--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you write something the White House…" description: "\"If you write something the White House doesn't like, they take you in and say, 'If you ever write something like you did today, nobody from the White H..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c0/ron-suskind-10115_house_if-you-write-something-the-white-house-d_3098802.jpg" --- # If you write something the White House doesn't like, they… ![“If you write something the White House doesn't like, they take you in and say, 'If you ever write something like you did today, nobody from the White House will ever talk to you again” quote by Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c0/ron-suskind-10115_house_if-you-write-something-the-white-house-d_3098802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c0/ron-suskind-10115_house_if-you-write-something-the-white-house-d_3098802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c0/ron-suskind-10115_house_if-you-write-something-the-white-house-d_3098802.jpg) > “If you write something the White House doesn't like, they take you in and say, 'If you ever write something like you did today, nobody from the White House will ever talk to you again” [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the risk of self‑censorship when authorities threaten professional isolation. **In simple terms:** Speak truth despite fear. Key Takeaway Stand firm in integrity. Themes censorship power journalism Mood cautious critical Type political ethical When to use this quote - newsrooms - political reporting - public statements - social media posts Key Concepts whistleblowing political pressure Questions to Reflect On - What would you do if pressured to self‑censor? - How can institutions protect free expression? A Different Perspective Might discourage necessary critique. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Like you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-you/) [Say Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-write/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-like/) [Write White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-white-1703237/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [You again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you-again/) ## Related quotes > [I am not going to say that only people of color can write people of color, because that means only white people can write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/i-am-not-going-to-say-that-only-people-of-color-can-write-people-of/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [Well, I would hardly say I do write as yet. But I write because I like words. I suppose if I liked stone I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-i-would-hardly-say-i-do-write-as-yet-but-i-write-because-i-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can say or write anything about me you like. Just don't, for any reason, ever tell the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/you-can-say-or-write-anything-about-me-you-like-just-don-t-for-any/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [The old adage is, 'Write what you know.' But if you only do that, your work becomes claustrophobic. I say, 'Write what you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/the-old-adage-is-write-what-you-know-but-if-you-only-do-that-your/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [They say, 'Write what you know.' What I know isn't cheerleader; it has a little bit of teeth to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/they-say-write-what-you-know-what-i-know-isn-t-cheerleader-it-has-a/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) > [Gertrude Stein said, "I write for myself and strangers." I would say I write for myself, strangers and the great dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/gertrude-stein-said-i-write-for-myself-and-strangers-i-would-say-i/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [My dad and mom used to always say, 'Write your vision down. Write the things that you want to happen.' I would write, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-james/my-dad-and-mom-used-to-always-say-write-your-vision-down-write-the/) [Ro James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-james/) > [Everything that individuals ever say or write can be used against them at a later point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-achleitner/everything-that-individuals-ever-say-or-write-can-be-used-against/) [Paul Achleitner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-achleitner/) > [I always say I write because I have questions, not because I have answers. It's true that you begin the conversation - that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-always-say-i-write-because-i-have-questions-not-because-i-have/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [When people say "How do you write a book, how does it all happen?" I say, you line things up, and you line them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/when-people-say-how-do-you-write-a-book-how-does-it-all-happen-i-say/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Do not do what someone else could do as well as you. Do not say, do not write what someone else could say, could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/do-not-do-what-someone-else-could-do-as-well-as-you-do-not-say-do-not/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [Chance has something to say, even how to write a good letter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/chance-has-something-to-say-even-how-to-write-a-good-letter/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [For a writer, they say write what you know. As a performer, you find it in yourself, in your heart. You relate to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uma-thurman/for-a-writer-they-say-write-what-you-know-as-a-performer-you-find-it/) [Uma Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uma-thurman/) > [To say, "Well, I write when I really get into it" is a bunch of bull. Put the paper in the typewriter, stare at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/to-say-well-i-write-when-i-really-get-into-it-is-a-bunch-of-bull-put/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [Some writers say they cannot write in front of a window; many say they cannot function without almost perfect quiet. A writer with only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/some-writers-say-they-cannot-write-in-front-of-a-window-many-say-they/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) ## More by Ron Suskind > [I don't have to deal with the issues of the daily news cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-don-t-have-to-deal-with-the-issues-of-the-daily-news-cycle/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [ The President \[Barack Obama\] is very focused on \[healthcare\]. He, of course, is also writing this speech at high speed. And right coming up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/the-president-barack-obama-is-very-focused-on-healthcare-he-of-course/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [Reaching