--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the Russians have gotten a great…" description: "\"I think the Russians have gotten a great return on investment for a very small amount of, of election interference.\" — Robert C. O'Brien" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/robert-c-o-brien-5596_election_i-think-the-russians-have-gotten-a-great_1566234.jpg" --- # I think the Russians have gotten a great return on… ![“I think the Russians have gotten a great return on investment for a very small amount of, of election interference.” quote by Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/robert-c-o-brien-5596_election_i-think-the-russians-have-gotten-a-great_1566234.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/robert-c-o-brien-5596_election_i-think-the-russians-have-gotten-a-great_1566234.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/robert-c-o-brien-5596_election_i-think-the-russians-have-gotten-a-great_1566234.jpg) > “I think the Russians have gotten a great return on investment for a very small amount of, of election interference.” [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He claims Russian interference yielded high returns for minimal cost, highlighting vulnerability in democratic processes. **In simple terms:** Small effort, big impact. Key Takeaway Strengthen election safeguards. Themes politics security foreign influence Mood cautious analytical Type policy strategic When to use this quote - campaign strategy - policy planning - public awareness Key Concepts cost‑benefit information warfare cybersecurity Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can reduce such cheap influence? - Are there unintended consequences of counter‑measures? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex geopolitical motives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Election Interference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election-interference-4714113/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investment/) [Investment Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investment-small-3703394/) [Return on investment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return-on-investment/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Russians Gotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russians-gotten-5886675/) [Small Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-election-5886676/) [Think Russians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-russians-872834/) ## Related quotes > [I come from the school of thought that says when people have more money in their pocket during economic times, it increases demand or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-come-from-the-school-of-thought-that-says-when-people-have-more/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [ I was going to say we saw Secretary \[Hillary\] Clinton reported that she believes that she would've won the election but for the interference… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stephanopoulos/i-was-going-to-say-we-saw-secretary-hillary-clinton-reported-that-she/) [George Stephanopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stephanopoulos/) > [Real estate is the best investment for small savings. More money is made from the rise in real estate values than from all other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/real-estate-is-the-best-investment-for-small-savings-more-money-is/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [The blame for election interference belongs to the criminals who committed election interference. We need to work together to hold the perpetrators accountable, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-rosenstein/the-blame-for-election-interference-belongs-to-the-criminals-who/) [Rod Rosenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-rosenstein/) > [I think the Russians are trying to figure out what to do. I don't think they know what to do with our president Donald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-haley/i-think-the-russians-are-trying-to-figure-out-what-to-do-i-don-t/) [Nikki Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-haley/) > [I think the Russians basically don't think the North Koreans and the Iranians have the capabilities to get weapon systems that can threaten them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/i-think-the-russians-basically-don-t-think-the-north-koreans-and-the/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [I actually think that the Russians are exploring the idea: Is it worth ending this conflict in the Donbass in eastern Ukraine, creating peace,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-volker/i-actually-think-that-the-russians-are-exploring-the-idea-is-it-worth/) [Kurt Volker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-volker/) > [Try to think for your own why the Russians and the Chinese do not like the idea that whoever takes aggressive steps to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/try-to-think-for-your-own-why-the-russians-and-the-chinese-do-not/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [I think the Russians might do away with the terror in twenty or thirty or years, when they are richer, and when they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/i-think-the-russians-might-do-away-with-the-terror-in-twenty-or/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [People always ask about young people like me being forced into things. I play tennis because I love it. I think Russians might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/people-always-ask-about-young-people-like-me-being-forced-into-things/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [For 40 years we were led to think of the Russians as godless, materialistic and an evil empire. When the Cold War ended, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/for-40-years-we-were-led-to-think-of-the-russians-as-godless/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [I think the Russians have played now for some time the role of providing cover for Bashar al-Assad's behavior. The alternative explanation that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/i-think-the-russians-have-played-now-for-some-time-the-role-of/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [Russia is a competitor. They're a strong nation, something we need to recognize, but their economy is just a little bit bigger than Illinois,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-kinzinger/russia-is-a-competitor-they-re-a-strong-nation-something-we-need-to/) [Adam Kinzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-kinzinger/) > [I think Russians today have a distorted picture of capitalism, liberal democracy and market economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/i-think-russians-today-have-a-distorted-picture-of-capitalism-liberal/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [I can see why the Russians love Robert Burns, I think that Russians and Koreans have a very similar outlook to Scots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-see-why-the-russians-love-robert-burns-i-think-that-russians/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) ## More by Robert C. O'Brien > [As the Navy gets smaller, the world's oceans are becoming more dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/as-the-navy-gets-smaller-the-world-s-oceans-are-becoming-more/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [When the Jewish state of Israel is strong, Jewish communities worldwide are also strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/when-the-jewish-state-of-israel-is-strong-jewish-communities/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [In World War II, America was the Arsenal of