--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Political stuff is all about his [Hunter…" description: "\"Political stuff is all about his [Hunter S. Thompson] reaction to a situation. And my stuff is much more externally driven.\" — P. J. O'Rourke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/p-j-o-rourke-184_driven_political-stuff-is-all-about-his-hunter_1515473.png" --- # Political stuff is all about his \[Hunter S. Thompson\]… ![“Political stuff is all about his [Hunter S. Thompson] reaction to a situation. And my stuff is much more externally driven.” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/p-j-o-rourke-184_driven_political-stuff-is-all-about-his-hunter_1515473.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/p-j-o-rourke-184_driven_political-stuff-is-all-about-his-hunter_1515473.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93d/p-j-o-rourke-184_driven_political-stuff-is-all-about-his-hunter_1515473.png) > “Political stuff is all about his \[Hunter S. Thompson\] reaction to a situation. And my stuff is much more externally driven.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political commentary often reflects personal reactions, while some creators focus on external influences. **In simple terms:** Political views can be personal or driven by outside events. Key Takeaway Recognize what drives your perspective. Themes politics personalism creativity Mood reflective analytical Type commentary observational When to use this quote - writing essays - political analysis - media commentary - public speaking Key Concepts reaction external motivation authorial voice Questions to Reflect On - What influences shape your political stance? - How do external events affect your work? A Different Perspective May overlook structural factors beyond personal reaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Hunter Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunter-thompson/) [Hunter-s-thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunter-s-thompson/) [Hunters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunters/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [I started reading Hunter S. Thompson when I was in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-started-reading-hunter-s-thompson-when-i-was-in-college/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Hunter S. Thompson and I are old friends, but what we do is so different. There are surface similarities that really have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/hunter-s-thompson-and-i-are-old-friends-but-what-we-do-is-so/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [As a result of that, and as a result of friendship, I don't think we've ever been competitive. I mean, there's probably a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/as-a-result-of-that-and-as-a-result-of-friendship-i-don-t-think-we-ve/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [ We like to pile language on language. Hunter \[ S. Thompson\] was an influence on me, no doubt about it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/we-like-to-pile-language-on-language-hunter-s-thompson-was-an/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I have a troubled relationship with Hunter S. Thompson, not just because he kicked me out of a bar but also because it's become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-daly/i-have-a-troubled-relationship-with-hunter-s-thompson-not-just/) [Andy Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-daly/) > [People such as Hunter S. Thompson and the Beats were a huge influence on me, not just in what they were saying, but how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/people-such-as-hunter-s-thompson-and-the-beats-were-a-huge-influence/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [Hunter S. Thompson brings a lunatic genius to ordinary events, and I bring an ordinary sensibility to lunatic events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/hunter-s-thompson-brings-a-lunatic-genius-to-ordinary-events-and-i/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Life as Hunter Thompson's mother was no weenie roast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mckeen/life-as-hunter-thompson-s-mother-was-no-weenie-roast/) [William McKeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mckeen/) > [I think it may have been Tom Wolfe (if it wasn't, my apologies, Tom, and my apologies to whoever it was) who said in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carradine/i-think-it-may-have-been-tom-wolfe-if-it-wasn-t-my-apologies-tom-and/) [David Carradine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carradine/) > [ I was interested in \[Hunter S. Thompson novels\]. The rebel in me fell in love with it, and the artist in me was confused… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/i-was-interested-in-hunter-s-thompson-novels-the-rebel-in-me-fell-in/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [I grew up poor in crappy situations... various crappy situations. What kept me sane was reading and music. I had so many different literary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/i-grew-up-poor-in-crappy-situations-various-crappy-situations-what/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [I knew Hunter Thompson since the '70s, and I loved him, but he would wear me out as I got older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-knew-hunter-thompson-since-the-70s-and-i-loved-him-but-he-would/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [We also have a lot of the same influences - we both read a lot of the beatniks. And yet what we actually do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/we-also-have-a-lot-of-the-same-influences-we-both-read-a-lot-of-the/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'm very wary of doing political stuff for a lot of reasons. One of the big ones is that the shelf-life for them is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-heidecker/i-m-very-wary-of-doing-political-stuff-for-a-lot-of-reasons-one-of/) [Tim Heidecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-heidecker/) > [ \[Tyler Perry\] has the luxury of not doing the political stuff, which is really where I want to be as a company. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/tyler-perry-has-the-luxury-of-not-doing-the-political-stuff-which-is/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [My whole family can talk. They are all car salesmen. They are all funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/my-whole-family-can-talk-they-are-all-car-salesmen-they-are-all-funny/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Explore all 983 P. J. O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Driven quotes > [From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/from-what-i-have-seen-i-am-driven-to-the-conclusion-that-religion-is/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-bird-with-the-thorn-in-its-breast-it-follows-an-immutable-law-it/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/) [Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/) > [Good ideas and innovations must be driven into existence by courage and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyman-rickover/good-ideas-and-innovations-must-be-driven-into-existence-by-courage/) [Hyman Rickover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyman-rickover/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. 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You've caused me considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." Valek's warm breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/yelena-you-ve-driven-me-crazy-you-ve-caused-me-considerable-trouble/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [The P2 is the best car I have driven so far. Once you get your head round it, it's fun to drive, it's responsive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hoy/the-p2-is-the-best-car-i-have-driven-so-far-once-you-get-your-head/) [Chris Hoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hoy/) [Browse all 2,078 Driven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Political stuff is all about his [Hunter S. Thompson] reaction to a situation. And my stuff is much more externally driven.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P. J. 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