--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Politicians, ugly buildings, and whores…" description: "\"Politicians, ugly buildings, and whores all get respectable if they last long enough.\" — Robert Towne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/robert-towne-18966_building_politicians-ugly-buildings-and-whores-al_942110.jpg" --- # Politicians, ugly buildings, and whores all get… ![“Politicians, ugly buildings, and whores all get respectable if they last long enough.” quote by Robert Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/robert-towne-18966_building_politicians-ugly-buildings-and-whores-al_942110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/robert-towne-18966_building_politicians-ugly-buildings-and-whores-al_942110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/robert-towne-18966_building_politicians-ugly-buildings-and-whores-al_942110.jpg) > “Politicians, ugly buildings, and whores all get respectable if they last long enough.” [Robert Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-towne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Longevity can legitimize even the most unsavory entities, granting them respectability. **In simple terms:** Time can make bad things seem respectable. Key Takeaway Question the credibility of long‑standing institutions. Themes politics reputation time Mood skeptical inquisitive Type critical observational When to use this quote - political careers - corporate brands - historical monuments - media narratives Key Concepts social perception ethical relativism institutional trust Questions to Reflect On - What makes something respectable? - Can longevity replace integrity? A Different Perspective Respectability may be superficial, not merit‑based. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chinatown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinatown/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [Of course I'm respectable. I'm old. 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I have a florist in Chinatown, and they deliver orchids every two weeks. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-lim/i-try-to-always-have-flowers-in-the-house-i-have-a-florist-in/) [Phillip Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-lim/) ## More by Robert Towne > [I think Los Angeles certainly grew out and grew up, but I don't think it matured. It lost the appeal and the hunger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-towne/i-think-los-angeles-certainly-grew-out-and-grew-up-but-i-don-t-think/) [Robert Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-towne/) > [If you can find meaning in the type of running you need todo to stay on this team, chances are you can find meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-towne/if-you-can-find-meaning-in-the-type-of-running-you-need-todo-to-stay/) [Robert Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-towne/) > [Good dialogue illuminates what people are not saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-towne/good-dialogue-illuminates-what-people-are-not-saying/) [Robert Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-towne/) > [Of course I'm respectable. I'm old. Politicians, ugly buildings, and whores all get respectable if they last long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-towne/of-course-i-m-respectable-i-m-old-politicians-ugly-buildings-and/) [Robert Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-towne/) > [You're torn between wanting to fill in all the spaces and knowing that's really going to screw up the screenplay. And yet, how are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-towne/you-re-torn-between-wanting-to-fill-in-all-the-spaces-and-knowing/) [Robert Towne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-towne/) > [It was not possible to film in California, because all the areas are heavily built up now. 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It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'd like to play Ian Paisley, actually. I'd need building up, though he's very frail now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/i-d-like-to-play-ian-paisley-actually-i-d-need-building-up-though-he/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. 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