--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The people who influence our presidents…" description: "\"“The people who influence our presidents matter.”\" — Paul Kengor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/paul-kengor-14302_quote_the-people-who-influence-our-presidents_1479848.jpg" --- # The people who influence our presidents matter. ![“The people who influence our presidents matter.” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/paul-kengor-14302_quote_the-people-who-influence-our-presidents_1479848.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/paul-kengor-14302_quote_the-people-who-influence-our-presidents_1479848.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/paul-kengor-14302_quote_the-people-who-influence-our-presidents_1479848.jpg) > ““The people who influence our presidents matter.”” [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Influential individuals shape leaders, underscoring the power of mentorship and advocacy. **In simple terms:** People who influence leaders matter. Key Takeaway Support positive influencers. Themes leadership influence politics Mood thoughtful motivational Type political inspirational When to use this quote - political campaigns - community organizing - education programs Key Concepts social capital policy impact Questions to Reflect On - Who are your positive role models? - How can you amplify good influence? A Different Perspective Not all influencers are ethical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Presidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidents/) ## Related quotes > [But presidents matter. That's one of the biggest lessons I learned being in the White House.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-blumenthal/but-presidents-matter-that-s-one-of-the-biggest-lessons-i-learned/) [Sidney Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-blumenthal/) > [When I began designing machines I also began to think that these objects, which sit next to each other and around people, can influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ettore-sottsass/when-i-began-designing-machines-i-also-began-to-think-that-these/) [Ettore Sottsass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ettore-sottsass/) > [I'm honored when young people say they've gone to school on slide guitar with my records. But people get their influence from my live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/i-m-honored-when-young-people-say-they-ve-gone-to-school-on-slide/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [I believe in having fun first, and along the way, if you teach people, if you influence people, well and good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-believe-in-having-fun-first-and-along-the-way-if-you-teach-people/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [You acquire more influence with young people when you give up using your power to control them...and the more you use your power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gordon/you-acquire-more-influence-with-young-people-when-you-give-up-using/) [Thomas Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gordon/) > [ Which founders have these presidents cited - and why? What did, say, President \[Ronald\] Reagan's view of George Washington, or President \[Bill\] Clinton's view… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/which-founders-have-these-presidents-cited-and-why-what-did-say/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [Throughout American history our presidents have invoked our nation's founding fathers. This is particularly true of recent presidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/throughout-american-history-our-presidents-have-invoked-our-nation-s/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [“There are many voices in the world. The social environment will try to mould us in the image and likeness of man. People will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/there-are-many-voices-in-the-world-the-social-environment-will-try-to/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [Deliberately seek the company of people who influence you to think and act on building the life you desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/deliberately-seek-the-company-of-people-who-influence-you-to-think/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [We change people, but oftentimes we get so focused on the negative people and their influence on us, we forget how powerful we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-gielan/we-change-people-but-oftentimes-we-get-so-focused-on-the-negative/) [Michelle Gielan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-gielan/) > [“The pond garden is an intricate phenomenon coalescing the intent and will of various people of influence living at various times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norris-brock-johnson/the-pond-garden-is-an-intricate-phenomenon-coalescing-the-intent-and/) Norris Brock Johnson > [When the primary people who have influence and power in our communities are not even really allowed to educate you on who to vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/when-the-primary-people-who-have-influence-and-power-in-our/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [His background and knowledge can't be transplanted overnight, ... I'd make a point that unless you sat on the throne, you don't know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-ryan/his-background-and-knowledge-can-t-be-transplanted-overnight-i-d-make/) [Jeri Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-ryan/) > [People influence people. Nothing influences people more than a recommendation from a trusted friend. A trusted referral influences people more than the best broadcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/people-influence-people-nothing-influences-people-more-than-a/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [Unfortunately, celebrity is a powerful thing. It can influence people, but if it can influence people in a good way, then that's a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-furnish/unfortunately-celebrity-is-a-powerful-thing-it-can-influence-people/) [David Furnish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-furnish/) ## More by Paul Kengor > [The American founding is not just about a group of people, a group of men. It is about an ideal: Both a vision and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/the-american-founding-is-not-just-about-a-group-of-people-a-group-of/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [Maybe the most interesting find in my research is that it is clear that Ronald Reagan, among all modern presidents, plainly rediscovered the founders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/maybe-the-most-interesting-find-in-my-research-is-that-it-is-clear/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [“Only