---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I swear if Washington moved any slower…"
description: "\"“I swear if Washington moved any slower, we could be at war and it would all be over before they could even lift their sluggish, naked, dead asses off ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/ray-palla-44272_annoying-people_i-swear-if-washington-moved-any-slower-w_1655503.jpg"
---

#  I swear if Washington moved any slower, we could be at war…

![“I swear if Washington moved any slower, we could be at war and it would all be over before they could even lift their sluggish, naked, dead asses off of their comfortable heated-seat toilets. -Fitzhugh to Captain Jeeter” quote by Ray Palla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/ray-palla-44272_annoying-people_i-swear-if-washington-moved-any-slower-w_1655503.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/ray-palla-44272_annoying-people_i-swear-if-washington-moved-any-slower-w_1655503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/ray-palla-44272_annoying-people_i-swear-if-washington-moved-any-slower-w_1655503.jpg)

> ““I swear if Washington moved any slower, we could be at war and it would all be over before they could even lift their sluggish, naked, dead asses off of their comfortable heated-seat toilets. -Fitzhugh to Captain Jeeter””

[Ray Palla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-palla/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A sarcastic critique of Washington’s slow decision‑making, implying that delays could lead to war and that the leadership is complacent and ineffective.

**In simple terms:** Washington’s slowness could cause war and shows lazy leadership.

Key Takeaway

Act decisively, avoid complacency.

Themes

leadership politics urgency

Mood

ironic critical satirical

Type

political humorous cautionary

When to use this quote

- government meetings
- crisis response
- policy negotiations
- military planning

Key Concepts

bureaucracy inefficiency military strategy

Questions to Reflect On

- How does delay affect national security?
- What are the risks of acting too hastily?

A Different Perspective

The quote may exaggerate for humor, not reflecting actual strategic timelines.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Annoying people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/annoying-people/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington/) [Washington dc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington-dc/)

## Related quotes

> [I worked for the Office of Management and Budget in the White House, on nuclear energy policy. But I decided it would be much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ina-garten/i-worked-for-the-office-of-management-and-budget-in-the-white-house/)

[Ina Garten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ina-garten/)

> [What nature does blindly, slowly and ruthlessly, man may do providently, quickly, and kindly. As it lies within his power, so it becomes his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-galton/what-nature-does-blindly-slowly-and-ruthlessly-man-may-do-providently/)

[Francis Galton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-galton/)

> [One of the chief inhibitions to human progress arises because of the extreme slowness with which the advances in knowledge become translated into action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/one-of-the-chief-inhibitions-to-human-progress-arises-because-of-the/)

[Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/)

> [We, in our Province, are beginning to realize and appreciate that our slowness in keeping up with our North American neighbours may well have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-campbell/we-in-our-province-are-beginning-to-realize-and-appreciate-that-our/)

[Alex Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-campbell/)

> [If you want to please the critics, don't play too loud, too soft, too fast, too slow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arturo-toscanini/if-you-want-to-please-the-critics-don-t-play-too-loud-too-soft-too/)

[Arturo Toscanini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arturo-toscanini/)

> [“When I was sixteen I read ten books a week: E.E. Cummings, William Faulkner, Henry James, Hart Crane, John Steinbeck. I thought I progressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-hall/when-i-was-sixteen-i-read-ten-books-a-week-e-e-cummings-william/)

[Donald Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-hall/)

> [In fact, the early demographer Thomas Malthus believes that the only way the human population would ever check itself was by running headlong into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/in-fact-the-early-demographer-thomas-malthus-believes-that-the-only/)

[Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/)

> [Today, luxury resides in everything that is becoming rare: communion with nature, silence, meditation, slowness rediscovered, the pleasure of living out of step with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pascal-bruckner/today-luxury-resides-in-everything-that-is-becoming-rare-communion/)

[Pascal Bruckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pascal-bruckner/)

> [“Part of me thinks the slowness is on your side.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/part-of-me-thinks-the-slowness-is-on-your-side/)

[Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/)

> [No," I said finally. "Slowness in Answering," she said into the handheld. "When's the last time you slept?" "1940" I said promptly, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/no-i-said-finally-slowness-in-answering-she-said-into-the-handheld/)

[Connie Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/)

> [Sir, the slowness of genius is hard to bear, but the slowness of mediocrity is insufferable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-thomas-buckle/sir-the-slowness-of-genius-is-hard-to-bear-but-the-slowness-of/)

[Henry Thomas Buckle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-thomas-buckle/)

> [Those who are slow to know suppose that slowness is the essence of knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/those-who-are-slow-to-know-suppose-that-slowness-is-the-essence-of/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [what I love is slowness. Slow people, slow reading, slow traveling, slow eggs, and slow love. Everything good comes slow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-sharon-schwartz/what-i-love-is-slowness-slow-people-slow-reading-slow-traveling-slow/)

[Lynne Sharon Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-sharon-schwartz/)

> [“I was being cured of soldiering on endlessly: my job was now to be still, which had become almost easy at last.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/i-was-being-cured-of-soldiering-on-endlessly-my-job-was-now-to-be/)

[Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/)

> [“Half the ingratitude and complacency in the world down to how slowly and imperceptibly most good and bad things unfold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/half-the-ingratitude-and-complacency-in-the-world-down-to-how-slowly/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

