--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I retired from the military, I come…" description: "\"When I retired from the military, I come home. And the reason why I got into politics is, you know, I spent a lot of time away from my wife and my kids..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/richard-ojeda-8448_children_when-i-retired-from-the-military-i-come_1170025.jpg" --- # When I retired from the military, I come home. And the… ![“When I retired from the military, I come home. And the reason why I got into politics is, you know, I spent a lot of time away from my wife and my kids. And I come home, and I found out I have kids in my backyard that have it worse than the children I saw in Iraq and Afghanistan.” quote by Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/richard-ojeda-8448_children_when-i-retired-from-the-military-i-come_1170025.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/richard-ojeda-8448_children_when-i-retired-from-the-military-i-come_1170025.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/richard-ojeda-8448_children_when-i-retired-from-the-military-i-come_1170025.jpg) > “When I retired from the military, I come home. And the reason why I got into politics is, you know, I spent a lot of time away from my wife and my kids. And I come home, and I found out I have kids in my backyard that have it worse than the children I saw in Iraq and Afghanistan.” [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He realized that domestic struggles can be as severe as war zones, prompting a shift to public service. **In simple terms:** Seeing local hardship inspired his political move. Key Takeaway Address community needs directly. Themes service politics family war compassion Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - campaigning - policy making - community outreach Key Concepts Social responsibility civic duty empathy Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders stay grounded in personal experience? - What policies best support families in crisis? A Different Perspective Balancing personal trauma with public duties can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [We have the Troops to Teachers program, which encourages retired military individuals to go into teaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-regula/we-have-the-troops-to-teachers-program-which-encourages-retired/) [Ralph Regula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-regula/) > [When I retired out of the military, I registered myself as a Republican because my views and perspectives were more in line with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/when-i-retired-out-of-the-military-i-registered-myself-as-a/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I never got into politics for it to be a career. It doesn't take a lot of strength to hang on. It takes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/i-never-got-into-politics-for-it-to-be-a-career-it-doesn-t-take-a-lot/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [I've been trying to tame our press corps ever since I got into politics, and I've failed miserably. They get to express their opinions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-ve-been-trying-to-tame-our-press-corps-ever-since-i-got-into/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I got politics and economics moving and then others took over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lech-walesa/i-got-politics-and-economics-moving-and-then-others-took-over/) [Lech Walesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lech-walesa/) > [I was looking for a new challenge and got an interest in trying to make a difference for families. You become more aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jordan/i-was-looking-for-a-new-challenge-and-got-an-interest-in-trying-to/) [Jim Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jordan/) > [I want to make an impact in my community. That is why I initially got into politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-want-to-make-an-impact-in-my-community-that-is-why-i-initially-got/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [I got into politics when I was eight years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krohn/i-got-into-politics-when-i-was-eight-years-old/) [Jonathan Krohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krohn/) > [It's hate we've got to take out of politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-hoyle/it-s-hate-we-ve-got-to-take-out-of-politics/) [Lindsay Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-hoyle/) > ['Free Solo' has got nothing to do with politics, so to speak, but why are audiences responding to it in the degree that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chai-vasarhelyi/free-solo-has-got-nothing-to-do-with-politics-so-to-speak-but-why-are/) [Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chai-vasarhelyi/) > [I know I should have never got into politics. And I've learned my lesson. No more politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitabh-bachchan/i-know-i-should-have-never-got-into-politics-and-i-ve-learned-my/) [Amitabh Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitabh-bachchan/) > [I never got into politics for it to be a career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/i-never-got-into-politics-for-it-to-be-a-career/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [I got into politics because I was tired of complaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/i-got-into-politics-because-i-was-tired-of-complaining/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [I wanted to choose the school where I want to send my kids to. So that's the way I got into politics. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-steel/i-wanted-to-choose-the-school-where-i-want-to-send-my-kids-to-so-that/) [Michelle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-steel/) > [Donald Trump has been rewriting the rules since he got into politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-michael-cillizza/donald-trump-has-been-rewriting-the-rules-since-he-got-into-politics/) [Christopher Michael Cillizza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-michael-cillizza/) ## More by Richard Ojeda > [I've got Republican people from all over that have contacted and said, 'Look, we're going to support you,' because I say what needs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-ve-got-republican-people-from-all-over-that-have-contacted-and-said/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [Take care of your working-class citizens, and your working-class citizens will take care of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/take-care-of-your-working-class-citizens-and-your-working-class/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [I was raised here in Logan County, where I was blessed to be in a family that had over 200 years of United Mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-was-raised-here-in-logan-county-where-i-was-blessed-to-be-in-a/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [Get rid of Betsy DeVos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/get-rid-of-betsy-devos/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [I hate the idea of telling a woman what to do with her body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-hate-the-idea-of-telling-a-woman-what-to-do-with-her-body/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [We must look for leaders who have exhibited a lifetime of service to their communities and have proven that their intention is to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/we-must-look-for-leaders-who-have-exhibited-a-lifetime-of-service-to/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [I spent 24 years in the United States Army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-spent-24-years-in-the-united-states-army/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [If I'm stone-cold crazy because I have a hard time going to sleep at night because we have kids that go to bed hungry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/if-i-m-stone-cold-crazy-because-i-have-a-hard-time-going-to-sleep-at/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [When I hear Ivanka Trump saying how she looks forward to working side by side with Gen. Kelly - a guy who's got 40…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/when-i-hear-ivanka-trump-saying-how-she-looks-forward-to-working-side/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [If you don't have a seat at the table, you're on the menu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/if-you-don-t-have-a-seat-at-the-table-you-re-on-the-menu/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [I'm trying to fight so that people can have better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-m-trying-to-fight-so-that-people-can-have-better/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [Unions have been under attack for quite some time, and I think a lot of the jobs that we need to create in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/unions-have-been-under-attack-for-quite-some-time-and-i-think-a-lot/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [I'm a stubborn individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-m-a-stubborn-individual/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [I'm nothing but a ball of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-m-nothing-but-a-ball-of-energy/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [If all we've got is the dirt poor and the filthy rich, the dirt poor would eat the filthy rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/if-all-we-ve-got-is-the-dirt-poor-and-the-filthy-rich-the-dirt-poor/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) [Explore all 80 Richard Ojeda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? 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