--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Finishing second in the Olympics gets you…" description: "\"Finishing second in the Olympics gets you silver. Finishing second in politics gets you oblivion.\" — Richard M. Nixon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/richard-m-nixon-727_finishing_finishing-second-in-the-olympics-gets-yo_1544252.jpg" --- # Finishing second in the Olympics gets you silver… ![“Finishing second in the Olympics gets you silver. Finishing second in politics gets you oblivion.” quote by Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/richard-m-nixon-727_finishing_finishing-second-in-the-olympics-gets-yo_1544252.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/richard-m-nixon-727_finishing_finishing-second-in-the-olympics-gets-yo_1544252.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/richard-m-nixon-727_finishing_finishing-second-in-the-olympics-gets-yo_1544252.jpg) > “Finishing second in the Olympics gets you silver. Finishing second in politics gets you oblivion.” [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Winning second place in sports is celebrated; in politics it often leads to obscurity. **In simple terms:** Second place means different things in sport vs politics. Key Takeaway Recognize context of success. Themes politics competition recognition legacy failure Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - elections - sports events - career planning Key Concepts public perception media framing career trajectory Questions to Reflect On - How does public expectation shape success? - Can second place be reframed positively? A Different Perspective Political loss can be more damaging than sports loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Oblivion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oblivion/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silver/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing worse than finishing second is to be lying on the desert alone with your back broken. Either way, nobody ever finds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-russell-sanders/the-only-thing-worse-than-finishing-second-is-to-be-lying-on-the/) Henry Russell Sanders > [Sure, finishing last has negative connotations. But finishing second-to-last or last is still losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wright/sure-finishing-last-has-negative-connotations-but-finishing-second-to/) [David Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wright/) > [Golf is a strange game, because after finishing second in one of the biggest tournaments in the world, you have such disappointment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/golf-is-a-strange-game-because-after-finishing-second-in-one-of-the/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [Nobody loves finishing second, as we've seen in past races. It's a sport that you want to get everything you can out of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/nobody-loves-finishing-second-as-we-ve-seen-in-past-races-it-s-a/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [For Infiniti, the global coverage that Formula One provides is second only to the Olympics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-horner/for-infiniti-the-global-coverage-that-formula-one-provides-is-second/) [Christian Horner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-horner/) > [Usain Bolt won the gold for the men's 100- and 200-meter dashes for the second Olympics in a row. You know, he has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/usain-bolt-won-the-gold-for-the-men-s-100-and-200-meter-dashes-for/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I'm not feeling much pressure for the Olympics because I think I already have done many things in my career. I will try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuna-kim/i-m-not-feeling-much-pressure-for-the-olympics-because-i-think-i/) [Yuna Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuna-kim/) > [I feel blessed to have an opportunity to try out for a second Olympics team and if it doesn't work out, hey I gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-sacramone/i-feel-blessed-to-have-an-opportunity-to-try-out-for-a-second/) [Alicia Sacramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-sacramone/) > [Your goal is to win a medal at the Olympics. The players who go into their second Olympics like me, know the agony of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-r-sreejesh/your-goal-is-to-win-a-medal-at-the-olympics-the-players-who-go-into/) [P. R. 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I fell face first, and in a blink of an eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nastia-liukin/at-the-2012-olympic-trials-i-wanted-to-make-a-second-olympic-team-i/) [Nastia Liukin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nastia-liukin/) > [“Never be afraid to offer a smile; sure the risk is that a few foolish people may misinterpret your kindness as weakness, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/never-be-afraid-to-offer-a-smile-sure-the-risk-is-that-a-few-foolish/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [A good, finished scandal, fully armed and equipped, such as circulates in the world, is rarely the production of a single individual, or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/a-good-finished-scandal-fully-armed-and-equipped-such-as-circulates/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-brahms/one-should-never-forget-that-by-actually-perfecting-one-piece-one/) [Johannes Brahms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-brahms/) > [There is usually no dreamer so unworldly as the anthologist. He wanders in a vast garden, lost in wonder, unable to decide often between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-webb/there-is-usually-no-dreamer-so-unworldly-as-the-anthologist-he/) [Mary Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-webb/) ## More by Richard M. Nixon > [I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is opposed to every instinct in my body. But as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-have-never-been-a-quitter-to-leave-office-before-my-term-is/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I have earned every cent. And in all of my years of public life I have never obstructed justice,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-have-earned-every-cent-and-in-all-of-my-years-of-public-life-i-have/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Restoring nature to its natural state is a cause beyond party and beyond factions. It has become a common cause of all the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/restoring-nature-to-its-natural-state-is-a-cause-beyond-party-and/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [What kind of nation we will be, what kind of world we will live in, whether we shape the future in the image of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/what-kind-of-nation-we-will-be-what-kind-of-world-we-will-live-in/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Once you get into this great stream of history you can't get out. You can drown. Or you can be pulled ashore by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/once-you-get-into-this-great-stream-of-history-you-can-t-get-out-you/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [The ultimate test of a nation's character is not how it responds to adversity in war but how it meets the challenge of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/the-ultimate-test-of-a-nation-s-character-is-not-how-it-responds-to/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [History is a pathetic junkyard of broken treaties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/history-is-a-pathetic-junkyard-of-broken-treaties/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I refuse to make a decision that somebody else can make. The first rule of leadership is to save yourself for the big decision.