--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a successful…" description: "\"Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a successful compromise in 1993; and so that compromise should remain.\" — Mike Pence" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/mike-pence-577_ask_don-t-ask-don-t-tell-was-a-successful-co_1983125.png" --- # Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a successful compromise in 1993… ![“Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a successful compromise in 1993; and so that compromise should remain.” quote by Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/mike-pence-577_ask_don-t-ask-don-t-tell-was-a-successful-co_1983125.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/mike-pence-577_ask_don-t-ask-don-t-tell-was-a-successful-co_1983125.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/mike-pence-577_ask_don-t-ask-don-t-tell-was-a-successful-co_1983125.png) > “Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a successful compromise in 1993; and so that compromise should remain.” [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defends a controversial policy as a pragmatic compromise, suggesting its continuation. **In simple terms:** A past compromise was effective and should stay. Key Takeaway Preserve existing compromise. Themes politics policy compromise Mood cautious defensive Type political controversial When to use this quote - legislative debates - military recruitment - public discourse Key Concepts military policy social policy Questions to Reflect On - Is the compromise still relevant? - What alternatives exist? A Different Perspective Compromise may ignore evolving societal values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1993 Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1993-compromise-3396980/) [Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask/) [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Compromise 1993](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise-1993-3396981/) [Compromise Remain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise-remain-3396983/) [Don Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-tell/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Remain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remain/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-compromise-3396982/) [Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/) ## Related quotes > [If You Don't Tell Yourself You Are Beautiful, Who Is?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ms-freshie/if-you-don-t-tell-yourself-you-are-beautiful-who-is/) [Ms\_Freshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ms-freshie/) > [Hey, look, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. We have enough secrets between us to close the gap in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-storm/hey-look-you-don-t-have-to-tell-me-if-you-don-t-want-to-we-have/) [Blake Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-storm/) > [Don't tell me how talented you are. Tell me how hard you work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rubinstein/don-t-tell-me-how-talented-you-are-tell-me-how-hard-you-work/) [Arthur Rubinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rubinstein/) > [Always tell the truth in your relationship. If you don't tell him/her, or keep it a secret. Him/her will find out and it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/makai1k5/always-tell-the-truth-in-your-relationship-if-you-don-t-tell-him-her/) [Makai1k5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/makai1k5/) > [Don't tell me you love me when you really don't. Don't lie when you should tell me the truth. Don't hug me if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknowm/don-t-tell-me-you-love-me-when-you-really-don-t-don-t-lie-when-you/) [Unknowm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknowm/) > [I don't fuck with' no snitches. So don't tell me who tellin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinidad-james/i-don-t-fuck-with-no-snitches-so-don-t-tell-me-who-tellin/) [Trinidad James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinidad-james/) > [I don't tell lies. I don't need to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/i-don-t-tell-lies-i-don-t-need-to/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [“Do you think we should tell the police?” “Not yet. We don’t have anything to tell them. Only some vague suspicions.” “Ok, but be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maighread-mackay/do-you-think-we-should-tell-the-police-not-yet-we-don-t-have-anything/) [Maighread MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maighread-mackay/) > [“Don’t,” I whispered on a hiss, shaking my head at the same time tears sprang to my eyes.. “Don’t. 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I just... well, how can people get better if you don't tell them what you honestly think?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-don-t-want-to-make-people-mad-i-just-well-how-can-people-get-better/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) ## More by Mike Pence > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [America is stronger than Russia. 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