---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It kills me not to be there, not to be in…"
description: "\"It kills me not to be there, not to be in the White House doing what needs to be done.\" — Mitt Romney"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/mitt-romney-268_doing_it-kills-me-not-to-be-there-not-to-be-in_3092878.png"
---

#  It kills me not to be there, not to be in the White House…

![“It kills me not to be there, not to be in the White House doing what needs to be done.” quote by Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/mitt-romney-268_doing_it-kills-me-not-to-be-there-not-to-be-in_3092878.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/mitt-romney-268_doing_it-kills-me-not-to-be-there-not-to-be-in_3092878.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/mitt-romney-268_doing_it-kills-me-not-to-be-there-not-to-be-in_3092878.png)

> “It kills me not to be there, not to be in the White House doing what needs to be done.”

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

## About This Quote

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

Not being in a position of authority to act on needed tasks feels like a personal failure.

**In simple terms:** Desire to serve.

Key Takeaway

Seek impact.

Themes

leadership responsibility service

Mood

determined concerned

Type

political motivational

When to use this quote

- public office
- community projects
- policy advocacy

Key Concepts

civic duty political ambition

Questions to Reflect On

- What role can you play without formal power?
- How do you influence change from outside?

A Different Perspective

Leadership also requires collaboration, not just personal ambition.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/)

## Related quotes

> [When your house contains such a complex of piping, flues, ducts, wires, lights, inlets, outlets, ovens, sinks, refuse disposers, hi-fi re-verberators, antennae, conduits, freezers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reyner-banham/when-your-house-contains-such-a-complex-of-piping-flues-ducts-wires/)

Reyner Banham

> [It's kind of hard to balance school and work sometimes. But sometimes, like, if I'm going to the White House and I'm in there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/it-s-kind-of-hard-to-balance-school-and-work-sometimes-but-sometimes/)

[Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/)

> [Sometimes just getting out of the house and doing something you haven't done in a long time (or never done!) can open up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-hill/sometimes-just-getting-out-of-the-house-and-doing-something-you-haven/)

[Ken Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-hill/)

> [There was no question that in our house doing well, doing it the right way, school, sports - there was an expectation. One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcnerney/there-was-no-question-that-in-our-house-doing-well-doing-it-the-right/)

[James McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcnerney/)

> [I have my own production house, which is doing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-jaffrey/i-have-my-own-production-house-which-is-doing-good/)

[Javed Jaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-jaffrey/)

> [Courage, after all, is not being unafraid, but doing what needs to be done in spite of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-farmer-jr/courage-after-all-is-not-being-unafraid-but-doing-what-needs-to-be/)

[James L. Farmer, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-farmer-jr/)

> [“You will never know what could have been done until you start doing what needs to be done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/you-will-never-know-what-could-have-been-done-until-you-start-doing/)

[Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/)

> [“You may love, honor, and care for her, but someone else is doing what she needs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/you-may-love-honor-and-care-for-her-but-someone-else-is-doing-what/)

[M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/)

> [“That’s what courage is—doing something that needs to be done even though you’re afraid”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-clare/that-s-what-courage-is-doing-something-that-needs-to-be-done-even/)

[Pamela Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-clare/)

> [Doing what needs to be done may not make you happy, but it will make you great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/doing-what-needs-to-be-done-may-not-make-you-happy-but-it-will-make/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [There is a BIG difference between knowing what needs to be done and DOING what needs to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-a-big-difference-between-knowing-what-needs-to-be-done-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The things to do are: the things that need doing: that you see need to be done, and that no one else seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/the-things-to-do-are-the-things-that-need-doing-that-you-see-need-to/)

[R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/)

> [I got a greater purpose. God put something in my heart to get across, and that's what I'm going to focus on, using my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/i-got-a-greater-purpose-god-put-something-in-my-heart-to-get-across/)

[Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/)

> [How do you, on the one hand, not object to Hillary Clinton being elected, and then, on the other hand, tell people, "Elect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/how-do-you-on-the-one-hand-not-object-to-hillary-clinton-being/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [I had to perform at the White House for the president, That's always kind of a weird set to try to put together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/i-had-to-perform-at-the-white-house-for-the-president-that-s-always/)

[Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/)