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-refuse-to-make-a-decision-that-somebody-else-can-make-the-first/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/those-who-hate-you-don-t-win-unless-you-hate-them-and-then-you/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I made my mistakes, but in all of my years in public life, I have never profited, never profited from public serviceI have earned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-made-my-mistakes-but-in-all-of-my-years-in-public-life-i-have-never/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I know you heard what you thought I said, but what I said isn't what I meant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-know-you-heard-what-you-thought-i-said-but-what-i-said-isn-t-what-i/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [I want to be sure...that nothing is done on these veterans. Is that understood?...Is the word out? That they are not to touch em,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-want-to-be-sure-that-nothing-is-done-on-these-veterans-is-that/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [“Nations not possessing great power can indulge in the luxury of criticism of others; those possessing it have the responsibility of decision. Faced with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/nations-not-possessing-great-power-can-indulge-in-the-luxury-of/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [The peace we seek in the world is not the flimsy peace which is merely an interlude between wars, but a peace which can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/the-peace-we-seek-in-the-world-is-not-the-flimsy-peace-which-is/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) [Explore all 388 Richard M. Nixon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) ## More Finishing quotes > [There is usually no dreamer so unworldly as the anthologist. He wanders in a vast garden, lost in wonder, unable to decide often between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-webb/there-is-usually-no-dreamer-so-unworldly-as-the-anthologist-he/) [Mary Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-webb/) > [One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-brahms/one-should-never-forget-that-by-actually-perfecting-one-piece-one/) [Johannes Brahms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-brahms/) > [A good, finished scandal, fully armed and equipped, such as circulates in the world, is rarely the production of a single individual, or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/a-good-finished-scandal-fully-armed-and-equipped-such-as-circulates/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [“Never be afraid to offer a smile; sure the risk is that a few foolish people may misinterpret your kindness as weakness, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/never-be-afraid-to-offer-a-smile-sure-the-risk-is-that-a-few-foolish/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [Salah already played in England. He has high skills at dribbling, tempo and finishing and he makes defenders despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-matip/salah-already-played-in-england-he-has-high-skills-at-dribbling-tempo/) [Joel Matip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-matip/) > [I didn't finish high school - left home when I was 15. I moved away to Fresno and worked as a grocery clerk. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-covey/i-didn-t-finish-high-school-left-home-when-i-was-15-i-moved-away-to/) [Joy Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-covey/) > [Don't start shit you can't finish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden/don-t-start-shit-you-can-t-finish/) [Jaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden/) > [I need to improve my finishing. I need more goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-ji-sung/i-need-to-improve-my-finishing-i-need-more-goals/) [Park Ji-sung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-ji-sung/) > [So many people are good at starts and not so good at finishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/so-many-people-are-good-at-starts-and-not-so-good-at-finishing/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [I think it started with both the shows and the box set from finishing White Material. I think we were also pretty desperate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-a-staples/i-think-it-started-with-both-the-shows-and-the-box-set-from-finishing/) [Stuart A. Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-a-staples/) > [Always quit for the day when you know what you want to do next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/always-quit-for-the-day-when-you-know-what-you-want-to-do-next/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [You can always improve with the team. There are tactical things, finishing in front of goal, speed as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/you-can-always-improve-with-the-team-there-are-tactical-things/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It is easy to have a lot of paintings or projects hanging around that are 'almost done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kinkade/it-is-easy-to-have-a-lot-of-paintings-or-projects-hanging-around-that/) [Thomas Kinkade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kinkade/) > [I can't bear to finish things, beyond a certain point they get heavy. There's something so dead about a finished painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/i-can-t-bear-to-finish-things-beyond-a-certain-point-they-get-heavy/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [Good shoes - they're the ultimate finishing touch. In fact, we actually joke in my family that your shoes have to be shined before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-newton/good-shoes-they-re-the-ultimate-finishing-touch-in-fact-we-actually/) [Cam Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-newton/) Browse all 475 Finishing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Finishing second in the Olympics gets you silver. Finishing second in politics gets you oblivion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard M. 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