--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Mitt Romney is a] Massachusetts moderate…" description: "\"[Mitt Romney is a] Massachusetts moderate who, in fact, is pretty good at managing the decay.\" He's \"given no evidence in his years in Massachusetts of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/newt-gingrich-792_ability_mitt-romney-is-a-massachusetts-moderate_510631.jpg" --- # \[Mitt Romney is a\] Massachusetts moderate who, in fact, is… ![“[Mitt Romney is a] Massachusetts moderate who, in fact, is pretty good at managing the decay." He's "given no evidence in his years in Massachusetts of any ability to change the culture or change the political structure.” quote by Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/newt-gingrich-792_ability_mitt-romney-is-a-massachusetts-moderate_510631.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/newt-gingrich-792_ability_mitt-romney-is-a-massachusetts-moderate_510631.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/newt-gingrich-792_ability_mitt-romney-is-a-massachusetts-moderate_510631.jpg) > “\[Mitt Romney is a\] Massachusetts moderate who, in fact, is pretty good at managing the decay." He's "given no evidence in his years in Massachusetts of any ability to change the culture or change the political structure.” [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker criticizes a politician for lacking evidence of ability to reform a state's political culture. **In simple terms:** No proof of reform ability. Key Takeaway Seek evidence before judging competence. Themes politics leadership accountability Mood skeptical analytical Type political critical When to use this quote - elections - legislative reform - public opinion Key Concepts policy change political culture Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would demonstrate effective governance? - How important is cultural change versus policy change? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability to change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-to-change/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Massachusetts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/massachusetts/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) ## Related quotes > [What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/what-is-a-moderate-interpretation-of-the-text-halfway-between-what-it/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [“In politics, everyone regards themselves as a moderate, because they know some other sumbitch who's twice as crazy as they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-b-tyson/in-politics-everyone-regards-themselves-as-a-moderate-because-they/) [Timothy B. Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-b-tyson/) > [I'm quite moderate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-colmes/i-m-quite-moderate/) [Alan Colmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-colmes/) > [When the phonies are expelled from their leadership roles and the Republican Party backs a moderate gubernatorial candidate acceptable to the rank and file…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-paladino/when-the-phonies-are-expelled-from-their-leadership-roles-and-the/) [Carl Paladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-paladino/) > [Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/be-moderate-in-order-to-taste-the-joys-of-life-in-abundance/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [It is the mark of a gentleman to be moderate in the use of wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athenaeus/it-is-the-mark-of-a-gentleman-to-be-moderate-in-the-use-of-wine/) [Athenaeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athenaeus/) > [I'm a moderate. I hang out in the middle. I vote against my party with some regularity and try to compromise. It doesn't appear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-m-a-moderate-i-hang-out-in-the-middle-i-vote-against-my-party-with/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [I'm, in general, an advocate of moderate ticket prices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/i-m-in-general-an-advocate-of-moderate-ticket-prices/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [I keep on saying, being moderate is fundamental to Islam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najib-razak/i-keep-on-saying-being-moderate-is-fundamental-to-islam/) [Najib Razak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najib-razak/) > [All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/all-passions-that-suffer-themselves-to-be-relished-and-digested-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [As militias go, the Ohio Defense Force is on the moderate side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/as-militias-go-the-ohio-defense-force-is-on-the-moderate-side/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [Moderate Republicans are reverse Houdinis. They tie themselves up in knots and then tell you they can’t do anything because they’re tied up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/moderate-republicans-are-reverse-houdinis-they-tie-themselves-up-in/) [Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/) > [In Tunisia, the so-called Yasmin revolution has led to the installation of a relatively moderate Islamic government. Whether or not that means democracy will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-creveld/in-tunisia-the-so-called-yasmin-revolution-has-led-to-the/) [Martin Van Creveld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-creveld/) > [“How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable, more moderate!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/how-earnestly-did-she-then-wish-that-her-former-opinions-had-been/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Please if you find my words or actions offensive or really bad, do take your time to moderate it with your interpretations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/please-if-you-find-my-words-or-actions-offensive-or-really-bad-do/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) ## More by Newt Gingrich > [Governor Romney may be running for CEO, I'm running for President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/governor-romney-may-be-running-for-ceo-i-m-running-for-president/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [I want to say unequivocally that while I cherish every person who comes from anywhere, who comes here legally and seeks to pursue happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-want-to-say-unequivocally-that-while-i-cherish-every-person-who/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Maybe we need a tax credit for the poorest Americans to buy a laptop. Now, maybe that's wrong, maybe that's expensive, maybe we can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/maybe-we-need-a-tax-credit-for-the-poorest-americans-to-buy-a-laptop/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [NASA should not be developing its own proprietary version of capabilities it could purchase commercially at much lower cost, especially when we know the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/nasa-should-not-be-developing-its-own-proprietary-version-of/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [I will focus on being substantive and I will focus on Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-will-focus-on-being-substantive-and-i-will-focus-on-barack-obama/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Stop costly new regulations that would increase unemployment, raise consumer prices, and weaken the nation's global competitiveness with virtually no impact on global temperatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/stop-costly-new-regulations-that-would-increase-unemployment-raise/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Any ad which quotes what I said on Sunday is a falsehood,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/any-ad-which-quotes-what-i-said-on-sunday-is-a-falsehood/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [It doesn’t matter what I do. 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If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[Mitt Romney is a] Massachusetts moderate who, in fact, is pretty good at managing the decay.\" He's \"given no evidence in his years in Massachusetts of any ability to change the culture or change the political structure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Newt Gingrich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/mitt-romney-is-a-massachusetts-moderate-who-in-fact-is-pretty-good-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/mitt-romney-is-a-massachusetts-moderate-who-in-fact-is-pretty-good-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/newt-gingrich-792_ability_mitt-romney-is-a-massachusetts-moderate_510631.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/newt-gingrich-792_ability_mitt-romney-is-a-massachusetts-moderate_510631.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/newt-gingrich-792_ability_mitt-romney-is-a-massachusetts-moderate_510631.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[Mitt Romney is a] Massachusetts moderate who, in fact, is pretty good at managing the decay.\" He's \"given…” — Newt Gingrich", "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": "Newt Gingrich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "[Mitt Romney is a] Massachusetts moderate...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/mitt-romney-is-a-massachusetts-moderate-who-in-fact-is-pretty-good-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/mitt-romney-is-a-massachusetts-moderate-who-in-fact-is-pretty-good-at/#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 } } ] } ```