--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Culture has always been more important…" description: "\"Culture has always been more important than politics. Sometimes culture is a mirror that reflects what is; sometimes it's a search-light pointing the w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/paul-begala-13540_community_culture-has-always-been-more-important-t_2427115.jpg" --- # Culture has always been more important than politics… ![“Culture has always been more important than politics. Sometimes culture is a mirror that reflects what is; sometimes it's a search-light pointing the way to what will be.” quote by Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/paul-begala-13540_community_culture-has-always-been-more-important-t_2427115.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/paul-begala-13540_community_culture-has-always-been-more-important-t_2427115.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/paul-begala-13540_community_culture-has-always-been-more-important-t_2427115.jpg) > “Culture has always been more important than politics. Sometimes culture is a mirror that reflects what is; sometimes it's a search-light pointing the way to what will be.” [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Culture shapes society and can both reflect current realities and guide future directions. **In simple terms:** Culture influences society and points forward. Key Takeaway Recognize culture’s power to shape politics. Themes culture influence society future reflection Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political campaigns - media analysis - community building - artistic movements Key Concepts sociology political theory symbolism Questions to Reflect On - How does culture influence political decisions? - Can culture lead change without political will? A Different Perspective Culture alone cannot change policy without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Culture Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture-important-232056/) [Culture Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture-mirror-232058/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-politics-232057/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [Pointing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pointing/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Politics Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-culture-232055/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [While we remain a nation decisively shaped by religious faith, our politics and our culture are, in the main, less influenced by movements and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/while-we-remain-a-nation-decisively-shaped-by-religious-faith-our/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [In human life, economics precedes politics or culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-geun-hye/in-human-life-economics-precedes-politics-or-culture/) [Park Geun-hye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-geun-hye/) > [Just because I am paying attention to politics and culture doesn't mean that I should be talking about the health-care bill, talking about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-breitbart/just-because-i-am-paying-attention-to-politics-and-culture-doesn-t/) [Andrew Breitbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-breitbart/) > [“As religion starts to mix with politics, we have a culture that allows us to fall behind what were previously third world nations, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-enriquez/as-religion-starts-to-mix-with-politics-we-have-a-culture-that-allows/) [Juan Enriquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-enriquez/) > [We live in a global community and we can't really remain isolated. I believe that when we hold a very narrow view about our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/we-live-in-a-global-community-and-we-can-t-really-remain-isolated-i/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [I can't define myself as a political writer - I don't think I've earned it, and I don't function as a political writer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kitamura/i-can-t-define-myself-as-a-political-writer-i-don-t-think-i-ve-earned/) [Katie Kitamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kitamura/) > [“Today more than ever, the traditional boundaries between politics, culture, technology, finance, national security and ecology are disappearing. You often cannot explain one without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-l-friedman/today-more-than-ever-the-traditional-boundaries-between-politics/) [Thomas L. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-l-friedman/) > [Harlem has always been the nexus of music, politics, culture, criminal figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/harlem-has-always-been-the-nexus-of-music-politics-culture-criminal/) [Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/) > [The artificial separation of politics and culture is nowhere more pronounced than in the discourse of foreign policy and international affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/the-artificial-separation-of-politics-and-culture-is-nowhere-more/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [Staying true to my vision, to the word as it comes to me, to my own aesthetic judgments, even when they disagree with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micheline-aharonian-marcom/staying-true-to-my-vision-to-the-word-as-it-comes-to-me-to-my-own/) [Micheline Aharonian Marcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micheline-aharonian-marcom/) > [We usually forget that apart from making a living on this earth, human beings live in societies and these societies have cultures. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tunku-abdul-rahman/we-usually-forget-that-apart-from-making-a-living-on-this-earth-human/) [Tunku Abdul Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tunku-abdul-rahman/) > [As a chef and avid traveler, meeting new people and sharing a meal with the intent to learn more about their culture is important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/as-a-chef-and-avid-traveler-meeting-new-people-and-sharing-a-meal/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) > [As a former CEO and senior executive, there was a time when I did not quite understand the profound impact a CEO has on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-levine/as-a-former-ceo-and-senior-executive-there-was-a-time-when-i-did-not/) [Peter Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-levine/) > [The children, each of those kids is in touch with nature and traditional aboriginal culture so a very important part of getting performances