--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Remember: real politics isn't about…" description: "\"Remember: real politics isn't about figureheads and seats in parliament. Real politics is about ideas. And there can be no doubt regarding the extreme ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/rutger-bregman-2463_doubt_remember-real-politics-isn-t-about-figur_646030.jpg" --- # Remember: real politics isn't about figureheads and seats… ![“Remember: real politics isn't about figureheads and seats in parliament. Real politics is about ideas. And there can be no doubt regarding the extreme ideas that have been gaining ground in the Netherlands for decades.” quote by Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/rutger-bregman-2463_doubt_remember-real-politics-isn-t-about-figur_646030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/rutger-bregman-2463_doubt_remember-real-politics-isn-t-about-figur_646030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/rutger-bregman-2463_doubt_remember-real-politics-isn-t-about-figur_646030.jpg) > “Remember: real politics isn't about figureheads and seats in parliament. Real politics is about ideas. And there can be no doubt regarding the extreme ideas that have been gaining ground in the Netherlands for decades.” [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Real politics focuses on ideas, not just leaders or seats; extreme ideas have long been rising in the Netherlands. **In simple terms:** Politics is about ideas, not people. Key Takeaway Prioritize ideas over personalities in politics. Themes politics ideas extremism Mood analytical concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - election campaigns - policy debates - grassroots movements Key Concepts philosophy public policy Questions to Reflect On - What ideas dominate current discourse? - How can societies counter extreme ideas? A Different Perspective Ideas can be distorted by rhetoric. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Parliament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parliament/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Real politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-politics/) ## Related quotes > [I believe the people should have the opportunity to have a greater influence on politics with their ideas. We need a new impulse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/i-believe-the-people-should-have-the-opportunity-to-have-a-greater/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [Obama is not just a powerful speaker, but a thinker engaged with the ideas of his country and his age--this argument by historian James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-minow/obama-is-not-just-a-powerful-speaker-but-a-thinker-engaged-with-the/) [Martha Minow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-minow/) > [Real politics are the possession and distribution of power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/real-politics-are-the-possession-and-distribution-of-power/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [What I've found in working less is you start to get a bit more involved in the more real politics, which is local politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/what-i-ve-found-in-working-less-is-you-start-to-get-a-bit-more/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [What I've certainly learned is that whenever I've said anything about real politics, I've come under attack. So it's best simply to play politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/what-i-ve-certainly-learned-is-that-whenever-i-ve-said-anything-about/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Real politics should work for the long-term and overall interests of the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/real-politics-should-work-for-the-long-term-and-overall-interests-of/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [The only real politics I knew was that if a guy liked Hitler, I'd beat the stuffing out of him and that would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/the-only-real-politics-i-knew-was-that-if-a-guy-liked-hitler-i-d-beat/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [If the ruler wants to play the game by himself and follow secret policies, he must present a decoy to the masses. He cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/if-the-ruler-wants-to-play-the-game-by-himself-and-follow-secret/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Real politics is messy and morally ambiguous and doesn't make for a compelling thriller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/real-politics-is-messy-and-morally-ambiguous-and-doesn-t-make-for-a/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [I'm not clever enough to be in machinations and real politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/i-m-not-clever-enough-to-be-in-machinations-and-real-politics/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [I think that I have very few personal gifts to bring to real politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-alexander/i-think-that-i-have-very-few-personal-gifts-to-bring-to-real-politics/) [Jason Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-alexander/) > [You would be naive to suggest that politics isn't complicated or isn't a game, but you don't create change through cynicism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-gregoire-trudeau/you-would-be-naive-to-suggest-that-politics-isn-t-complicated-or-isn/) [Sophie Gregoire Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-gregoire-trudeau/) > [Politics isn't just about doing the right thing. It's also about winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-estrich/politics-isn-t-just-about-doing-the-right-thing-it-s-also-about/) [Susan Estrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-estrich/) > [The choice in politics isn't usually between black and white. It's between two horrible shades of gray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-thorneycroft/the-choice-in-politics-isn-t-usually-between-black-and-white-it-s/) Lord Thorneycroft > [Politics isn't fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/politics-isn-t-fun/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) ## More by Rutger Bregman > [“If all the developed countries would let in just 3% more immigrants, the world’s poor would have $305 billion more to spend, say scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/if-all-the-developed-countries-would-let-in-just-3-more-immigrants/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“When Lehman Brothers collapsed on September 15, 2008, and inaugurated the biggest crisis since the 1930s, there were no real alternatives to hand. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/when-lehman-brothers-collapsed-on-september-15-2008-and-inaugurated/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [I think one of the most important facts of basic income would be that it's not only a redistribution of income, but also of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/i-think-one-of-the-most-important-facts-of-basic-income-would-be-that/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [The great thing about money is that people can use it to buy things they need instead of things self-appointed experts think they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-great-thing-about-money-is-that-people-can-use-it-to-buy-things/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“The idea that the GDP still serves as an accurate gauge of social welfare is one of the most widespread myths of our times.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-idea-that-the-gdp-still-serves-as-an-accurate-gauge-of-social/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Most of Mark Zuckerberg's income is just rent collected off the millions of picture and video posts that we give away daily for free.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/most-of-mark-zuckerberg-s-income-is-just-rent-collected-off-the/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“To calculate the GDP, numerous data points have to be linked together and hundreds of wholly subjective choices made regarding what to count and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/to-calculate-the-gdp-numerous-data-points-have-to-be-linked-together/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Countless studies have shown that people who work less are more satisfied with their lives.37 In a recent poll conducted among working women, German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/countless-studies-have-shown-that-people-who-work-less-are-more/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Precisely when we should be shouldering the historic task of investing this rich, safe, and healthy existence with meaning, we’ve buried utopia instead. There’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/precisely-when-we-should-be-shouldering-the-historic-task-of/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Believing in the good of humanity is a revolutionary act - it means that we don't need all those managers and CEO's, kings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/believing-in-the-good-of-humanity-is-a-revolutionary-act-it-means/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Poor people aren't making dumb decisions because they are dumb, but because they're living in a context in which anyone would make dumb decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/poor-people-aren-t-making-dumb-decisions-because-they-are-dumb-but/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“The bottom line is that wealth can be concentrated somewhere, but that doesn’t also mean that’s where it’s being created. This is just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-bottom-line-is-that-wealth-can-be-concentrated-somewhere-but-that/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Recently, the International Monetary Fund published a report which revealed that too much inequality even inhibits economic growth.22 Perhaps the most fascinating finding, however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/recently-the-international-monetary-fund-published-a-report-which/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Not coincidentally, the countries with the shortest workweeks also have the largest number of volunteers and the most social capital.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/not-coincidentally-the-countries-with-the-shortest-workweeks-also/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [It matters so much that from a very early age we encounter different kinds of different people, because that's what real life should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/it-matters-so-much-that-from-a-very-early-age-we-encounter-different/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) [Explore all 164 Rutger Bregman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) Harry Chapman > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Remember: real politics isn't about figureheads and seats in parliament. Real politics is about ideas. 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