--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Son, if you can't take their money, drink…" description: "\"Son, if you can't take their money, drink their whiskey, screw their women, and then vote against 'em, you don't deserve to be here.\" — Sam Rayburn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/sam-rayburn-21122_congress_son-if-you-can-t-take-their-money-drink_2004930.jpg" --- # Son, if you can't take their money, drink their whiskey… ![“Son, if you can't take their money, drink their whiskey, screw their women, and then vote against 'em, you don't deserve to be here.” quote by Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/sam-rayburn-21122_congress_son-if-you-can-t-take-their-money-drink_2004930.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/sam-rayburn-21122_congress_son-if-you-can-t-take-their-money-drink_2004930.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/sam-rayburn-21122_congress_son-if-you-can-t-take-their-money-drink_2004930.jpg) > “Son, if you can't take their money, drink their whiskey, screw their women, and then vote against 'em, you don't deserve to be here.” [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If you cannot exploit others yet oppose them, you lack legitimacy to be present **In simple terms:** You must both benefit and critique to earn your place Key Takeaway Balance participation with accountability Themes politics ethics power dynamics Mood critical provocative Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting - business negotiations - community leadership - activism Key Concepts Social contract moral responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities come with power? - How do you reconcile personal gain with public duty? A Different Perspective Critics may view this as cynical or unrealistic ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Whiskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whiskey/) ## Related quotes > [As they say around the Texas Legislature, if you can't drink their whiskey, screw their women, take their money, and vote against 'em anyway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/as-they-say-around-the-texas-legislature-if-you-can-t-drink-their/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I've always believed in the old-fashioned way: When you've got scoundrels in office, you vote 'em out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-ve-always-believed-in-the-old-fashioned-way-when-you-ve-got/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“No, I screw women … and then make them leave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-mcadams/no-i-screw-women-and-then-make-them-leave/) [Molly McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-mcadams/) > [I can't drink whiskey like I used to back then, that's for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-bach/i-can-t-drink-whiskey-like-i-used-to-back-then-that-s-for-sure/) [Sebastian Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-bach/) > [I make my protein drink with whiskey. People think I'm crazy, but that's the way I am. I get stoned, I do my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-make-my-protein-drink-with-whiskey-people-think-i-m-crazy-but-that/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I will never, ever drink whiskey again. From now on, it's strictly sherry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/i-will-never-ever-drink-whiskey-again-from-now-on-it-s-strictly-sherry/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [This is why it is good to remember: if you want to get high, don’t drink whiskey; read Shakespeare, Tennyson, Keats, Neruda, Hopkins, Millay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/this-is-why-it-is-good-to-remember-if-you-want-to-get-high-don-t/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [“Johnnie Walker is my celebratory drink,” I explained. “But when I’m out, I typically only drink whiskey. My dad only drank whiskey. His preference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-allen/johnnie-walker-is-my-celebratory-drink-i-explained-but-when-i-m-out-i/) [Danielle Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-allen/) > [ I drink this \[whiskey glass\] and I'm just another JBL? you don't get it, I'm not like you. I'm not JBL, I'm CM Punk!… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/i-drink-this-whiskey-glass-and-i-m-just-another-jbl-you-don-t-get-it/) [CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/) > [I learned you can't drink whiskey and play golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daly/i-learned-you-can-t-drink-whiskey-and-play-golf/) [John Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daly/) > [Y'all drinking whiskey is probably a gregarious act. When you're not an alcoholic it's pretty fun to drink whiskey. But when you are it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketch-secor/y-all-drinking-whiskey-is-probably-a-gregarious-act-when-you-re-not/) [Ketch Secor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketch-secor/) > [“Jess drew the way some people drink whiskey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/jess-drew-the-way-some-people-drink-whiskey/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [“So he strode, and ran, and hurried home. He emptied into the ever-useful pocket-handkerchief the little meal remaining in the mug. Mary would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/so-he-strode-and-ran-and-hurried-home-he-emptied-into-the-ever-useful/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Don't give your son money. As far as you can afford it, give him horses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/don-t-give-your-son-money-as-far-as-you-can-afford-it-give-him-horses/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“Money can buy you anything. It can buy you casinos and developments and the gambling debts of weaker men. It can buy you lawyers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cari-waites/money-can-buy-you-anything-it-can-buy-you-casinos-and-developments/) [Cari Waites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cari-waites/) ## More by Sam Rayburn > [Dont try to go too fast. Learn your job. Dont ever talk until you know what youre talking about. If you want to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/dont-try-to-go-too-fast-learn-your-job-dont-ever-talk-until-you-know/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [A jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/a-jackass-can-kick-a-barn-down-but-it-takes-a-carpenter-to-build-one/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [Don't try to go too fast. Learn your job. Don't ever talk until you know what you're talking about... If you want to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/don-t-try-to-go-too-fast-learn-your-job-don-t-ever-talk-until-you/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [No one has a finer command of language than the person who keeps his mouth shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/no-one-has-a-finer-command-of-language-than-the-person-who-keeps-his/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [If a man has common sense, he has all the sense