--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have never seen opponents so silent…" description: "\"I have never seen opponents so silent about their record, and so desperate to keep their power.\" — Paul Ryan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/paul-ryan-869_desperate_i-have-never-seen-opponents-so-silent-ab_1628935.jpg" --- # I have never seen opponents so silent about their record… ![“I have never seen opponents so silent about their record, and so desperate to keep their power.” quote by Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/paul-ryan-869_desperate_i-have-never-seen-opponents-so-silent-ab_1628935.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/paul-ryan-869_desperate_i-have-never-seen-opponents-so-silent-ab_1628935.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/paul-ryan-869_desperate_i-have-never-seen-opponents-so-silent-ab_1628935.jpg) > “I have never seen opponents so silent about their record, and so desperate to keep their power.” [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques opponents who hide poor performance while clinging to power, suggesting hypocrisy and fear of accountability. **In simple terms:** People hide failures while trying to stay powerful. Key Takeaway Expose truth, demand accountability. Themes politics hypocrisy power accountability Mood critical skeptical Type political analytical When to use this quote - elections - legislative debates - media interviews - public hearings Key Concepts public relations image management political strategy Questions to Reflect On - How does silence protect power? - What are the risks of ignoring poor performance? A Different Perspective Power can be maintained through silence, but truth eventually emerges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) [Desperate Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate-power-465630/) [Opponents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents/) [Opponents Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents-silent-465628/) [Record Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-desperate-465632/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Seen Opponents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seen-opponents-465635/) [Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent/) [Silent Record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent-record-465633/) ## Related quotes > [This is how God works. He puts people in positions where they are desperate for his power, and then he shows his provision in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/this-is-how-god-works-he-puts-people-in-positions-where-they-are/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [So the challenge for us is to live in such a way that we are radically dependent on and desperate for the power that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/so-the-challenge-for-us-is-to-live-in-such-a-way-that-we-are/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [“you think I"m that desperate?" "The raging hard-on jabbing at me says yes." ~Creed/Annika”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-croft/you-think-i-m-that-desperate-the-raging-hard-on-jabbing-at-me-says/) [Sydney Croft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-croft/) > [I know it's a film and all of that, and it's a Hollywood film, but it kind of feels like this sometimes, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/i-know-it-s-a-film-and-all-of-that-and-it-s-a-hollywood-film-but-it/) [Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [The World Health Organisation has a lot of its medical experts sitting in Geneva while hospitals in Africa have no drugs and desperate patients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/the-world-health-organisation-has-a-lot-of-its-medical-experts/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [You mostly know that you want to be funny, know that you have the desire. It's not like people who grow up beautiful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/you-mostly-know-that-you-want-to-be-funny-know-that-you-have-the/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [“She was stupid and lonely. So desperate to be touched and loved with a good love. I need you, don't leave me, you're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian-bane/she-was-stupid-and-lonely-so-desperate-to-be-touched-and-loved-with-a/) [Lucian Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian-bane/) > [Never be desperate. Get rid of your insecurities. Know your worth. Believe in yourself and go get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-desperate-get-rid-of-your-insecurities-know-your-worth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Really? I'm trying to place you. It seems like we've met before." Did I just issue him a pick up line? Fantastic, I've now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/really-i-m-trying-to-place-you-it-seems-like-we-ve-met-before-did-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [“I am a desperate romantic. I love the idea of random collisions of the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-thompson/i-am-a-desperate-romantic-i-love-the-idea-of-random-collisions-of-the/) [Jessica Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-thompson/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) ## More by Paul Ryan > [When we're done simplifying the tax code, getting the lobbyist carve outs our of the tax code, lowering our rates and letting people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/when-we-re-done-simplifying-the-tax-code-getting-the-lobbyist-carve/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Grow jobs. Get this economy growing. Raise wages. Simplify the tax system, so it's easy to comply with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/grow-jobs-get-this-economy-growing-raise-wages-simplify-the-tax/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [The tax code is 10 times the size of the Bible with none of the good news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/the-tax-code-is-10-times-the-size-of-the-bible-with-none-of-the-good/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [We want American families to feel more confident in life. We want the next generation to know that yes, the best days of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-want-american-families-to-feel-more-confident-in-life-we-want-the/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Donald Trump is a pretty casual guy. He calls me Paul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/donald-trump-is-a-pretty-casual-guy-he-calls-me-paul/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [ What \[President Donald Trump\] is doing is taking away the executive overreach that President \[Barack\] Obama did which we thought exceeded his powers. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/what-president-donald-trump-is-doing-is-taking-away-the-executive/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [My dad died when I was young. He was a good and decent man. There are a few things he would say that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/my-dad-died-when-i-was-young-he-was-a-good-and-decent-man-there-are-a/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Millions of young Americans have graduated from college during the Obama presidency, ready to use their gifts and get moving in life. Half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/millions-of-young-americans-have-graduated-from-college-during-the/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [When you take a look at the problems our country is facing, debt is No. 1. The math is downright scary and the credit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/when-you-take-a-look-at-the-problems-our-country-is-facing-debt-is-no/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [What I'm concerned about is endless borrowing, which is going to compromise our economy not only today but in the future. Because we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/what-i-m-concerned-about-is-endless-borrowing-which-is-going-to/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [We believe, as our founders did, that 'the pursuit of happiness' depends upon individual liberty; and individual liberty requires limited government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-believe-as-our-founders-did-that-the-pursuit-of-happiness-depends/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [If you’re going to criticize, you should propose,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/if-you-re-going-to-criticize-you-should-propose/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [I call crony capitalism, where you take money from successful small businesses, spend it in Washington on favored industries, on favored individuals, picking winners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-call-crony-capitalism-where-you-take-money-from-successful-small/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Conventional wisdom on government's role in inequality often has it backwards. Tax reforms have resulted in a more progressive federal income tax; government transfer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/conventional-wisdom-on-government-s-role-in-inequality-often-has-it/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Let the Democrates go on making its case for more government control over every aspect of our lives. More taxes to pay. More debt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/let-the-democrates-go-on-making-its-case-for-more-government-control/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) [Explore all 345 Paul Ryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) ## More Desperate quotes > [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [“I am a desperate romantic. I love the idea of random collisions of the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-thompson/i-am-a-desperate-romantic-i-love-the-idea-of-random-collisions-of-the/) [Jessica Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-thompson/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [“Really? I'm trying to place you. It seems like we've met before." Did I just issue him a pick up line? Fantastic, I've now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/really-i-m-trying-to-place-you-it-seems-like-we-ve-met-before-did-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [Never be desperate. Get rid of your insecurities. Know your worth. Believe in yourself and go get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-desperate-get-rid-of-your-insecurities-know-your-worth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She was stupid and lonely. So desperate to be touched and loved with a good love. I need you, don't leave me, you're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian-bane/she-was-stupid-and-lonely-so-desperate-to-be-touched-and-loved-with-a/) [Lucian Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian-bane/) > [You mostly know that you want to be funny, know that you have the desire. It's not like people who grow up beautiful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/you-mostly-know-that-you-want-to-be-funny-know-that-you-have-the/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [The World Health Organisation has a lot of its medical experts sitting in Geneva while hospitals in Africa have no drugs and desperate patients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/the-world-health-organisation-has-a-lot-of-its-medical-experts/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [I know it's a film and all of that, and it's a Hollywood film, but it kind of feels like this sometimes, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/i-know-it-s-a-film-and-all-of-that-and-it-s-a-hollywood-film-but-it/) [Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/) > [“you think I"m that desperate?" "The raging hard-on jabbing at me says yes." ~Creed/Annika”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-croft/you-think-i-m-that-desperate-the-raging-hard-on-jabbing-at-me-says/) [Sydney Croft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-croft/) > [Along with a livable wage, many parents are desperate for quality affordable child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/along-with-a-livable-wage-many-parents-are-desperate-for-quality/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [As a player, if a club is desperate to sign you, then you can benefit from that. Desperate clubs are prepared to pay more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/as-a-player-if-a-club-is-desperate-to-sign-you-then-you-can-benefit/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) [Browse all 1,618 Desperate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have never seen opponents so silent about their record, and so desperate to keep their power.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Ryan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-have-never-seen-opponents-so-silent-about-their-record-and-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desperate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-have-never-seen-opponents-so-silent-about-their-record-and-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/paul-ryan-869_desperate_i-have-never-seen-opponents-so-silent-ab_1628935.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/paul-ryan-869_desperate_i-have-never-seen-opponents-so-silent-ab_1628935.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/paul-ryan-869_desperate_i-have-never-seen-opponents-so-silent-ab_1628935.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have never seen opponents so silent about their record, and so desperate to keep their power.” — Paul Ryan", "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 Ryan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have never seen opponents so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-have-never-seen-opponents-so-silent-about-their-record-and-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-have-never-seen-opponents-so-silent-about-their-record-and-so/#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 } } ] } ```