--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Things happened there that I don't think…" description: "\"Things happened there that I don't think are the finest hours for anybody, whether it was a journalist, the legal system or, in that case of the politi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/rahm-emanuel-4413_example_things-happened-there-that-i-don-t-think_3091056.jpg" --- # Things happened there that I don't think are the finest… ![“Things happened there that I don't think are the finest hours for anybody, whether it was a journalist, the legal system or, in that case of the political system, who would say that was an example of when Washington worked best.” quote by Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/rahm-emanuel-4413_example_things-happened-there-that-i-don-t-think_3091056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/rahm-emanuel-4413_example_things-happened-there-that-i-don-t-think_3091056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/rahm-emanuel-4413_example_things-happened-there-that-i-don-t-think_3091056.jpg) > “Things happened there that I don't think are the finest hours for anybody, whether it was a journalist, the legal system or, in that case of the political system, who would say that was an example of when Washington worked best.” [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even in a flawed system, moments of effective governance can be rare and often overlooked. **In simple terms:** Good governance is rare in politics. Key Takeaway Recognize and strive for effective governance. Themes politics governance systemic flaws Mood analytical skeptical Type political reflective When to use this quote - government reforms - media analysis - civic education Key Concepts accountability public trust institutional performance Questions to Reflect On - What defines a "finest hour" in governance? - How can we improve systemic performance? A Different Perspective Idealizing rare successes may ignore systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Example Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example-washington-4412958/) [Finest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finest/) [Finest Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finest-hours-3559141/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Legal system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal-system/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-system/) [Things Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happened/) [Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington/) [Washington Worked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington-worked-2693504/) ## Related quotes > [ The EPA's \[Clean Power Plan\] is another example of Washington's lack of understanding when it comes to rural and Western energy issues. I oppose… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-kirkpatrick/the-epa-s-clean-power-plan-is-another-example-of-washington-s-lack-of/) [Ann Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-kirkpatrick/) > [In Washington, I have worked hard for the people, and I've been loved by the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-barry/in-washington-i-have-worked-hard-for-the-people-and-i-ve-been-loved/) [Marion Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-barry/) > [I started out as a duo with Mis-Teeq's Sabrina Washington, and we worked for four or five years before signing a record deal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alesha-dixon/i-started-out-as-a-duo-with-mis-teeq-s-sabrina-washington-and-we/) [Alesha Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alesha-dixon/) > [Unfortunately, corruption is widespread in government agencies and public enterprises. Our political system promotes nepotism and wasting money. This has undermined our legal system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/unfortunately-corruption-is-widespread-in-government-agencies-and-2/) [George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/) > [There is a separation - a very clear separation - between the judiciary, the legal system, and the political system in this country, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-albanese/there-is-a-separation-a-very-clear-separation-between-the-judiciary/) [Anthony Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-albanese/) > [Islam is more than a religion, it's much more than a religion, it's a way of life, it is a one party political system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/islam-is-more-than-a-religion-it-s-much-more-than-a-religion-it-s-a/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) > [For the faithful, our finest hours are sometimes during or just following our darkest hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/for-the-faithful-our-finest-hours-are-sometimes-during-or-just/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“Protect your finest hours for your greatest work. Bring on your craft and lift us with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sravani-saha-nakhro/protect-your-finest-hours-for-your-greatest-work-bring-on-your-craft/) [Sravani Saha Nakhro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sravani-saha-nakhro/) > [ Everything is just make believe. They're just different versions of make believe. I love the period of this movie \[The Finest Hours\]. I love… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/everything-is-just-make-believe-they-re-just-different-versions-of/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [“The most worst scenario… I mean if this happen to me and to be so deep in the sea and sailing oh hell... let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/the-most-worst-scenario-i-mean-if-this-happen-to-me-and-to-be-so-deep/) [Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/) > [ \[ The Finest Hours\] reminded me a lot of a film I did called Unstoppable in that you have a driving thriller aspect of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/the-finest-hours-reminded-me-a-lot-of-a-film-i-did-called-unstoppable/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [Once I wrapped 'Insurgent', I went to Boston and shot a film called 'The Finest Hours.' It's based on a real story in 1952…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/once-i-wrapped-insurgent-i-went-to-boston-and-shot-a-film-called-the/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [“It’s not one of our finest hours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cook/it-s-not-one-of-our-finest-hours/) [Brian Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cook/) > [The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-legal-system-in-afghanistan-is-very-immature-and-porous/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [I see the main problem of my life, and indeed anybody's life, as the balancing of competitive freedoms ... a sense of mutual obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/i-see-the-main-problem-of-my-life-and-indeed-anybody-s-life-as-the/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) ## More by Rahm Emanuel > [The GOP is broken. They need a Bill Clinton moment with someone to figure things out. Let me just say - and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/the-gop-is-broken-they-need-a-bill-clinton-moment-with-someone-to/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [For all the things that make Chicago great, for all the things that make us proud to call ourselves Chicagoans, the violence that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/for-all-the-things-that-make-chicago-great-for-all-the-things-that/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [In the White House, you can be on the pitcher's mound or you can be in the catcher's position. Put points on the board.