--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They are wrong who think that politics is…" description: "\"They are wrong who think that politics is like an ocean voyage or a military campaign, something to be done with some particular end in view, something..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/plutarch-597_born_they-are-wrong-who-think-that-politics-i_916102.jpg" --- # They are wrong who think that politics is like an ocean… ![“They are wrong who think that politics is like an ocean voyage or a military campaign, something to be done with some particular end in view, something which leaves off as soon as that end is reached. It is not a public chore, to be got over with. It is a way of life. It is the life of a…” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/plutarch-597_born_they-are-wrong-who-think-that-politics-i_916102.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/plutarch-597_born_they-are-wrong-who-think-that-politics-i_916102.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/plutarch-597_born_they-are-wrong-who-think-that-politics-i_916102.jpg) > “They are wrong who think that politics is like an ocean voyage or a military campaign, something to be done with some particular end in view, something which leaves off as soon as that end is reached. It is not a public chore, to be got over with. It is a way of life. It is the life of a domesticated political and social creature who is born with a love for public life, with a desire for honor, with a feeling for his fellows; and it lasts as long as need be.” [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politics is a lifelong commitment, not a short‑term task; it shapes identity and social bonds. **In simple terms:** Politics is a way of life, not a one‑off job. Key Takeaway Embrace politics as an ongoing practice. Themes civics identity public service Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - community leadership - public policy - civic education Key Concepts social contract political sociology Questions to Reflect On - How do you sustain public engagement over time? - What habits support a lifelong civic identity? A Different Perspective Politics cannot be abandoned once a goal is met; ongoing engagement is required. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Public life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-life/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Voyages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voyages/) [Way of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [Politics is not like an ocean voyage or a military campaign... something which leaves off as soon as reached. It is not a public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/politics-is-not-like-an-ocean-voyage-or-a-military-campaign-something/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [People like to do politics with me, and they like to do business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mcauliffe/people-like-to-do-politics-with-me-and-they-like-to-do-business/) [Terry McAuliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mcauliffe/) > [I don't sing about politics or anything like that. I sing about love. That's what I know about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/i-don-t-sing-about-politics-or-anything-like-that-i-sing-about-love/) [Christine McVie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mcvie/) > [Politics is like a race horse. A good jockey must know how to fall with the least possible damage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-herriot/politics-is-like-a-race-horse-a-good-jockey-must-know-how-to-fall/) Edouard Herriot > [Politics is like navigation in a sea without charts, and wise men live the lives of pilgrims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/politics-is-like-navigation-in-a-sea-without-charts-and-wise-men-live/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [I'd like to be the commissioner of tennis, but do I want to get into politics? Sometimes I have delusions of grandeur that that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-d-like-to-be-the-commissioner-of-tennis-but-do-i-want-to-get-into/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [For me to go into politics would be like sending a virgin into a house of ill-repute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-me-to-go-into-politics-would-be-like-sending-a-virgin-into-a/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Writers and journalists tend to be simplistic about politics when, like all other areas of life, it's more complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/writers-and-journalists-tend-to-be-simplistic-about-politics-when/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [Politics are for foreigners with their endless wrongs and paltry rights. Politics are a lousy way to get things done. Politics are, like God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/politics-are-for-foreigners-with-their-endless-wrongs-and-paltry/) [P. J. 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Like a drooping flag on a windless day, the gigantic shock waves that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-next-thing-i-knew-the-season-of-politics-was-over-like-a-drooping/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) ## More by Plutarch > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-generous-mind-adds-dignity-to-every-act-and-nothing-misbecomes-it/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/king-agis-said-the-laced-monians-are-not-wont-to-ask-how-many-but/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/alexander-wept-when-he-heard-from-anaxarchus-that-there-was-an/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Proper listening is the foundation of proper living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/proper-listening-is-the-foundation-of-proper-living/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry-and-poetry-is-painting-that-speaks/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/speech-is-like-cloth-of-arras-opened-and-put-abroad-whereby-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/there-were-two-brothers-called-both-and-either-perceiving-either-was/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Why does pouring Oil on the Sea make it Clear and Calm? 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But Philolaus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/this-excerpt-is-presented-as-reproduced-by-copernicus-in-the-preface/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/it-is-part-of-a-good-man-to-do-great-and-noble-deeds-though-he-risk/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [I am whatever was, or is, or will be; and my veil no mortal ever took up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/i-am-whatever-was-or-is-or-will-be-and-my-veil-no-mortal-ever-took-up/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The pilot cannot mitigate the billows or calm the winds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-pilot-cannot-mitigate-the-billows-or-calm-the-winds/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“In Springtime, O Dionysos, To thy holy temple come, To Elis with thy Graces, Rushing with thy bull-foot, come, Noble Bull, Noble Bull”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/in-springtime-o-dionysos-to-thy-holy-temple-come-to-elis-with-thy/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) [Explore all 451 Plutarch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## More Born quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anybody looking for a quiet life has picked the wrong century to born in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anybody-looking-for-a-quiet-life-has-picked-the-wrong-century-to-born/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [I know that in the rap game you've got a lot of people, that come from poverty, was born in poverty and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-connor/i-know-that-in-the-rap-game-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-people-that-come-from/) [Jon Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-connor/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. 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I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. 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