--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is the man (Ronald Reagan) who…" description: "\"This is the man (Ronald Reagan) who proved that ignorance is no handicap to the presidency\" — Molly Ivins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/molly-ivins-1296_handicaps_this-is-the-man-ronald-reagan-who-proved_3057764.png" --- # This is the man (Ronald Reagan) who proved that ignorance… ![“This is the man (Ronald Reagan) who proved that ignorance is no handicap to the presidency” quote by Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/molly-ivins-1296_handicaps_this-is-the-man-ronald-reagan-who-proved_3057764.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/molly-ivins-1296_handicaps_this-is-the-man-ronald-reagan-who-proved_3057764.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/molly-ivins-1296_handicaps_this-is-the-man-ronald-reagan-who-proved_3057764.png) > “This is the man (Ronald Reagan) who proved that ignorance is no handicap to the presidency” [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ronald Reagan’s presidency demonstrates that a lack of knowledge does not prevent political success, suggesting that charisma and other factors can outweigh expertise. **In simple terms:** Ignorance doesn’t stop political success; charisma matters. Key Takeaway Don’t underestimate non‑expert influence. Themes politics ignorance charisma leadership media perception Mood wry observational Type satirical political When to use this quote - campaign analysis - historical review - media study - public discourse Key Concepts electoral dynamics public opinion communication political strategy Questions to Reflect On - What qualities compensate for lack of expertise? - How does media shape perceptions of competence? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex political realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Handicaps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handicaps/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency/) ## Related quotes > [Reagan proved that deficits don't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/reagan-proved-that-deficits-don-t-matter/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [The charm of Ronald Reagan is not just that he kept telling us screwy things, it was that he believed them all. No wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-charm-of-ronald-reagan-is-not-just-that-he-kept-telling-us-screwy/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Reagan proved deficits don't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/reagan-proved-deficits-don-t-matter/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Ronald Reagan is the most ignorant president since Warren Harding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/ronald-reagan-is-the-most-ignorant-president-since-warren-harding/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Ronald Reagan knew who he was. Barack Obama is still working through that equation politically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-scarborough/ronald-reagan-knew-who-he-was-barack-obama-is-still-working-through/) [Joe Scarborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-scarborough/) > [Anti-Tax fetishist Grover Norquist owns a bust of Ronald Reagan, who raised taxes 11 times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fugelsang/anti-tax-fetishist-grover-norquist-owns-a-bust-of-ronald-reagan-who/) [John Fugelsang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fugelsang/) > [Ronald Reagan had a kind of shallow movie-star charisma - a combination of makeup and the skill of a good actor - but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/ronald-reagan-had-a-kind-of-shallow-movie-star-charisma-a-combination/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [The legacy of Ronald Reagan will live on forever. I, of course, had the wonderful opportunity of working with him and getting to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brady/the-legacy-of-ronald-reagan-will-live-on-forever-i-of-course-had-the/) [Sarah Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brady/) > [I'm looking for a president that'll be like a Ronald Reagan to a Jimmy Carter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/i-m-looking-for-a-president-that-ll-be-like-a-ronald-reagan-to-a/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [ \[Ronald\] Reagan seems to be a man of some basic convictions and on the other hand willing to let others do the ground homework,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/ronald-reagan-seems-to-be-a-man-of-some-basic-convictions-and-on-the/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [Dwight Eisenhower presented a face of America that was heroic and resolute; Ronald Reagan represented a return to confidence and glamour after the weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/dwight-eisenhower-presented-a-face-of-america-that-was-heroic-and/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) > [Half a century ago, Ronald Reagan, the man whose relentless optimism inspired me to enter politics, famously said that he didn't leave the Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-crist/half-a-century-ago-ronald-reagan-the-man-whose-relentless-optimism/) [Charlie Crist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-crist/) > [ Everything \[Ronald Reagan\] got, the tax cuts, he had Democrats outnumbering him in the House and Senate everywhere. There were certain realities that he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/everything-ronald-reagan-got-the-tax-cuts-he-had-democrats/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Ronald Reagan just signed the new tax law. But I think he was in Hollywood too long. He signed it, 'Best wishes, Ronald Reagan.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/ronald-reagan-just-signed-the-new-tax-law-but-i-think-he-was-in/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Ronald Reagan's biographer wrote of the former president's final days: "for all the intimate familiarity of that face and body, I did not feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-morris/ronald-reagan-s-biographer-wrote-of-the-former-president-s-final-days/) Edwin Morris ## More by Molly Ivins > [Preemptive war is what Israel did in '67 with Arab armies on its borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/preemptive-war-is-what-israel-did-in-67-with-arab-armies-on-its/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [The idols of one's adolescence tend to endure - you never forget how you worshipped them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-idols-of-one-s-adolescence-tend-to-endure-you-never-forget-how/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/having-breast-cancer-is-massive-amounts-of-no-fun/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [How the American right managed to convince itself that the programs to alleviate poverty are responsible for the consequences of poverty will someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/how-the-american-right-managed-to-convince-itself-that-the-programs/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [To mistake Midland for the volk heartland is the West Texas equivalent of assuming that Greenwich, Connecticut, is Levittown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/to-mistake-midland-for-the-volk-heartland-is-the-west-texas/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I only aim at the powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-only-aim-at-the-powerful/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Even for southerners, Arkansans are amazingly friendly and extend hospitality to all strangers with astonishing openness. You couldn't find a pretension in that state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/even-for-southerners-arkansans-are-amazingly-friendly-and-extend/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [It's hard to convince people that you're killing them for their own good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/it-s-hard-to-convince-people-that-you-re-killing-them-for-their-own/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [the pyramids were built for pharaohs on the happy theory that they could take their stuff with them. Versailles was built for kings on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-pyramids-were-built-for-pharaohs-on-the-happy-theory-that-they/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Any nation that can survive what we have lately in the way of government, is on the high road to permanent glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/any-nation-that-can-survive-what-we-have-lately-in-the-way-of/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I think provincialism is an endemic characteristic with mankind, I think everybody everywhere is provincial, but it is particularly striking with Texans, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-think-provincialism-is-an-endemic-characteristic-with-mankind-i/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [During a recent panel on the numerous failures of American journalism, I proposed that almost all stories about government should begin: “Look out! They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/during-a-recent-panel-on-the-numerous-failures-of-american-journalism/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Naturally, when it comes to voting, we in Texas are accustomed to discerning that fine hair’s-breadth worth of difference that makes one hopeless dipstick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/naturally-when-it-comes-to-voting-we-in-texas-are-accustomed-to/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/be-outrageous-ridicule-the-fraidy-cats-rejoice-in-all-the-oddities/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Texas is not a civilized place. Texans shoot one another a lot. They also knife, razor, and stomp one another to death with some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/texas-is-not-a-civilized-place-texans-shoot-one-another-a-lot-they/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) [Explore all 260 Molly Ivins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) ## More Handicaps quotes > [Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy goal, unless they are accepted as obstacles, and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/handicaps-can-be-converted-into-stepping-stones-on-which-one-may/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You have to watch your handicap. My son Steve says, "Never make a putt you don't have to."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/you-have-to-watch-your-handicap-my-son-steve-says-never-make-a-putt/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [A polo handicap is a persons ticket to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/a-polo-handicap-is-a-persons-ticket-to-the-world/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Alcoholism, the opium habit and tobaccoism are a trio of poison habits which have been weighty handicaps to human progress during the last three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harvey-kellogg/alcoholism-the-opium-habit-and-tobaccoism-are-a-trio-of-poison-habits/) [John Harvey Kellogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harvey-kellogg/) > [I have learned that some people who look fine are more crippled than I am, by fears they can’t explain. Other people are held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cammie-mcgovern/i-have-learned-that-some-people-who-look-fine-are-more-crippled-than/) [Cammie McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cammie-mcgovern/) > [Handicaps are mindsets. Whatever it is that stands in the way of achieving something, that's when it's a handicap. I prefer to see them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-cox/handicaps-are-mindsets-whatever-it-is-that-stands-in-the-way-of/) [Jessica Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-cox/) > [When Jesus Christ asked little children to come to him, he didn't say only rich children, or White children, or children with two-parent families,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/when-jesus-christ-asked-little-children-to-come-to-him-he-didn-t-say/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [Each person is sacred, no matter what his or her culture, religion, handicap, or fragility. Each person is created in God’s image; each one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/each-person-is-sacred-no-matter-what-his-or-her-culture-religion/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [There's more fun in hunting with the handicap of the bow than there is in hunting with the sureness of the gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-bear/there-s-more-fun-in-hunting-with-the-handicap-of-the-bow-than-there/) [Fred Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-bear/) > [Community life is not easy for somebody like me, who is used to living by himself and doing what he wants. It's a demanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/community-life-is-not-easy-for-somebody-like-me-who-is-used-to-living/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [As a young girl, I was very proud at overcoming a reading handicap whilst other girls of my age read abundantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-chanel/as-a-young-girl-i-was-very-proud-at-overcoming-a-reading-handicap/) [Coco Chanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-chanel/) > [We're better in the rearview mirror than we are at predicting - 'cause you're never going to be right every time. You can handicap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/we-re-better-in-the-rearview-mirror-than-we-are-at-predicting-cause/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [What's been important in my understanding of myself and others is the fact that each one of us is so much more than any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/what-s-been-important-in-my-understanding-of-myself-and-others-is-the/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [Each person begins life with a head start in some areas and a handicap in other areas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lapin/each-person-begins-life-with-a-head-start-in-some-areas-and-a/) [Daniel Lapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lapin/) > [I understand why marriages break up over golf. I can't even talk about my own handicap because it's too upsetting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shia-labeouf/i-understand-why-marriages-break-up-over-golf-i-can-t-even-talk-about/) [Shia LaBeouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shia-labeouf/) [Browse all 177 Handicaps quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handicaps/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is the man (Ronald Reagan) who proved that ignorance is no handicap to the presidency", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Molly Ivins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/this-is-the-man-ronald-reagan-who-proved-that-ignorance-is-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Handicaps" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/this-is-the-man-ronald-reagan-who-proved-that-ignorance-is-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/molly-ivins-1296_handicaps_this-is-the-man-ronald-reagan-who-proved_3057764.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/molly-ivins-1296_handicaps_this-is-the-man-ronald-reagan-who-proved_3057764.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/molly-ivins-1296_handicaps_this-is-the-man-ronald-reagan-who-proved_3057764.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is the man (Ronald Reagan) who proved that ignorance is no handicap to the presidency” — Molly Ivins", "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": "Molly Ivins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "This is the man (Ronald Reagan)...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/this-is-the-man-ronald-reagan-who-proved-that-ignorance-is-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/this-is-the-man-ronald-reagan-who-proved-that-ignorance-is-no/#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 } } ] } ```