--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem with elections is that…" description: "\"The problem with elections is that anybody who wants an office badly enough to run for it probably shouldn’t have it. And anybody who does not want an ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/orson-scott-card-134_children_the-problem-with-elections-is-that-anybo_792517.jpg" --- # The problem with elections is that anybody who wants an… ![“The problem with elections is that anybody who wants an office badly enough to run for it probably shouldn’t have it. And anybody who does not want an office badly enough to run for it probably shouldn’t have it, either. Government office should be received like a child’s Christmas present, with…” quote by Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/orson-scott-card-134_children_the-problem-with-elections-is-that-anybo_792517.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/orson-scott-card-134_children_the-problem-with-elections-is-that-anybo_792517.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/orson-scott-card-134_children_the-problem-with-elections-is-that-anybo_792517.jpg) > “The problem with elections is that anybody who wants an office badly enough to run for it probably shouldn’t have it. And anybody who does not want an office badly enough to run for it probably shouldn’t have it, either. Government office should be received like a child’s Christmas present, with surprise and delight. Instead it is usually received like a diploma, an anticlimax that never seems worth the struggle to earn it.” [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political ambition often leads to unsuitable leaders; desire for power can outweigh qualification, making office feel like a burden rather than a privilege. **In simple terms:** People seeking office may be unfit; office should be a joyful surprise, not a grim duty. Key Takeaway Choose leaders for service, not personal ambition. Themes leadership politics ambition service disillusionment Mood cynical reflective critical Type advice political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - campaigns - government appointments - public service - political reform Key Concepts Meritocracy public trust motivation Questions to Reflect On - What qualities truly qualify someone for public office? - How can we ensure office is a service, not a prize? A Different Perspective Desire for office can corrupt intentions and reduce effectiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Christmas present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-present/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Diploma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diploma/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) ## Related quotes > [Finally, it occurs to me that the biggest problem with our elections is that however you vote, you wind up electing a politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-prelutsky/finally-it-occurs-to-me-that-the-biggest-problem-with-our-elections/) [Burt Prelutsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-prelutsky/) > [Every government secretary of state or minister should jolly well go to the theatre, go to a concert, go to an art gallery, go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/every-government-secretary-of-state-or-minister-should-jolly-well-go/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [I mean, everyone agrees with stress tests for banks. 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