--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am always suspicious of the formulation…" description: "\"I am always suspicious of the formulation that \"politics\" has prevented a great idea from being enacted by government. Politics IS government, in a dem..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/nicholas-lemann-45962_benefits_i-am-always-suspicious-of-the-formulatio_1579477.jpg" --- # I am always suspicious of the formulation that "politics"… ![“I am always suspicious of the formulation that "politics" has prevented a great idea from being enacted by government. Politics IS government, in a democratic society. It's a challenge for school reformers, like reformers in any realm, to build a popular constituency for their work. If the people…” quote by Nicholas Lemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/nicholas-lemann-45962_benefits_i-am-always-suspicious-of-the-formulatio_1579477.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/nicholas-lemann-45962_benefits_i-am-always-suspicious-of-the-formulatio_1579477.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/nicholas-lemann-45962_benefits_i-am-always-suspicious-of-the-formulatio_1579477.jpg) > “I am always suspicious of the formulation that "politics" has prevented a great idea from being enacted by government. Politics IS government, in a democratic society. It's a challenge for school reformers, like reformers in any realm, to build a popular constituency for their work. If the people it's supposed to benefit vote against it, that tells me that the person pushing reform lacks political skill. And political skill is a good thing.” [Nicholas Lemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lemann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political skill is essential for reformers because without public support, even good ideas fail to be enacted. **In simple terms:** Reform needs popular support or it fails. Key Takeaway Build political skill and constituency. Themes politics reform leadership Mood reflective determined Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - school reform - legislative advocacy - community organizing - campaign strategy Key Concepts public opinion democratic process policy implementation Questions to Reflect On - How can reformers engage skeptics? - What tactics build broad support? A Different Perspective Political skill alone may not overcome entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benefits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Democratic society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-society/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-politics/) [Great idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-idea/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-skill-1710988/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Politics Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-government-396723/) [Politics Prevented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-prevented-5964377/) [Pushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pushing/) [Realms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realms/) [Reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reform/) [Reformers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reformers/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Skill Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skill-political-5964376/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Suspicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspicious/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [American cities are kind of difficult contexts to work in. 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The relationship just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lemann/in-the-current-environment-attributing-low-student-performance-to/) [Nicholas Lemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lemann/) [Explore all 8 Nicholas Lemann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lemann/) ## More Benefits quotes > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. 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