--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anything that keeps a politician humble…" description: "\"Anything that keeps a politician humble is healthy for democracy.\" — Michael Kinsley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/michael-kinsley-18523_congress_anything-that-keeps-a-politician-humble_1022804.png" --- # Anything that keeps a politician humble is healthy for… ![“Anything that keeps a politician humble is healthy for democracy.” quote by Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/michael-kinsley-18523_congress_anything-that-keeps-a-politician-humble_1022804.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/michael-kinsley-18523_congress_anything-that-keeps-a-politician-humble_1022804.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/michael-kinsley-18523_congress_anything-that-keeps-a-politician-humble_1022804.png) > “Anything that keeps a politician humble is healthy for democracy.” [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humility in politicians safeguards democracy; power must be checked by modesty. **In simple terms:** Humility keeps leaders accountable. Key Takeaway Support policies that promote transparency and humility. Themes politics humility democracy accountability Mood critical inquisitive Type political advice When to use this quote - campaigns - legislative debates - public hearings - media interviews Key Concepts checks and balances ethical leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can humility be measured? - What structures enforce modesty? A Different Perspective Humility alone may not prevent corruption. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Such a small percentage of our population carry the burden of knowing what's really going on in our country's name, and I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-ling/such-a-small-percentage-of-our-population-carry-the-burden-of-knowing/) [Lisa Ling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-ling/) > [Non-violent protests are signs of a healthy democracy, not an ailing one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/non-violent-protests-are-signs-of-a-healthy-democracy-not-an-ailing/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [“High voter turnout, which some equate with a healthy democracy, has been in Nigeria (and in some other countries) an indication instead of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/high-voter-turnout-which-some-equate-with-a-healthy-democracy-has/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Our long-term dream is for Singapore to have a healthy democracy where there are two or three parties who could form a competent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam-singh/our-long-term-dream-is-for-singapore-to-have-a-healthy-democracy/) [Pritam Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam-singh/) > [As a matter of principle, we are opposed to destabilising a stable government, and I believe in the norms of healthy democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnath-singh/as-a-matter-of-principle-we-are-opposed-to-destabilising-a-stable/) [Rajnath Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnath-singh/) > [Appeal for votes should not be made on basis of caste, creed, or communal. In a healthy democracy, this is not expected from any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnath-singh/appeal-for-votes-should-not-be-made-on-basis-of-caste-creed-or/) [Rajnath Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnath-singh/) > [We all know that election reform takes time. That's because those who have benefited from the system are the ones who fight hardest to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/we-all-know-that-election-reform-takes-time-that-s-because-those-who/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [What we have is two important values in conflict: freedom of speech and our desire for healthy campaigns in a healthy democracy. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/what-we-have-is-two-important-values-in-conflict-freedom-of-speech/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [It's important to know where candidates for president are getting their ideas. Where do these ideas come from, who funds them and who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/it-s-important-to-know-where-candidates-for-president-are-getting/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [One of the things we're going to have to discuss and debate is how are we striking this balance between the need to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/one-of-the-things-we-re-going-to-have-to-discuss-and-debate-is-how/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Since an informed citizenry is the basis for a healthy democracy, independent, non-corporate media are more crucial today than ever before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahr-jamail/since-an-informed-citizenry-is-the-basis-for-a-healthy-democracy/) Dahr Jamail > [A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerant and respectful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/a-healthy-democracy-requires-a-decent-society-it-requires-that-we-are/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [I think my most important advice is to understand what are the foundations of a healthy democracy and how we have to engage in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-my-most-important-advice-is-to-understand-what-are-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A basic tenet of healthy democracy is open dialogue and transparency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-fenn/a-basic-tenet-of-healthy-democracy-is-open-dialogue-and-transparency/) Peter Fenn > [In some ways, political decency is a sign of a healthy democracy, but in other ways, it is the cause of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/in-some-ways-political-decency-is-a-sign-of-a-healthy-democracy-but/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) ## More by Michael Kinsley > [He's nice enough not to want to be associated with a nasty remark but not nice enough not to make it. Lacking the courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/he-s-nice-enough-not-to-want-to-be-associated-with-a-nasty-remark-but/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [Almost any government activity can also be seen as taking property without just compensation. The basic model of an unconstitutional aking would be if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/almost-any-government-activity-can-also-be-seen-as-taking-property/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [The definition of a gaffe is when a politician tells the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/the-definition-of-a-gaffe-is-when-a-politician-tells-the-truth/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [Journalistic conventions make it hard for reporters to deal with a big, complicated lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/journalistic-conventions-make-it-hard-for-reporters-to-deal-with-a/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [He hasn't said whether he remembers the episode itself - or, if he doesn't, whether that is because it never happened or because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/he-hasn-t-said-whether-he-remembers-the-episode-itself-or-if-he-doesn/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [What could be more absurd than the idea that genuine anti-Christian prejudice is a major force in American politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/what-could-be-more-absurd-than-the-idea-that-genuine-anti-christian/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [The