--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I left office in 1979, I was about…" description: "\"When I left office in 1979, I was about the only one who had really left public office on my own.\" — Olusegun Obasanjo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/olusegun-obasanjo-20728_about_when-i-left-office-in-1979-i-was-about-t_986468.png" --- # When I left office in 1979, I was about the only one who… ![“When I left office in 1979, I was about the only one who had really left public office on my own.” quote by Olusegun Obasanjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/olusegun-obasanjo-20728_about_when-i-left-office-in-1979-i-was-about-t_986468.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/olusegun-obasanjo-20728_about_when-i-left-office-in-1979-i-was-about-t_986468.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b8/olusegun-obasanjo-20728_about_when-i-left-office-in-1979-i-was-about-t_986468.png) > “When I left office in 1979, I was about the only one who had really left public office on my own.” [Olusegun Obasanjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olusegun-obasanjo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaving public office voluntarily was rare at the time, highlighting personal agency and the rarity of self‑initiated career changes in politics. **In simple terms:** Self‑initiated departure is uncommon. Key Takeaway Value personal agency. Themes politics career agency leadership Mood reflective inspirational Type historical motivational When to use this quote - political career transitions - public service exits Key Concepts Institutional inertia personal autonomy Questions to Reflect On - Why do politicians stay longer than they wish? - What supports voluntary exits? A Different Perspective Self‑initiated exits may face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Public office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-office/) ## Related quotes > [Democracy is much too important to be left to public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/democracy-is-much-too-important-to-be-left-to-public-opinion/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [“I noticed that she left her office door open, too.So she could keep an eye on me, no doubt, in case I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/i-noticed-that-she-left-her-office-door-open-too-so-she-could-keep-an/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [I've been criticized because I've had the temerity to speak out and done a couple of interviews since I left office. I don't find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-ve-been-criticized-because-i-ve-had-the-temerity-to-speak-out-and/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Since the beginning of LearnVest, I've never left the office for food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-von-tobel/since-the-beginning-of-learnvest-i-ve-never-left-the-office-for-food/) [Alexa Von Tobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-von-tobel/) > [In fact, Lig never formally resigned his editorship—he merely left his office late one morning, and has never returned since. 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