--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Social climbing and power climbing -- the…" description: "\"Social climbing and power climbing -- the two are often synonymous -- are what make Washington run. ... If there are more than two people together, if ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/234/sally-quinn-13479_climbing_social-climbing-and-power-climbing-the-t_1801748.png" --- # Social climbing and power climbing -- the two are often… ![“Social climbing and power climbing -- the two are often synonymous -- are what make Washington run. ... If there are more than two people together, if there are three, one of them is climbing.” quote by Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/234/sally-quinn-13479_climbing_social-climbing-and-power-climbing-the-t_1801748.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/234/sally-quinn-13479_climbing_social-climbing-and-power-climbing-the-t_1801748.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/234/sally-quinn-13479_climbing_social-climbing-and-power-climbing-the-t_1801748.png) > “Social climbing and power climbing -- the two are often synonymous -- are what make Washington run. ... If there are more than two people together, if there are three, one of them is climbing.” [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power dynamics in politics often involve individuals seeking higher status, which fuels competition and ambition in the capital. **In simple terms:** People seek higher status, driving competition in politics. Key Takeaway Recognize and navigate power plays. Themes politics ambition competition Mood cautious analytical Type political observational When to use this quote - campaign strategy - legislative negotiations - networking events - career advancement Key Concepts social hierarchy status seeking Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain integrity amid power competition? - What strategies reduce unhealthy rivalry? A Different Perspective Power struggles can undermine collaboration and ethical decision‑making. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-climbing/) ## Related quotes > [ \[On social climbing:\] Everything that goes up must come down. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-cheshire/on-social-climbing-everything-that-goes-up-must-come-down/) [Maxine Cheshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-cheshire/) > [Hello there. I'm out social climbing, but if you leave your name and number and if you're anybody, I'll get back to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/hello-there-i-m-out-social-climbing-but-if-you-leave-your-name-and/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [“Merciful heaven, social status is something to be strived for, not born with, or, worse yet, displayed. Social status is a reward for social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-barrett-batson/merciful-heaven-social-status-is-something-to-be-strived-for-not-born/) Ann Barrett Batson > [“for everybody must now 'move in a circle', - to the prevalence of which rotatory motion, is perhaps to be attributed the giddiness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/for-everybody-must-now-move-in-a-circle-to-the-prevalence-of-which/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [What's wrong with social climbing? What's wrong with trying to improve your lot in life? And if you do, what happens if your family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/what-s-wrong-with-social-climbing-what-s-wrong-with-trying-to-improve/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [Social climbing is my forté.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teejay-hughes/social-climbing-is-my-fort/) Teejay Hughes > [“she would have got a gold medal in social climbing if it was an Olympic sport”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-perez/she-would-have-got-a-gold-medal-in-social-climbing-if-it-was-an/) [Marlene Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-perez/) > [Nouveau riche is better than no riche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/nouveau-riche-is-better-than-no-riche/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [“When she was drinking his liquor and smoking his cigars, Charity couldn't help warming to Sir Humphrey. She almost forgot what a crashing bore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/when-she-was-drinking-his-liquor-and-smoking-his-cigars-charity/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [“He won't be happy until he's banging the next big thing. And while he'd prefer a female, I think he'd fuck anything that moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenner/he-won-t-be-happy-until-he-s-banging-the-next-big-thing-and-while-he/) [J. Kenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenner/) > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/why-do-these-big-old-country-houses-always-have-family-portraits-in/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [Classic mountaineering grows out of a traditional romantic imagination. Its heart is the feeling, its path is blood, sweat and tears, and its restriction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wojciech-kurtyka/classic-mountaineering-grows-out-of-a-traditional-romantic/) [Wojciech Kurtyka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wojciech-kurtyka/) > [I liked climbing trees and could often be found up one reading a book. I played games with Dad and drew maps for him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhianna-pratchett/i-liked-climbing-trees-and-could-often-be-found-up-one-reading-a-book/) [Rhianna Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhianna-pratchett/) > [There is nothing to do, just be. Do nothing. Be. No climbing mountains and sitting in caves. I do not even say "be yourself"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/there-is-nothing-to-do-just-be-do-nothing-be-no-climbing-mountains/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [I'm always climbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-caldwell/i-m-always-climbing/) [Tommy Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-caldwell/) ## More by Sally Quinn > [I just had a thought that perhaps religion is so vibrant here is because of the melting pot aspect to our society. WE have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/i-just-had-a-thought-that-perhaps-religion-is-so-vibrant-here-is/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [Europe is endearingly old fashioned in its secularism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/europe-is-endearingly-old-fashioned-in-its-secularism/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [Every poll shows that most journalists are Democrats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/every-poll-shows-that-most-journalists-are-democrats/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [“God is a man stronger and more powerful than everybody else. I also believe that if you think about God, if you say his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/god-is-a-man-stronger-and-more-powerful-than-everybody-else-i-also/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [We're newspaper junkies; I can't imagine life without