--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I've had a long, distinguished…" description: "\"I think I've had a long, distinguished career in public service. It just goes to show you what some politicians will do. They'll say or do anything to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80c/raymond-kelly-14990_call-me_i-think-i-ve-had-a-long-distinguished-ca_1996551.png" --- # I think I've had a long, distinguished career in public… ![“I think I've had a long, distinguished career in public service. It just goes to show you what some politicians will do. They'll say or do anything to get elected. I know all these people. They all claimed to be friends of mine up until their mayoral campaigns. They'd call me on the phone and ask…” quote by Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80c/raymond-kelly-14990_call-me_i-think-i-ve-had-a-long-distinguished-ca_1996551.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80c/raymond-kelly-14990_call-me_i-think-i-ve-had-a-long-distinguished-ca_1996551.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80c/raymond-kelly-14990_call-me_i-think-i-ve-had-a-long-distinguished-ca_1996551.png) > “I think I've had a long, distinguished career in public service. It just goes to show you what some politicians will do. They'll say or do anything to get elected. I know all these people. They all claimed to be friends of mine up until their mayoral campaigns. They'd call me on the phone and ask for information or come over here and sit in this chair to get briefed.” [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He critiques politicians for opportunistic behavior, emphasizing cynicism toward their promises and personal interactions. **In simple terms:** Politicians exploit relationships for power. Key Takeaway Stay skeptical of political promises. Themes politics trust cynicism Mood critical analytical Type political ethical When to use this quote - voting decisions - community activism - media literacy Key Concepts ethical leadership public service Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens hold officials accountable? - What signs indicate genuine public service? A Different Perspective Not all politicians are corrupt; nuance needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Public service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-service/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [A house divided cannot stand for long. That goes for politicians and the rest of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-d/a-house-divided-cannot-stand-for-long-that-goes-for-politicians-and/) [Willie D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-d/) > [People are just fed up with these politicians that get up there, promise something, don't commit to their promises after they get elected. 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When we demand more than mediocrity - and the passing comforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-strock/when-americans-decry-our-politicians-we-must-remember-that-ultimately/) [James M Strock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-strock/) > [“He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-things-first-that-nobody-no-group/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [As someone who has put my life on hold, my personal life on hold, for Parliament and for public service for over a decade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-poilievre/as-someone-who-has-put-my-life-on-hold-my-personal-life-on-hold-for/) [Pierre Poilievre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-poilievre/) > [Of all the things that it is possible to donate, to donate your own body is infinitely more worthwhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jones/of-all-the-things-that-it-is-possible-to-donate-to-donate-your-own/) [William Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jones/) > [As a matter of fact, even when I finished law school, I had no notion of public service then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dinkins/as-a-matter-of-fact-even-when-i-finished-law-school-i-had-no-notion/) [David Dinkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dinkins/) > [The truth is, through all these years of public service, the 'service' part has always come easier to me than the 'public' part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-truth-is-through-all-these-years-of-public-service-the-service/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. 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And for the last 17 years, ever since my husband…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-feel-like-i-have-had-the-most-amazing-life-in-my-public-service-and/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Raymond Kelly > [I think one of the biggest scams in law enforcement is the monitor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/i-think-one-of-the-biggest-scams-in-law-enforcement-is-the-monitor/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [Since 9/11, some of the most violent terrorists we've encountered were radicalized or recruited at universities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/since-9-11-some-of-the-most-violent-terrorists-we-ve-encountered-were/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [I don't watch cop movies much. I TiVo shows. I watch every Larry David show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/i-don-t-watch-cop-movies-much-i-tivo-shows-i-watch-every-larry-david/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [No other agency is scrutinized like the police. Everything we do is in a goldfish bowl. We are not the most popular people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/no-other-agency-is-scrutinized-like-the-police-everything-we-do-is-in/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [New York is safer than it has been - and it's getting safer. But it's never safe. 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I enjoy good clothes, so 18 years ago I moved to having custom-made suits.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/i-think-it-s-only-natural-to-want-to-look-good-i-enjoy-good-clothes/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [If terrorists aren't limited by borders and boundaries, we can't be, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/if-terrorists-aren-t-limited-by-borders-and-boundaries-we-can-t-be/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [All terrorism is theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/all-terrorism-is-theater/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [For some, the very act of intelligence gathering seems illegitimate when applied to the crime of terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/for-some-the-very-act-of-intelligence-gathering-seems-illegitimate/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [As a city, we have to face the reality that New York's minority communities experience a disproportionate share of violent crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/as-a-city-we-have-to-face-the-reality-that-new-york-s-minority/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [I like music, a lot of different types of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/i-like-music-a-lot-of-different-types-of-music/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [When I had the job of police commissioner, 20 years ago, I was more sensitive, more cognizant of complaints and concerned about public opinion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/when-i-had-the-job-of-police-commissioner-20-years-ago-i-was-more/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [Consensus building doesn't necessarily fit with my experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/consensus-building-doesn-t-necessarily-fit-with-my-experience/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) [Explore all 44 Raymond Kelly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) ## More Call me quotes > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. 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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/) > [ Shigure Sohma: \[got Tohru a maid costume for White Day\] I can't wait to for her to call me master while wearing this. 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