there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/if-a-man-has-common-sense-he-has-all-the-sense-there-is/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [A damn independent boy; independent as a hog on ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/a-damn-independent-boy-independent-as-a-hog-on-ice/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [“Any jackass can kick down a barn. It takes a carpenter to build on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/any-jackass-can-kick-down-a-barn-it-takes-a-carpenter-to-build-on/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/any-jackass-can-kick-down-a-barn-but-it-takes-a-good-carpenter-to/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [There's no education in the second kick of a mule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/there-s-no-education-in-the-second-kick-of-a-mule/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [When you get too big a majority, you're immediately in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/when-you-get-too-big-a-majority-you-re-immediately-in-trouble/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [Too many critics mistake the deliberations of the Congress for its decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/too-many-critics-mistake-the-deliberations-of-the-congress-for-its/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [Any man who will cheat for you will cheat against you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/any-man-who-will-cheat-for-you-will-cheat-against-you/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [Poverty only tries men's souls. It is loneliness that breaks the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/poverty-only-tries-men-s-souls-it-is-loneliness-that-breaks-the-heart/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [They may be just as intelligent as you say. But I'd feel a helluva lot better if just one of them had ever run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/they-may-be-just-as-intelligent-as-you-say-but-i-d-feel-a-helluva-lot/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [The real actor has a direct line to the collective heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/the-real-actor-has-a-direct-line-to-the-collective-heart/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) [Explore all 29 Sam Rayburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) ## More Congress quotes > [Well, my wife, Cathy Gillespie, worked for Joe Barton, who was running for Congress in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gillespie/well-my-wife-cathy-gillespie-worked-for-joe-barton-who-was-running/) [Ed Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gillespie/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. 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But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [So our focus has to be on the things that we can control, which is to take the necessary measures working with Congress to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/so-our-focus-has-to-be-on-the-things-that-we-can-control-which-is-to/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [It's disgraceful that year after year, Congress has bowed to the tobacco lobby and refused to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/it-s-disgraceful-that-year-after-year-congress-has-bowed-to-the/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/united-states-congress/congress-shall-make-no-law-respecting-an-establishment-of-religion-or/) United States Congress > [As the longest serving Independent in the history of the United States Congress, as somebody who came into office by defeating an incumbent Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-the-longest-serving-independent-in-the-history-of-the-united/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [As the first Member of Congress from western Washington to serve on the House Agriculture Committee in over 50 years, I am proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-larsen/as-the-first-member-of-congress-from-western-washington-to-serve-on/) [Rick Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-larsen/) > [About one-half of the members of Congress are seekers for office at the nomination of the President. Of the remainder, at least one-half have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/about-one-half-of-the-members-of-congress-are-seekers-for-office-at/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [My younger self could not imagine standing on the floor of Congress as a member of Congress voting on legislation that, if enacted, would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-torres/my-younger-self-could-not-imagine-standing-on-the-floor-of-congress/) [Ritchie Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-torres/) > [Rahul Gandhi cannot be a prime minister because he is a citizen of Britain, and his Indian citizenship will be cancelled; he won't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subramanian-swamy/rahul-gandhi-cannot-be-a-prime-minister-because-he-is-a-citizen-of/) [Subramanian Swamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subramanian-swamy/) > [We need less travelling by jet plaes from congress to congress... but more kneeling and praying and pleading to God to have mercy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/we-need-less-travelling-by-jet-plaes-from-congress-to-congress-but/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [Well I think that what we're seeing now is that the people feel like they, the people in Congress don't have their consent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/well-i-think-that-what-we-re-seeing-now-is-that-the-people-feel-like/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) [Browse all 3,400 Congress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Son, if you can't take their money, drink their whiskey, screw their women, and then vote against 'em, you don't deserve to be here.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Rayburn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/son-if-you-can-t-take-their-money-drink-their-whiskey-screw-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Congress" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/son-if-you-can-t-take-their-money-drink-their-whiskey-screw-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/sam-rayburn-21122_congress_son-if-you-can-t-take-their-money-drink_2004930.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/sam-rayburn-21122_congress_son-if-you-can-t-take-their-money-drink_2004930.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/sam-rayburn-21122_congress_son-if-you-can-t-take-their-money-drink_2004930.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Son, if you can't take their money, drink their whiskey, screw their women, and then vote against 'em, you…” — Sam Rayburn", "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": "Sam Rayburn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Son, if you can't take their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/son-if-you-can-t-take-their-money-drink-their-whiskey-screw-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/son-if-you-can-t-take-their-money-drink-their-whiskey-screw-their/#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 } } ] } ```