when people are free to worship, create, and build, only when they can decide their destiny and benefit from their own risks—only then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/only-when-people-are-free-to-worship-create-and-build-only-when-they/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [As has been reported, and is unmistakably evident to all but the most naïve, federal employees have been ordered to exploit this crisis, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/as-has-been-reported-and-is-unmistakably-evident-to-all-but-the-most/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ It is quite sad, to me, that that ideal, that vision and understanding \[of American founding \], doesn't seem to be a part of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/it-is-quite-sad-to-me-that-that-ideal-that-vision-and-understanding/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ The presidents varied in the degree to which they cited the founders. Some, like JFK, LBJ, \[Richard\] Nixon, and \[Bill\] Clinton, cited them somewhat… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/the-presidents-varied-in-the-degree-to-which-they-cited-the-founders/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ I was a child or didn't live through those presidents prior to \[Ronald\] Reagan, and thus didn't realize how little attention they had paid… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/i-was-a-child-or-didn-t-live-through-those-presidents-prior-to-ronald/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [In the middle of Hillary Clinton's push for national healthcare in 1993, Bill Clinton cited Thomas Jefferson's concern for health issues as, somehow, apparently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/in-the-middle-of-hillary-clinton-s-push-for-national-healthcare-in/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ If our presidents, or potential presidents, don't know this or don't articulate \[an America ideal\], that's a blown opportunity. The president can teach as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/if-our-presidents-or-potential-presidents-don-t-know-this-or-don-t/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [“Only in the detached from reality world of goofy Hollywood and modern academia could a mass murderer like Che Guevara be turned into something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/only-in-the-detached-from-reality-world-of-goofy-hollywood-and-modern/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [Throughout American history our presidents have invoked our nation's founding fathers. This is particularly true of recent presidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/throughout-american-history-our-presidents-have-invoked-our-nation-s/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ Which founders have these presidents cited - and why? What did, say, President \[Ronald\] Reagan's view of George Washington, or President \[Bill\] Clinton's view… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/which-founders-have-these-presidents-cited-and-why-what-did-say/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [Learning is a good thing, but unless it's tempered by faith and a love of freedom, it can be very dangerous indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/learning-is-a-good-thing-but-unless-it-s-tempered-by-faith-and-a-love/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [“Ultimately, Reagan presided over the largest tax cut in American history, and accomplished it working in tandem with (rather than against) a huge Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/ultimately-reagan-presided-over-the-largest-tax-cut-in-american/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ Ronald Reagan \[ cite the founders\] on behalf of emphasizing the faith of our founders, of limited government, of the uniqueness and exceptionalism of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/ronald-reagan-cite-the-founders-on-behalf-of-emphasizing-the-faith-of/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) [Explore all 47 Paul Kengor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) ## More Influence quotes > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [Life is not about how much you have but how much you have affect others life positively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-not-about-how-much-you-have-but-how-much-you-have-affect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [... a fellow can't predict what he will pick up in the form of influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-fellow-can-t-predict-what-he-will-pick-up-in-the-form-of-influence/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [We believe a scientist because he can substantiate his remarks, not because he is eloquent and forcible in his enunciation. In fact, we distrust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-a-richards/we-believe-a-scientist-because-he-can-substantiate-his-remarks-not/) [I. A. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-a-richards/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [Influences come from everywhere. I don't really feel like I had too many influences for the first record because I grew up listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/influences-come-from-everywhere-i-don-t-really-feel-like-i-had-too/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/it-was-both-necessary-and-desirable-for-us-to-be-so-strong-at-sea/) [Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 7,121 Influence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The people who influence our presidents matter.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Kengor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/the-people-who-influence-our-presidents-matter/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Influence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/the-people-who-influence-our-presidents-matter/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/paul-kengor-14302_quote_the-people-who-influence-our-presidents_1479848.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/paul-kengor-14302_quote_the-people-who-influence-our-presidents_1479848.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/paul-kengor-14302_quote_the-people-who-influence-our-presidents_1479848.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The people who influence our presidents matter.” — Paul Kengor", "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 Kengor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The people who influence our presidents...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/the-people-who-influence-our-presidents-matter/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/the-people-who-influence-our-presidents-matter/#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 } } ] } ```