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/in-the-white-house-you-can-be-on-the-pitcher-s-mound-or-you-can-be-in/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [Because of the president's leadership, every American will have access to affordable, quality health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/because-of-the-president-s-leadership-every-american-will-have-access/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [Republicans are 'bad people who deserve a two-by-four upside their heads.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/republicans-are-bad-people-who-deserve-a-two-by-four-upside-their/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [We have work to do, and Tuesday Americans sent Washington a clear message - get the job done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/we-have-work-to-do-and-tuesday-americans-sent-washington-a-clear/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [In millions of encounters each year between the police and the public, it may be too much to expect that every officer will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/in-millions-of-encounters-each-year-between-the-police-and-the-public/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [No officer should be allowed to behave as if they are above the law just because they are responsible for upholding the law. Permitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/no-officer-should-be-allowed-to-behave-as-if-they-are-above-the-law/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [We need to deal with the problem of al Qaeda, make sure that they can't have a sanctuary in Afghanistan and guarantee that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/we-need-to-deal-with-the-problem-of-al-qaeda-make-sure-that-they-can/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [Deliberation is a good thing when it comes to fighting wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/deliberation-is-a-good-thing-when-it-comes-to-fighting-wars/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [The moment somebody's a president and you call him "Mr. President," (the person represents) our culture, our history, our sense as our nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/the-moment-somebody-s-a-president-and-you-call-him-mr-president-the/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [You may say I may be unfit to be mayor. But you can never say I'm an unfit mayor,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/you-may-say-i-may-be-unfit-to-be-mayor-but-you-can-never-say-i-m-an/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [I do not believe the government has the right to investigate somebody's private life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/i-do-not-believe-the-government-has-the-right-to-investigate-somebody/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [Today, because of President Obama's courage to my kids can stay on their parents' plan until they are 26. Insurers cannot take you off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/today-because-of-president-obama-s-courage-to-my-kids-can-stay-on/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [The Afghan - obviously the parties will decide which course of action. The most important there, get a government that is seen as legitimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/the-afghan-obviously-the-parties-will-decide-which-course-of-action/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) [Explore all 111 Rahm Emanuel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) ## More Example quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I think leading by example is important, as I know the next generation is watching us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/i-think-leading-by-example-is-important-as-i-know-the-next-generation/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Popular culture as a whole is popular, but in today's fragmented market it's a jostle of competing unpopular popular cultures. As the critic Stanley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/popular-culture-as-a-whole-is-popular-but-in-today-s-fragmented/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [You can have examples of reasons to hate people, but if you analyze those reasons it's like, Oh, I'm hating that person based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlyne-yi/you-can-have-examples-of-reasons-to-hate-people-but-if-you-analyze/) [Charlyne Yi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlyne-yi/) > [The protestant world is in great need of examples (like these) that will beckon us to the fullness of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bickle/the-protestant-world-is-in-great-need-of-examples-like-these-that/) [Mike Bickle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bickle/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I'm not the most vocal guy, but I try to lead by example every single day with how I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/i-m-not-the-most-vocal-guy-but-i-try-to-lead-by-example-every-single/) [Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/) > [But actually theory is very practical. Gravity is a theory, for example. It allows you to predict that if you step off a cliff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/but-actually-theory-is-very-practical-gravity-is-a-theory-for-example/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [I had the best example set by my parents for what a couple can - and, in my opinion, should - be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-young/i-had-the-best-example-set-by-my-parents-for-what-a-couple-can-and-in/) [Brett Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-young/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [America's freedom is the example to which the world expires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/america-s-freedom-is-the-example-to-which-the-world-expires/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) [Browse all 5,618 Example quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Things happened there that I don't think are the finest hours for anybody, whether it was a journalist, the legal system or, in that case of the political system, who would say that was an example of when Washington worked best.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rahm Emanuel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/things-happened-there-that-i-don-t-think-are-the-finest-hours-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Example" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/things-happened-there-that-i-don-t-think-are-the-finest-hours-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/rahm-emanuel-4413_example_things-happened-there-that-i-don-t-think_3091056.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/rahm-emanuel-4413_example_things-happened-there-that-i-don-t-think_3091056.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/rahm-emanuel-4413_example_things-happened-there-that-i-don-t-think_3091056.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Things happened there that I don't think are the finest hours for anybody, whether it was a journalist, the…” — Rahm Emanuel", "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": "Rahm Emanuel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Things happened there that I don't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/things-happened-there-that-i-don-t-think-are-the-finest-hours-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/things-happened-there-that-i-don-t-think-are-the-finest-hours-for/#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 } } ] } ```