--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: President Herbert Hoover returned his…" description: "\"President Herbert Hoover returned his salary to the government. His idea caught on, and now we're all doing it.\" — Sam Ewing" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/sam-ewing-12918_business_president-herbert-hoover-returned-his-sa_2184849.jpg" --- # President Herbert Hoover returned his salary to the… ![“President Herbert Hoover returned his salary to the government. His idea caught on, and now we're all doing it.” quote by Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/sam-ewing-12918_business_president-herbert-hoover-returned-his-sa_2184849.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/sam-ewing-12918_business_president-herbert-hoover-returned-his-sa_2184849.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/sam-ewing-12918_business_president-herbert-hoover-returned-his-sa_2184849.jpg) > “President Herbert Hoover returned his salary to the government. His idea caught on, and now we're all doing it.” [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hoover returned his salary, inspiring a tradition of voluntary contributions to government. **In simple terms:** Hoover gave back his pay, sparking a habit of giving. Key Takeaway Consider giving back what you can. Themes public service voluntary giving leadership Mood inspirational reflective Type ethical civic When to use this quote - public office - nonprofit fundraising - tax season - personal finance Key Concepts civic duty social responsibility role modeling Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals meaning impact through giving? - What motivates public figures to set examples? A Different Perspective May be seen as symbolic rather than substantive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) ## Related quotes > [Why was there so much work-sharing in the 1930s? One reason is that government pushed for it. In his memoirs, President Herbert Hoover estimated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eichengreen/why-was-there-so-much-work-sharing-in-the-1930s-one-reason-is-that/) [Barry Eichengreen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eichengreen/) > [It is true that Mr. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, after which there was a commitment to give 40 acres and a mule. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/it-is-true-that-mr-lincoln-signed-the-emancipation-proclamation-after/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [Bush and Inhofe will go down in history with other leaders such as Herbert Hoover and Neville Chamberlain who were blind to their nation's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-romm/bush-and-inhofe-will-go-down-in-history-with-other-leaders-such-as/) [Joseph J. Romm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-romm/) > [The ideas embodied in the New Deal Legislation were a compilation of those which had come to maturity under Herbert Hoover’s aegis. We all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rexford-tugwell/the-ideas-embodied-in-the-new-deal-legislation-were-a-compilation-of/) Rexford Tugwell > [Herbert Hoover was a man of genuine, fine character, but he lacked practical political sense. And he couldn't bend and shift and change with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/herbert-hoover-was-a-man-of-genuine-fine-character-but-he-lacked/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [I'm about as Chinese as Herbert Hoover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muni/i-m-about-as-chinese-as-herbert-hoover/) [Paul Muni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muni/) > [Herbert Hoover versus Al Smith in 1928 was one of the dirtiest elections in American history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cummins/herbert-hoover-versus-al-smith-in-1928-was-one-of-the-dirtiest/) [Joseph Cummins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cummins/) > [It's easy to see why conservatives would be salivating at the thought of a Hillary primary challenge. 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One brave can knock off a quart of Scotch and look and act as sober as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tallulah-bankhead/drink-reacts-on-its-practitioners-in-conflicting-ways-one-brave-can/) [Tallulah Bankhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tallulah-bankhead/) ## More by Sam Ewing > [Success is when your name is in everything but the telephone directory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/success-is-when-your-name-is-in-everything-but-the-telephone-directory/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) > [On the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions who, at the dawn of decision, sat down to wait, and waiting died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/on-the-plains-of-hesitation-bleach-the-bones-of-countless-millions/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) > [Youth is when you think you'll live forever. Old age is when you wonder how you've lived so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/youth-is-when-you-think-you-ll-live-forever-old-age-is-when-you/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) > [The sight of home looks best after you've traveled hundreds of miles to get away from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/the-sight-of-home-looks-best-after-you-ve-traveled-hundreds-of-miles/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) > [We are all born into the world with nothing. 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It takes a tenant longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/crime-in-the-cities-is-very-discouraging-apartment-house-dwellers/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) > [The fastest way to meet new people is to pick up somebody else's change at a cocktail bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/the-fastest-way-to-meet-new-people-is-to-pick-up-somebody-else-s/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) > [In many instances, marriage vows would be more accurate if the phrase were changed to 'Until debt do us part'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/in-many-instances-marriage-vows-would-be-more-accurate-if-the-phrase/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) > [Don't drive as if you own the road; drive as if you own the car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/don-t-drive-as-if-you-own-the-road-drive-as-if-you-own-the-car/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) > [Success has a simple formula: do your best, and people may like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/success-has-a-simple-formula-do-your-best-and-people-may-like-it/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) > [It's not the hours you put in your work that counts, it's the work you put in the hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/it-s-not-the-hours-you-put-in-your-work-that-counts-it-s-the-work-you/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) > [Inflation is when you pay fifteen dollars for the ten-dollar haircut you used to get for five dollars when you had hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/inflation-is-when-you-pay-fifteen-dollars-for-the-ten-dollar-haircut/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) > [An expert is someone called in at the last minute to share the blame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/an-expert-is-someone-called-in-at-the-last-minute-to-share-the-blame/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) [Explore all 52 Sam Ewing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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