Democracy, providing war materiel to our Allies that ultimately led to victory over tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/in-world-war-ii-america-was-the-arsenal-of-democracy-providing-war/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The American voter knows that we cannot protect the seas and our interests overseas unless we have ships that can fight and deliver Marines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-american-voter-knows-that-we-cannot-protect-the-seas-and-our/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [Well, free elections are the foundation of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/well-free-elections-are-the-foundation-of-our-democracy/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [I never wanted Mark Esper's job. I just wanted to see Mark Esper succeed and do a great job as secretary of Defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/i-never-wanted-mark-esper-s-job-i-just-wanted-to-see-mark-esper/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The men appear to have a special blend of GOP DNA: Rubio and Cruz appeal to both the key social conservative and defense hawk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-men-appear-to-have-a-special-blend-of-gop-dna-rubio-and-cruz/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [By interacting with NATO vessels on E.U. anti-piracy duty, the Chinese are gaining valuable insights in to Western naval doctrine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/by-interacting-with-nato-vessels-on-e-u-anti-piracy-duty-the-chinese/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The worst kidnapper of Americans is a nation state - Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-worst-kidnapper-of-americans-is-a-nation-state-iran/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [No, I don't think there's systemic racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/no-i-don-t-think-there-s-systemic-racism/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The United States Navy is of critical importance to the defense of this country and to maintaining freedom of the seas internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-united-states-navy-is-of-critical-importance-to-the-defense-of/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [My job as the national security adviser is to distill and present to the president the views and options that come from the various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/my-job-as-the-national-security-adviser-is-to-distill-and-present-to/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [Both Russia and the United States have had their homelands attacked by violent extremists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/both-russia-and-the-united-states-have-had-their-homelands-attacked/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [We're going to do everything we can to harden our systems, to make sure that our elections are free and fair and the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/we-re-going-to-do-everything-we-can-to-harden-our-systems-to-make/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [It is hard for anyone born after 1945 to imagine a world where the oceans - the global commons - are not open for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to-imagine-a-world-where-the/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) [Explore all 99 Robert C. O'Brien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) ## More Election quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [There's more than 1700 emails out of the thirty three thousand Hillary Clinton emails that we've published, just about Libya. It's not that Libya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/there-s-more-than-1700-emails-out-of-the-thirty-three-thousand/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [It's not clear in the U.S. at the moment, either. We're going through another election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-kerrey/it-s-not-clear-in-the-u-s-at-the-moment-either-we-re-going-through/) [Bob Kerrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-kerrey/) > [I always lose the election in the polls, and I always win it on election day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/i-always-lose-the-election-in-the-polls-and-i-always-win-it-on/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [Elections are not a beauty contest. It is all about tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-franz/elections-are-not-a-beauty-contest-it-is-all-about-tolerance/) [Vladimir Franz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-franz/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That's upsetting to a lot of people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-election-of-trump-threw-the-chess-board-up-the-pieces-are-all/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Let's be honest, if the Democrats didn't support ignoring our nation's immigration laws, there is no way they could win the presidency or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/let-s-be-honest-if-the-democrats-didn-t-support-ignoring-our-nation-s/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [I spent many years working for voting rights, but we still see sophisticated efforts, led by white officials, to disenfranchise black voters in local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-brooke/i-spent-many-years-working-for-voting-rights-but-we-still-see/) [Edward Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-brooke/) > [“The answer to the question raised in the title of this essay - Is salvation a matter of divine determination or human responsibility? -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layton-talbert/the-answer-to-the-question-raised-in-the-title-of-this-essay-is/) [Layton Talbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layton-talbert/) > [One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician's objective. Election and power are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/one-of-the-reasons-people-hate-politics-is-that-truth-is-rarely-a/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) [Browse all 3,344 Election quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the Russians have gotten a great return on investment for a very small amount of, of election interference.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert C. O'Brien" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/i-think-the-russians-have-gotten-a-great-return-on-investment-for-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Election" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/i-think-the-russians-have-gotten-a-great-return-on-investment-for-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/robert-c-o-brien-5596_election_i-think-the-russians-have-gotten-a-great_1566234.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/robert-c-o-brien-5596_election_i-think-the-russians-have-gotten-a-great_1566234.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/robert-c-o-brien-5596_election_i-think-the-russians-have-gotten-a-great_1566234.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the Russians have gotten a great return on investment for a very small amount of, of election…” — Robert C. O'Brien", "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": "Robert C. O'Brien", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the Russians have gotten...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/i-think-the-russians-have-gotten-a-great-return-on-investment-for-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/i-think-the-russians-have-gotten-a-great-return-on-investment-for-a/#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 } } ] } ```