from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-noyce/the-children-each-of-those-kids-is-in-touch-with-nature-and/) [Phillip Noyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-noyce/) > [Culture is very important to the Mavs… It isn't about who talks the most or the loudest. It is about the demeanor and attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/culture-is-very-important-to-the-mavs-it-isn-t-about-who-talks-the/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) ## More by Paul Begala > [You can drive yourself crazy trying to peer into a person's soul--or you can do the sensible thing: ask not what inner motives drive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/you-can-drive-yourself-crazy-trying-to-peer-into-a-person-s-soul-or/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [Never interrupt your opponent when he's destroying himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/never-interrupt-your-opponent-when-he-s-destroying-himself/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [Republicans want to punish work and reward wealth; hence the high payroll tax and the low dividend tax. Said one Bush economic adviser, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/republicans-want-to-punish-work-and-reward-wealth-hence-the-high/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [I mean, for all of his faults and the troubles in his marriage, Bill Clinton is still married to a girl he met in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/i-mean-for-all-of-his-faults-and-the-troubles-in-his-marriage-bill/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [One of the problems we saw in the last presidential election in our party is that our nominee, while winning the election, which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/one-of-the-problems-we-saw-in-the-last-presidential-election-in-our/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [My view was that the campaign had been a sacred thing, that it had been a real compact, because I was there and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/my-view-was-that-the-campaign-had-been-a-sacred-thing-that-it-had/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [If my wife hears one more report that I'm joining Hillary's campaign I'm going to have to go in the Pundit Protection Program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/if-my-wife-hears-one-more-report-that-i-m-joining-hillary-s-campaign/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [This gets back to the fundamental lesson of political survival that Bill Clinton taught me, which is if you make it about the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/this-gets-back-to-the-fundamental-lesson-of-political-survival-that/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [I used to go in at 5:30 or 6:00 so I could run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/i-used-to-go-in-at-5-30-or-6-00-so-i-could-run/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [I grew up in Tom DeLay's district.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/i-grew-up-in-tom-delay-s-district/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [Politics is show business for ugly people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/politics-is-show-business-for-ugly-people/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [There's the great line: the definition of a liberal is someone who's afraid to take their own side in a fight. And that's my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/there-s-the-great-line-the-definition-of-a-liberal-is-someone-who-s/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [Always attack, Never defend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/always-attack-never-defend/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [If it was about lying under oath - we actually know that Clinton certainly was deceptive, as most people would be about their sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/if-it-was-about-lying-under-oath-we-actually-know-that-clinton/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [I think his deepest quality is empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/i-think-his-deepest-quality-is-empathy/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) [Explore all 50 Paul Begala quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) ## More Community quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [The strains and stresses suffered by the individual in society are grounded in the normal functioning of that society (and of the individual!) rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-strains-and-stresses-suffered-by-the-individual-in-society-are/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [It rolls off my back. Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-rolls-off-my-back-ridicule-doesn-t-mean-anything-even-from-people/) [Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Perhaps the greatest and least visible form of impoverishment caused by the Corporate State is the destruction of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/perhaps-the-greatest-and-least-visible-form-of-impoverishment-caused/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) [Browse all 13,840 Community quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Culture has always been more important than politics. Sometimes culture is a mirror that reflects what is; sometimes it's a search-light pointing the way to what will be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Begala" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/culture-has-always-been-more-important-than-politics-sometimes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Community" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/culture-has-always-been-more-important-than-politics-sometimes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/paul-begala-13540_community_culture-has-always-been-more-important-t_2427115.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/paul-begala-13540_community_culture-has-always-been-more-important-t_2427115.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/paul-begala-13540_community_culture-has-always-been-more-important-t_2427115.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Culture has always been more important than politics. Sometimes culture is a mirror that reflects what is…” — Paul Begala", "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": "Paul Begala", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Culture has always been more important...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/culture-has-always-been-more-important-than-politics-sometimes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/culture-has-always-been-more-important-than-politics-sometimes/#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 } } ] } ```