---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not a crook. I've earned everything…"
description: "\"I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got.\" — Richard M. Nixon"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/richard-m-nixon-727_crooks_i-m-not-a-crook-i-ve-earned-everything-i_1361901.jpg"
---

#  I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got.

![“I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got.” quote by Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/richard-m-nixon-727_crooks_i-m-not-a-crook-i-ve-earned-everything-i_1361901.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/richard-m-nixon-727_crooks_i-m-not-a-crook-i-ve-earned-everything-i_1361901.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/richard-m-nixon-727_crooks_i-m-not-a-crook-i-ve-earned-everything-i_1361901.jpg)

> “I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got.”

[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.

Nixon asserts his integrity and hard work as justification for his actions.

**In simple terms:** I'm honest and earned it.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge effort.

Themes

politics ethics leadership public perception accountability

Mood

defensive assertive

Type

historical political

When to use this quote

- campaign speeches
- media interviews
- historical analysis

Key Concepts

integrity self‑justification political rhetoric public trust

Questions to Reflect On

- How does self‑praise affect credibility?
- What evidence supports his claim?

A Different Perspective

Critics may view it as deflection.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crook/) [Crook Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crook-ve-2213464/) [Crooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crooks/) [Earned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earned/) [Earned Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earned-ve-4664076/) [Ve Earned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-earned-488936/)

## Related quotes

> [Me? Well, I don't know, I must go to a dictionary and learn what a crook is. I've never been a crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/me-well-i-don-t-know-i-must-go-to-a-dictionary-and-learn-what-a-crook/)

[Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/)

> [We should have hope because we've earned it. We've worked for it! It's ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/we-should-have-hope-because-we-ve-earned-it-we-ve-worked-for-it-it-s/)

[Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/)

> [Well, I'm not a crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/well-i-m-not-a-crook/)

[Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/)

> [A crook is a crook, and there's something healthy about his frankness in the matter. But any guy who pretends he is enforcing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capone/a-crook-is-a-crook-and-there-s-something-healthy-about-his-frankness-2/)

[Al Capone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capone/)

> [I just want you to know you aren't going to church with a crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-ebbers/i-just-want-you-to-know-you-aren-t-going-to-church-with-a-crook/)

[Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/)

> [ Thurst \[thrust\] out nature with a croche \[crook\], yet woll she styll runne back agayne. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-taverner/thurst-thrust-out-nature-with-a-croche-crook-yet-woll-she-styll-runne/)

[Richard Taverner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-taverner/)

> [You can't get rich in politics unless you're a crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/you-can-t-get-rich-in-politics-unless-you-re-a-crook/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/the-cheaper-the-crook-the-gaudier-the-patter/)

[Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/)

> [I don't believe Spiro Agnew is a crook. If he was a crook, he'd still be in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-corey/i-don-t-believe-spiro-agnew-is-a-crook-if-he-was-a-crook-he-d-still/)

[Irwin Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-corey/)

> [There are people who say, 'Oh, he's a crook.' But I'm not a crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-m-brant/there-are-people-who-say-oh-he-s-a-crook-but-i-m-not-a-crook/)

[Peter M. Brant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-m-brant/)

> [Ladies and Gentlemen, Hillary Clinton is a crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/ladies-and-gentlemen-hillary-clinton-is-a-crook/)

[Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/)

> [“I don't have anything else to add. I just wanted to make sure I had the last word. I think I've earned that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/i-don-t-have-anything-else-to-add-i-just-wanted-to-make-sure-i-had/)

[Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/)

> [“When you allow the elevation of a man, one can be sure that you'll profit by his advancement. I've earned everything I've won, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/when-you-allow-the-elevation-of-a-man-one-can-be-sure-that-you-ll/)

[Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/)

> [I've earned every single thing that I've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bellew/i-ve-earned-every-single-thing-that-i-ve-got/)

[Tony Bellew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bellew/)

> [I don't know if the money I've earned is going to need to last me for the next few weeks or the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-sewell/i-don-t-know-if-the-money-i-ve-earned-is-going-to-need-to-last-me-for/)

[Rufus Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-sewell/)

## 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 Crook quotes

> [It's very hard to uphold individual liberty when the person you're representing is often a crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-s-rakoff/it-s-very-hard-to-uphold-individual-liberty-when-the-person-you-re/)

[Jed S. Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-s-rakoff/)

> [Me? Well, I don't know, I must go to a dictionary and learn what a crook is. I've never been a crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/me-well-i-don-t-know-i-must-go-to-a-dictionary-and-learn-what-a-crook/)

[Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/)

> [It is not the crook in modern business that we fear, but the honest man who doesn't know what he is doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-d-young/it-is-not-the-crook-in-modern-business-that-we-fear-but-the-honest/)

[Owen D. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-d-young/)

> [You give me electric chair. I no afraid of that chair! You're one of capitalists. You is crook man too. Put me in electric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-zangara/you-give-me-electric-chair-i-no-afraid-of-that-chair-you-re-one-of/)

[Giuseppe Zangara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-zangara/)

> [Prince Charles has his foibles, but he is not a crook, not a bully, and not a hypocrite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-junor/prince-charles-has-his-foibles-but-he-is-not-a-crook-not-a-bully-and/)

[Penny Junor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-junor/)

> [A crook is a crook, and there's something healthy about his frankness in the matter. But any guy who pretends he is enforcing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capone/a-crook-is-a-crook-and-there-s-something-healthy-about-his-frankness/)

[Al Capone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capone/)

> [The longer I live, the more I feel that the individual is not so much to blame - not even the worst individuals, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-longer-i-live-the-more-i-feel-that-the-individual-is-not-so-much/)

[Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/)

> [“As to the crook in your lot, God has made it; and it must continue while He will have it so. Should you ply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boston/as-to-the-crook-in-your-lot-god-has-made-it-and-it-must-continue/)

[Thomas Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boston/)

> [There are people who say, 'Oh, he's a crook.' But I'm not a crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-m-brant/there-are-people-who-say-oh-he-s-a-crook-but-i-m-not-a-crook/)

[Peter M. Brant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-m-brant/)

> [I know me, and those close to me know me. But sadly, the outside world thinks I'm some kind of a crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-hinn/i-know-me-and-those-close-to-me-know-me-but-sadly-the-outside-world/)

[Benny Hinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-hinn/)

> [“It is too often the case,” Crook said, “that border newspapers … disseminate all sorts of exaggerations and falsehoods about the Indians, which are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-brown/it-is-too-often-the-case-crook-said-that-border-newspapers/)

[Dee Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-brown/)

> [Once I set my mind towards something, it's going to happen. By hook or by crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anya-taylor-joy/once-i-set-my-mind-towards-something-it-s-going-to-happen-by-hook-or/)

[Anya Taylor-Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anya-taylor-joy/)

> [Choices had become limited post 'Crook' and I was being offered films that had me play second fiddle. I realized that would take me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/choices-had-become-limited-post-crook-and-i-was-being-offered-films/)

[Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/)

> [By hook or by crook, I want to be one of the biggest and best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-francis/by-hook-or-by-crook-i-want-to-be-one-of-the-biggest-and-best/)

[Ben Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-francis/)

> [When we die, our souls still live. If you are a gangster or a bastard or a crook, your soul inhabits a donkey or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-al-fayed/when-we-die-our-souls-still-live-if-you-are-a-gangster-or-a-bastard/)

[Mohamed Al-Fayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-al-fayed/)

[Browse all 38 Crook quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crook/)

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