takings clause of the Fifth Amendment is for conservatives what the equal protection clause of the 14th is for liberals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/the-takings-clause-of-the-fifth-amendment-is-for-conservatives-what/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [It wouldn't be fair to say that conservatives cherish property the way liberals cherish equality. But it would be fair to say that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/it-wouldn-t-be-fair-to-say-that-conservatives-cherish-property-the/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [One answer is that the town's elected officials thought that the project served a public purpose and that the various subsidies and favors were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/one-answer-is-that-the-town-s-elected-officials-thought-that-the/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [In those days, the late 1970s, one of the leading politicians was a soon-to-be uncle by marriage of Arnold Schwarzenegger, named Ted Kennedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/in-those-days-the-late-1970s-one-of-the-leading-politicians-was-a/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [The case decided on Thursday, though, seemed promising to takings fans because it wasn't about compensation. It was about the requirement that any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/the-case-decided-on-thursday-though-seemed-promising-to-takings-fans/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [Almost any government activity can also be seen as taking property 'without just compensation.' The basic model of an unconstitutional 'taking' would be if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/almost-any-government-activity-can-also-be-seen-as-taking-property-2/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [The akings clause of the Fifth Amendment is for conservatives what the equal protection clause of the 14th is for liberals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/the-akings-clause-of-the-fifth-amendment-is-for-conservatives-what/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [In any event, the proper question isn't what a journalist thinks is relevant but what his or her audience thinks is relevant. Denying people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/in-any-event-the-proper-question-isn-t-what-a-journalist-thinks-is/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [I have a saying: the scandal isn't what's illegal, the scandal is what's legal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/i-have-a-saying-the-scandal-isn-t-what-s-illegal-the-scandal-is-what/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) [Explore all 34 Michael Kinsley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) ## More Congress quotes > [Well, my wife, Cathy Gillespie, worked for Joe Barton, who was running for Congress in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gillespie/well-my-wife-cathy-gillespie-worked-for-joe-barton-who-was-running/) [Ed Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gillespie/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [So our focus has to be on the things that we can control, which is to take the necessary measures working with Congress to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/so-our-focus-has-to-be-on-the-things-that-we-can-control-which-is-to/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [It's disgraceful that year after year, Congress has bowed to the tobacco lobby and refused to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/it-s-disgraceful-that-year-after-year-congress-has-bowed-to-the/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/united-states-congress/congress-shall-make-no-law-respecting-an-establishment-of-religion-or/) United States Congress > [As the longest serving Independent in the history of the United States Congress, as somebody who came into office by defeating an incumbent Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-the-longest-serving-independent-in-the-history-of-the-united/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [As the first Member of Congress from western Washington to serve on the House Agriculture Committee in over 50 years, I am proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-larsen/as-the-first-member-of-congress-from-western-washington-to-serve-on/) [Rick Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-larsen/) > [About one-half of the members of Congress are seekers for office at the nomination of the President. Of the remainder, at least one-half have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/about-one-half-of-the-members-of-congress-are-seekers-for-office-at/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [My younger self could not imagine standing on the floor of Congress as a member of Congress voting on legislation that, if enacted, would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-torres/my-younger-self-could-not-imagine-standing-on-the-floor-of-congress/) [Ritchie Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-torres/) > [Rahul Gandhi cannot be a prime minister because he is a citizen of Britain, and his Indian citizenship will be cancelled; he won't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subramanian-swamy/rahul-gandhi-cannot-be-a-prime-minister-because-he-is-a-citizen-of/) [Subramanian Swamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subramanian-swamy/) > [We need less travelling by jet plaes from congress to congress... but more kneeling and praying and pleading to God to have mercy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/we-need-less-travelling-by-jet-plaes-from-congress-to-congress-but/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [Well I think that what we're seeing now is that the people feel like they, the people in Congress don't have their consent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/well-i-think-that-what-we-re-seeing-now-is-that-the-people-feel-like/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) [Browse all 3,400 Congress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Anything that keeps a politician humble is healthy for democracy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Kinsley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/anything-that-keeps-a-politician-humble-is-healthy-for-democracy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Congress" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/anything-that-keeps-a-politician-humble-is-healthy-for-democracy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/michael-kinsley-18523_congress_anything-that-keeps-a-politician-humble_1022804.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/michael-kinsley-18523_congress_anything-that-keeps-a-politician-humble_1022804.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/michael-kinsley-18523_congress_anything-that-keeps-a-politician-humble_1022804.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Anything that keeps a politician humble is healthy for democracy.” — Michael Kinsley", "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 Kinsley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Anything that keeps a politician humble...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/anything-that-keeps-a-politician-humble-is-healthy-for-democracy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/anything-that-keeps-a-politician-humble-is-healthy-for-democracy/#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 } } ] } ```