## More by Mitt Romney

> [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [I would like to have campaign spending limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-would-like-to-have-campaign-spending-limits/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers - I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-my-mormon-faith-and-i-endeavor-to-live-by-it-my-faith-is/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [America's military is second to none in the world. We're blessed with terrific soldiers, and extraordinary technology and intelligence. But the idea of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-s-military-is-second-to-none-in-the-world-we-re-blessed-with/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [And a special thank you to the citizens of Massachusetts: You are paying all the taxes, creating all the jobs, raising all the children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/and-a-special-thank-you-to-the-citizens-of-massachusetts-you-are/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. It was not lost on me that to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-i-was-elected-governor-of-my-state-i-had-a-legislature-87/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [I saw the young man over there with eggs Benedict, with hollandaise sauce. And I was going to suggest to you that you serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-saw-the-young-man-over-there-with-eggs-benedict-with-hollandaise/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [I've been a hunter pretty much all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-ve-been-a-hunter-pretty-much-all-my-life/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [I think Mitt Romney has demonstrated repeatedly he has a penchant for - for secrecy, doesn't seem to have any interest in actually showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-think-mitt-romney-has-demonstrated-repeatedly-he-has-a-penchant-for/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [If I were to offer advice to any president of the United States, it would be this: do whatever you can do to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-were-to-offer-advice-to-any-president-of-the-united-states-it/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [I was too important to go to Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-was-too-important-to-go-to-vietnam/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [America has not dictated to other nations. We have freed other nations from dictators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-has-not-dictated-to-other-nations-we-have-freed-other-nations/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [The right course is for the Palestinians and the Israelis to sit down at the table together. The Palestinians need to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-right-course-is-for-the-palestinians-and-the-israelis-to-sit-down/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [If I'm President of the United States, when I'm President of the United States, we will stand with Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-m-president-of-the-united-states-when-i-m-president-of-the/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [President Obama instituted the most anti-growth, anti-investment, anti-jobs measures that we have seen in our lifetime. Now he called his agenda ambitious, I call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/president-obama-instituted-the-most-anti-growth-anti-investment-anti/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

[Explore all 781 Mitt Romney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

## More Doing quotes

> [I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm damn well gonna do it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-but-i-m-damn-well-gonna-do-it/)

[Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/)

> [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/)

[David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/)

> [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/)

[John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/)

[Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/)

> [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/)

[Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/)

> [I was in high school and I had an independent album out, and we kept sending that out, and I was doing shows. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hilton/i-was-in-high-school-and-i-had-an-independent-album-out-and-we-kept/)

[Tyler Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hilton/)

> [If I'm not thinking about you then I am texting you , if I am not texting you then I am on the phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-m-not-thinking-about-you-then-i-am-texting-you-if-i-am-not/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [.\*. why u hate me..Bitches be doing the most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty/why-u-hate-me-bitches-be-doing-the-most/)

Kitty

> [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/)

[Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/)

[Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/)

> [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/)

[Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/)

> [I really can't live without my In-N-Out burgers. Honestly, I can't. Even when I'm doing the whole no-carb thing occasionally, I make an exception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-really-can-t-live-without-my-in-n-out-burgers-honestly-i-can-t-even/)

[Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/)

> [You can't drain the swamp, as President Trump has touted doing, without getting rid of Mitch McConnell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/you-can-t-drain-the-swamp-as-president-trump-has-touted-doing-without/)

[Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/)

Browse all 10,133 Doing quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It kills me not to be there, not to be in the White House doing what needs to be done.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mitt Romney"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/it-kills-me-not-to-be-there-not-to-be-in-the-white-house-doing-what/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Doing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/it-kills-me-not-to-be-there-not-to-be-in-the-white-house-doing-what/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/mitt-romney-268_doing_it-kills-me-not-to-be-there-not-to-be-in_3092878.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/mitt-romney-268_doing_it-kills-me-not-to-be-there-not-to-be-in_3092878.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/mitt-romney-268_doing_it-kills-me-not-to-be-there-not-to-be-in_3092878.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It kills me not to be there, not to be in the White House doing what needs to be done.” — Mitt Romney",
                "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": "Mitt Romney",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It kills me not to be...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/it-kills-me-not-to-be-there-not-to-be-in-the-white-house-doing-what/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/it-kills-me-not-to-be-there-not-to-be-in-the-white-house-doing-what/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
