mistakes, but politically astute enough to know that I have forgotten what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/i-am-humble-enough-to-recognize-that-i-have-made-mistakes-but/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [It is the only time that I can ever remember the Prime Minister reading out the conclusions of a meeting that did not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/it-is-the-only-time-that-i-can-ever-remember-the-prime-minister/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [They say a man should be judged by his enemies. I am very proud of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/they-say-a-man-should-be-judged-by-his-enemies-i-am-very-proud-of-mine/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [I keep telling my Tory colleagues: don't have any policies. A manifesto that has policies alienates people. In 1979 the manifesto said nothing which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/i-keep-telling-my-tory-colleagues-don-t-have-any-policies-a-manifesto/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [One has to live with the ignominy of a garish sticker slapped over one's face, proclaiming '?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/one-has-to-live-with-the-ignominy-of-a-garish-sticker-slapped-over/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [You can imagine the sign outside Tory central office. Shop closed - out to lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/you-can-imagine-the-sign-outside-tory-central-office-shop-closed-out/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [Mrs Thatcher was not lightly bullied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/mrs-thatcher-was-not-lightly-bullied/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [The fundamental question is is the Conservative Party leadable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/the-fundamental-question-is-is-the-conservative-party-leadable/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [The British public sees with blinding clarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/the-british-public-sees-with-blinding-clarity/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

> [There are those who never stretch out the hand for fear it will be bitten. But those who never stretch out the hand will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/there-are-those-who-never-stretch-out-the-hand-for-fear-it-will-be/)

[Michael Heseltine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

[Explore all 20 Michael Heseltine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/)

## More Fascinating quotes

> [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/)

[Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/)

> [I find the family the most mysterious and fascinating institution in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/i-find-the-family-the-most-mysterious-and-fascinating-institution-in/)

[Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/)

> [I really like all of the characters in 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt, especially Camilla, the one girl. I find her fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-murray/i-really-like-all-of-the-characters-in-the-secret-history-by-donna/)

[Hannah Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-murray/)

> [Teasing out the way the world might look through another's eyes is what makes the creative process so fascinating and enjoyable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-l-carter/teasing-out-the-way-the-world-might-look-through-another-s-eyes-is/)

[Stephen L. Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-l-carter/)

> [“And when I’d settled down, I considered the possibility that I wasn’t yet ready to ask for the love of anyone because I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-decker/and-when-i-d-settled-down-i-considered-the-possibility-that-i-wasn-t/)

[Steven Decker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-decker/)

> [“Amateur psychiatric prognosis can be fascinating when there is absolutely nothing else to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-condon/amateur-psychiatric-prognosis-can-be-fascinating-when-there-is/)

[Richard Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-condon/)

> [Living in England is fascinating: I discover a new world every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-mancini/living-in-england-is-fascinating-i-discover-a-new-world-every-day/)

[Roberto Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-mancini/)

> [Metaphor isn't just a fancy turn of speech. It shapes our thoughts and feelings, reaches out to grasp new experience, and even binds our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-richardson/metaphor-isn-t-just-a-fancy-turn-of-speech-it-shapes-our-thoughts-and/)

[James Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-richardson/)

> ['Sopranos' was a fascinating moment, just catching our whole culture by surprise, a fun ride to be on while I'm learning the craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-van-zandt/sopranos-was-a-fascinating-moment-just-catching-our-whole-culture-by/)

[Steven Van Zandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-van-zandt/)

> [The most fascinating powers don't mean a thing if the guy's poorly motivated or dull, and the most generic powers won't hurt a well-motivated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/the-most-fascinating-powers-don-t-mean-a-thing-if-the-guy-s-poorly/)

[Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/)

> [Beastly of him to die before you realized he might be fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-alexander/beastly-of-him-to-die-before-you-realized-he-might-be-fascinating/)

[Tasha Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-alexander/)

> [The first information I consume in the morning is probably 'The New York Times' and then my Twitter feed. I think Twitter is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzo-aduba/the-first-information-i-consume-in-the-morning-is-probably-the-new/)

[Uzo Aduba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzo-aduba/)

> [I think genetic research is a fascinating and fertile area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunn/i-think-genetic-research-is-a-fascinating-and-fertile-area/)

[Katherine Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunn/)

> [More and more I like to take a train. I understand why the French prefer it to automobiling it is so much more sociable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/more-and-more-i-like-to-take-a-train-i-understand-why-the-french/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [Well, I think storytellers have always found murder a fascinating device.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/well-i-think-storytellers-have-always-found-murder-a-fascinating/)

[Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/)

[Browse all 1,276 Fascinating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascinating/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Politics is a life sentence. It's an obsessive, all-demanding, utterly fascinating, totally committing profession - stimulating, satisfying, stretching.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Heseltine"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/politics-is-a-life-sentence-it-s-an-obsessive-all-demanding-utterly/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fascinating"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/politics-is-a-life-sentence-it-s-an-obsessive-all-demanding-utterly/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c81/michael-heseltine-27382_fascinating_politics-is-a-life-sentence-it-s-an-obse_998761.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c81/michael-heseltine-27382_fascinating_politics-is-a-life-sentence-it-s-an-obse_998761.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c81/michael-heseltine-27382_fascinating_politics-is-a-life-sentence-it-s-an-obse_998761.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Politics is a life sentence. It's an obsessive, all-demanding, utterly fascinating, totally committing…” — Michael Heseltine",
                "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": "Michael Heseltine",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-heseltine/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Politics is a life sentence. It's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/politics-is-a-life-sentence-it-s-an-obsessive-all-demanding-utterly/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-heseltine/politics-is-a-life-sentence-it-s-an-obsessive-all-demanding-utterly/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