## More by Ray Palla

> [“Eyebrows and hair singed off, Hector is barely recognizable under a lathering of day-glow orange. He appears to have been tarred-and-feathered with orange tar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-palla/eyebrows-and-hair-singed-off-hector-is-barely-recognizable-under-a/)

[Ray Palla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-palla/)

> [“Give little people a little power, and it goes straight to their ugly, little heads. -Foot talks about authority”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-palla/give-little-people-a-little-power-and-it-goes-straight-to-their-ugly/)

[Ray Palla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-palla/)

> [“My name is Richard Werner. Dick. You can call me Dick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-palla/my-name-is-richard-werner-dick-you-can-call-me-dick/)

[Ray Palla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-palla/)

> [“Just knock off the horns and hair, and toss it on the coals for about thirty seconds on each side. I like mine still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-palla/just-knock-off-the-horns-and-hair-and-toss-it-on-the-coals-for-about/)

[Ray Palla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-palla/)

> [“Regarding politics: You've got your cats on one side and your dogs on the other. Someone has to walk the fence and feed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-palla/regarding-politics-you-ve-got-your-cats-on-one-side-and-your-dogs-on/)

[Ray Palla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-palla/)

> [“…have you always been a jackass or is that something you’ve just recently acquired at the ‘I Want to be a Junior Jackass’ store?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-palla/have-you-always-been-a-jackass-or-is-that-something-you-ve-just/)

[Ray Palla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-palla/)

> [“If you run, you better be faster than my gun. -Weasel to illegal aliens”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-palla/if-you-run-you-better-be-faster-than-my-gun-weasel-to-illegal-aliens/)

[Ray Palla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-palla/)

> [“My hands are way too big to text. I’d need short hand for my hands. -Foot to Pad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-palla/my-hands-are-way-too-big-to-text-i-d-need-short-hand-for-my-hands/)

[Ray Palla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-palla/)

[Explore all 9 Ray Palla quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-palla/)

## More Annoying people quotes

> [I wouldn't have to manage my anger if only people could learn how to manage their stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wouldn-t-have-to-manage-my-anger-if-only-people-could-learn-how-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I hate facebook stalkers, they like every status you put up, talk to EVERY DAY, and when you cut them off they find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-facebook-stalkers-they-like-every-status-you-put-up-talk-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Don't you hate it when you get on a elevator and someone smells like they took a bath in perfume or cologne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jreyes/don-t-you-hate-it-when-you-get-on-a-elevator-and-someone-smells-like/)

JREYES

> [Shut the fuck up ur so annoying and you think your the shit lmao sit the fuck down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/shut-the-fuck-up-ur-so-annoying-and-you-think-your-the-shit-lmao-sit/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [No matter how well you behave with people around you, THEY will treat YOU according to their NEED &amp; MOOD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-well-you-behave-with-people-around-you-they-will-treat/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm not cranky. I just have a violent reaction to stupid people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-cranky-i-just-have-a-violent-reaction-to-stupid-people/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [My middle finger is used when words aren't enough for people to understand that they're annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-middle-finger-is-used-when-words-aren-t-enough-for-people-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You are NOTHING when you cannot control your MIND!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athirah-khairul/you-are-nothing-when-you-cannot-control-your-mind/)

Athirah Khairul

> [Wishes people would look at their own lives before criticizing mine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wishes-people-would-look-at-their-own-lives-before-criticizing-mine/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Shit I hate when skinny people complain how fat they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/shit-i-hate-when-skinny-people-complain-how-fat-they-are/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Every girl knows that one annoying boy who constantly asks, 'So when we gonna chill?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-girl-knows-that-one-annoying-boy-who-constantly-asks-so-when-we/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Don't take life too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/don-t-take-life-too-seriously/)

[RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/)

> [I was about to read your political rant that you posted on Facebook, but I just went on living my life instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-about-to-read-your-political-rant-that-you-posted-on-facebook/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [ “\[...\] Who are you?" He thought about that. "I'm a boy who doesn't exist," he said, eventually.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-james/who-are-you-he-thought-about-that-i-m-a-boy-who-doesn-t-exist-he-said/)

[Kathryn James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-james/)

> [No Matter How Hard I Try To Be Nice,,, Someone Always Manages To Find My Instant Bitch Button!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/no-matter-how-hard-i-try-to-be-nice-someone-always-manages-to-find-my/)

Pacifiersucker

[Browse all 373 Annoying people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/annoying-people/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I swear if Washington moved any slower, we could be at war and it would all be over before they could even lift their sluggish, naked, dead asses off of their comfortable heated-seat toilets. -Fitzhugh to Captain Jeeter”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ray Palla"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-palla/i-swear-if-washington-moved-any-slower-we-could-be-at-war-and-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Annoying people"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-palla/i-swear-if-washington-moved-any-slower-we-could-be-at-war-and-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/ray-palla-44272_annoying-people_i-swear-if-washington-moved-any-slower-w_1655503.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/ray-palla-44272_annoying-people_i-swear-if-washington-moved-any-slower-w_1655503.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/ray-palla-44272_annoying-people_i-swear-if-washington-moved-any-slower-w_1655503.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I swear if Washington moved any slower, we could be at war and it would all be over before they could even…” — Ray Palla",
                "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": "Ray Palla",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-palla/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I swear if Washington moved any...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-palla/i-swear-if-washington-moved-any-slower-we-could-be-at-war-and-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-palla/i-swear-if-washington-moved-any-slower-we-could-be-at-war-and-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