out to any fellow ghetto kids is an act he puts in the same category as doing drugs: the initial rush of warmth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/reaching-out-to-any-fellow-ghetto-kids-is-an-act-he-puts-in-the-same/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [The fact is that in a way, journalists become a kind of default in the system when you don't have substantive two-party back-and-forth inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/the-fact-is-that-in-a-way-journalists-become-a-kind-of-default-in-the/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [“Freshmen spend in unfathomable sitting on their beds – heads against the wall or propped pillows, semistudying or not, listening to music, catching a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/freshmen-spend-in-unfathomable-sitting-on-their-beds-heads-against/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [If you happened to be born on third base, you didn't rub it in the face of the guy who wasn't even born in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/if-you-happened-to-be-born-on-third-base-you-didn-t-rub-it-in-the/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [I've been a reporter for 20 years, and I don't ever get things wrong. That's important in terms of my professional status.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-ve-been-a-reporter-for-20-years-and-i-don-t-ever-get-things-wrong/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [I think that there's a lot of anxiety out there in people wanting their children to be part of the mainstream, to achieve based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-think-that-there-s-a-lot-of-anxiety-out-there-in-people-wanting/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [“If the breadth of perspectives is wide enough to represent the fullest range of views, consensus is unlikely. If consensus is swiftly achieved, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/if-the-breadth-of-perspectives-is-wide-enough-to-represent-the/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [“Two hours a day for two days per week. Four hours. At $7.25 an hour, that gave him a gross income of $29 a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/two-hours-a-day-for-two-days-per-week-four-hours-at-7-25-an-hour-that/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [All of the leading terrorism experts are clear on one thing: that in terms of protecting America, we are almost never going to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/all-of-the-leading-terrorism-experts-are-clear-on-one-thing-that-in/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [It is one thing to rouse the passion of a people, and quite another to lead them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/it-is-one-thing-to-rouse-the-passion-of-a-people-and-quite-another-to/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [ I think that \[Barack Obama\] does say something that's - that is telling on that score, when he talks about the \[George W.\] Bush… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/i-think-that-barack-obama-does-say-something-that-s-that-is-telling/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [ \[Barack Obama\] says that he thinks America felt better, more confident, because Washington was not simply in a gridlock, in stasis, where nothing was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/barack-obama-says-that-he-thinks-america-felt-better-more-confident/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [You try to hold on to some notions you might have had before, that this will somehow work out, this is a spell that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/you-try-to-hold-on-to-some-notions-you-might-have-had-before-that/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) [Explore all 67 Ron Suskind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) ## More House quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [Houses are like the human beings that inhabit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/houses-are-like-the-human-beings-that-inhabit-them/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Then all this earth shines like one house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/then-all-this-earth-shines-like-one-house/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [Perhaps the most important reason to be skeptical of government inflation numbers is that the government, like a fox campaigning to guard a hen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/perhaps-the-most-important-reason-to-be-skeptical-of-government/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [I didn't expect to be so comfortable handing my child off to a nanny without getting any of her information. As soon as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-so-comfortable-handing-my-child-off-to-a-nanny/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [I think of novels as houses. You live in them over the course of a long period, both as a reader and as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/i-think-of-novels-as-houses-you-live-in-them-over-the-course-of-a/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [Well this is aptly called a junket, for both of us. I have never been to a house of prostitution, but I understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/well-this-is-aptly-called-a-junket-for-both-of-us-i-have-never-been/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) [Browse all 14,318 House quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you write something the White House doesn't like, they take you in and say, 'If you ever write something like you did today, nobody from the White House will ever talk to you again", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ron Suskind" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/if-you-write-something-the-white-house-doesn-t-like-they-take-you-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "House" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/if-you-write-something-the-white-house-doesn-t-like-they-take-you-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c0/ron-suskind-10115_house_if-you-write-something-the-white-house-d_3098802.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c0/ron-suskind-10115_house_if-you-write-something-the-white-house-d_3098802.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c0/ron-suskind-10115_house_if-you-write-something-the-white-house-d_3098802.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you write something the White House doesn't like, they take you in and say, 'If you ever write something…” — Ron Suskind", "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": "Ron Suskind", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you write something the White...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/if-you-write-something-the-white-house-doesn-t-like-they-take-you-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/if-you-write-something-the-white-house-doesn-t-like-they-take-you-in/#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 } } ] } ```