a newspaper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/we-re-newspaper-junkies-i-can-t-imagine-life-without-a-newspaper/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [It's always in the second administration when things start to go sour. They circle the wagons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/it-s-always-in-the-second-administration-when-things-start-to-go-sour/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [The Europeans have fallen away from religion and the church while the rest of the world is seemingly more religious. I don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/the-europeans-have-fallen-away-from-religion-and-the-church-while-the/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [That's what I've decided I am. A seeker of wisdom and truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/that-s-what-i-ve-decided-i-am-a-seeker-of-wisdom-and-truth/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [Most of the people who live in Washington come from other places and you can learn something from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/most-of-the-people-who-live-in-washington-come-from-other-places-and/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [Everyone gets meaning in different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/everyone-gets-meaning-in-different-ways/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [... Washington is, for one thing, the news capital of the world. And for another, it is a company town. Most of the interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/washington-is-for-one-thing-the-news-capital-of-the-world-and-for/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [So many of the problems we have today are because people don't respect the beliefs of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/so-many-of-the-problems-we-have-today-are-because-people-don-t/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [The primary motivation in the world of television is fear. People are scared to death. Ambition and enthusiasm and interest and the desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/the-primary-motivation-in-the-world-of-television-is-fear-people-are/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [Funny you mention my dinner parties when I have just suggested that inviting close friends over to share a meal with candlelight and wine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/funny-you-mention-my-dinner-parties-when-i-have-just-suggested-that/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [I think, certainly in the more civilized societies, women's roles are growing in power all of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/i-think-certainly-in-the-more-civilized-societies-women-s-roles-are/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) [Explore all 50 Sally Quinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) ## More Climbing quotes > [I'm always climbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-caldwell/i-m-always-climbing/) [Tommy Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-caldwell/) > [There is nothing to do, just be. Do nothing. Be. No climbing mountains and sitting in caves. I do not even say "be yourself"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/there-is-nothing-to-do-just-be-do-nothing-be-no-climbing-mountains/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [I liked climbing trees and could often be found up one reading a book. I played games with Dad and drew maps for him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhianna-pratchett/i-liked-climbing-trees-and-could-often-be-found-up-one-reading-a-book/) [Rhianna Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhianna-pratchett/) > [Classic mountaineering grows out of a traditional romantic imagination. Its heart is the feeling, its path is blood, sweat and tears, and its restriction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wojciech-kurtyka/classic-mountaineering-grows-out-of-a-traditional-romantic/) [Wojciech Kurtyka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wojciech-kurtyka/) > [Placing my buttocks on a cold toilet seat is my climbing Mount Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/placing-my-buttocks-on-a-cold-toilet-seat-is-my-climbing-mount-everest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The ascent of any route begins, in dreams at least, the autumn before. Our minds ring, involuntarily, with the alluring names of mountains, aiguilles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-rebuffat/the-ascent-of-any-route-begins-in-dreams-at-least-the-autumn-before/) [Gaston Rebuffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-rebuffat/) > [“Climbing mattered. The danger bathed the world in a halogen glow that caused everything—the sweep of the rock, the orange and yellow lichens, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/climbing-mattered-the-danger-bathed-the-world-in-a-halogen-glow-that/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [The difference between a mountain and a molehill is your perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-neuharth/the-difference-between-a-mountain-and-a-molehill-is-your-perspective/) [Al Neuharth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-neuharth/) > [While cares will drop off like autumn leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/while-cares-will-drop-off-like-autumn-leaves/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Climbing has worked for me in a number of ways on Capitol Hill. I'm much more inclined to look at what people do, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-udall/climbing-has-worked-for-me-in-a-number-of-ways-on-capitol-hill-i-m/) [Mark Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-udall/) > [I love finding something. For me it's not just about the athletic challenge, it's about finding new things. When I'm not doing that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sharma/i-love-finding-something-for-me-it-s-not-just-about-the-athletic/) [Chris Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sharma/) > [I'm a man's man. I go out climbing and live outdoors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mccann/i-m-a-man-s-man-i-go-out-climbing-and-live-outdoors/) [Rory McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mccann/) > [The things that inform student culture are created and controlled by the unseen culture, the sociological aspects of our climbing culture, our 'me' generation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/the-things-that-inform-student-culture-are-created-and-controlled-by/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [For me, the most relevant factor in my ability to perform well on the rock has to do with my love of climbing. After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-hill/for-me-the-most-relevant-factor-in-my-ability-to-perform-well-on-the/) [Lynn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-hill/) [Browse all 1,082 Climbing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Social climbing and power climbing -- the two are often synonymous -- are what make Washington run. ... 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