--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Throughout my life, I've always believed…" description: "\"Throughout my life, I've always believed that the sole purpose of public service is to improve the lives of the people around us. From the Freeport Tow..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/sara-gideon-7337_close-to-my-heart_throughout-my-life-i-ve-always-believed_277071.jpg" --- # Throughout my life, I've always believed that the sole… ![“Throughout my life, I've always believed that the sole purpose of public service is to improve the lives of the people around us. From the Freeport Town Council to serving as Speaker of the State House, I've kept that sense of purpose close to my heart - consistently and passionately asking myself…” quote by Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/sara-gideon-7337_close-to-my-heart_throughout-my-life-i-ve-always-believed_277071.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/sara-gideon-7337_close-to-my-heart_throughout-my-life-i-ve-always-believed_277071.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27c/sara-gideon-7337_close-to-my-heart_throughout-my-life-i-ve-always-believed_277071.jpg) > “Throughout my life, I've always believed that the sole purpose of public service is to improve the lives of the people around us. From the Freeport Town Council to serving as Speaker of the State House, I've kept that sense of purpose close to my heart - consistently and passionately asking myself how we make progress.” [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public service should aim to better the lives of community members, guiding decisions with purpose and passion. **In simple terms:** Public service is about helping people. Key Takeaway Focus on improving lives. Themes public service leadership community purpose Mood determined empathetic Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - city council work - state legislative initiatives - community outreach programs Key Concepts civic duty ethical governance social impact Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure real improvement? - What sacrifices are required? A Different Perspective Balancing diverse needs can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Close to my heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-to-my-heart/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Public service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-service/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/) ## Related quotes > [What is the purpose of public service? It's to solve problems for the people you represent and certainly in the United States Senate, thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/what-is-the-purpose-of-public-service-it-s-to-solve-problems-for-the/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [“He said the purpose of public education isn’t to serve the public, it’s to make a public. Like Dewey believed, the purpose of public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-kenny/he-said-the-purpose-of-public-education-isn-t-to-serve-the-public-it/) [Deborah Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-kenny/) > [I feel like I have had the most amazing life in my public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-feel-like-i-have-had-the-most-amazing-life-in-my-public-service/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I don't want to do anything that capitalizes personally on the fact that I've been in public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/i-don-t-want-to-do-anything-that-capitalizes-personally-on-the-fact/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [But as I always say to people I'm essentially a public service person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/but-as-i-always-say-to-people-i-m-essentially-a-public-service-person/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [I have a lifelong devotion to public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-kennedy/i-have-a-lifelong-devotion-to-public-service/) [Caroline Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-kennedy/) > [So often public service comes with sacrifice. A sacrifice that our men and women in uniform make each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/so-often-public-service-comes-with-sacrifice-a-sacrifice-that-our-men/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [I have always told anyone who would listen that I was available for more public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/i-have-always-told-anyone-who-would-listen-that-i-was-available-for/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [What motivated me to dedicate myself to public service for nearly two-thirds of my life was the chance to produce results for those people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/what-motivated-me-to-dedicate-myself-to-public-service-for-nearly-two/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [The PML-N is committed to public service mission, and it will continue to outcome every hurdle in our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shehbaz-sharif/the-pml-n-is-committed-to-public-service-mission-and-it-will-continue/) [Shehbaz Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shehbaz-sharif/) > [We've got ourselves into a situation where government service is somehow seen to be a political act rather than an act of civic duty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-hill/we-ve-got-ourselves-into-a-situation-where-government-service-is/) [Fiona Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-hill/) > [The truth is, through all these years of public service, the 'service' part has always come easier to me than the 'public' part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-truth-is-through-all-these-years-of-public-service-the-service/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Congress is full of good, decent, smart people who have devoted their lives to public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/congress-is-full-of-good-decent-smart-people-who-have-devoted-their/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [As a matter of fact, even when I finished law school, I had no notion of public service then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dinkins/as-a-matter-of-fact-even-when-i-finished-law-school-i-had-no-notion/) [David Dinkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dinkins/) > [As someone who has put my life on hold, my personal life on hold, for Parliament and for public service for over a decade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-poilievre/as-someone-who-has-put-my-life-on-hold-my-personal-life-on-hold-for/) [Pierre Poilievre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-poilievre/) ## More by Sara Gideon > [If we're going to come together and make real progress to improve the lives of people here in Maine and across the country, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/if-we-re-going-to-come-together-and-make-real-progress-to-improve-the/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [I would say that of many, many difficult aspects of my job as speaker, presiding over a debate on a bill that has an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/i-would-say-that-of-many-many-difficult-aspects-of-my-job-as-speaker/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [The health and safety of our neighbors and our communities should be our top priority - nothing is more important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/the-health-and-safety-of-our-neighbors-and-our-communities-should-be/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [We must provide our kids with the skills they need to stay and succeed here in Maine - that's something we all agree on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/we-must-provide-our-kids-with-the-skills-they-need-to-stay-and/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [We need to first clearly establish what our modern rules for behavior are and make sure those are clearly understood and communicated. That empowers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/we-need-to-first-clearly-establish-what-our-modern-rules-for-behavior/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [We're all in agreement that our children deserve a world-class education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/we-re-all-in-agreement-that-our-children-deserve-a-world-class/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [We have taken on the fossil fuel companies, combating climate change and even the energy utilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/we-have-taken-on-the-fossil-fuel-companies-combating-climate-change/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [A lot of what is preventing us from getting things done on the federal level is that there is too much influence from special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/a-lot-of-what-is-preventing-us-from-getting-things-done-on-the/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [Nobody in Maine should be deciding between whether they go to a doctor, whether they buy their medicine or whether they're putting food on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/nobody-in-maine-should-be-deciding-between-whether-they-go-to-a/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [Creating paid family and medical leave will create a foundation for healthier families, healthier workplaces and the chance to have a growing and thriving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/creating-paid-family-and-medical-leave-will-create-a-foundation-for/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [Effective public policy to address human trafficking cannot only address offender accountability and increase prosecution, but must also address root causes of the issue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/effective-public-policy-to-address-human-trafficking-cannot-only/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [Not a single Mainer should be rationing their medication or avoiding a trip to the doctor because they aren't sure what it will end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/not-a-single-mainer-should-be-rationing-their-medication-or-avoiding/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [I'm proud to work toward a greener, more vibrant economy with Mainers and stakeholders across our region through Northeast Clean Energy Council's efforts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/i-m-proud-to-work-toward-a-greener-more-vibrant-economy-with-mainers/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [A skilled, well-educated workforce will attract more companies and jobs to our state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/a-skilled-well-educated-workforce-will-attract-more-companies-and/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) > [As Speaker, I passed Maine's most aggressive carbon emission reduction and renewable energy standards, and in the Senate, I will prioritize moving toward a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/as-speaker-i-passed-maine-s-most-aggressive-carbon-emission-reduction/) [Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) [Explore all 92 Sara Gideon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/) ## More Close to my heart quotes > [Mental health is an issue close to my heart - an issue, indeed, I've covered repeatedly for Channel 4 News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-newman/mental-health-is-an-issue-close-to-my-heart-an-issue-indeed-i-ve/) [Cathy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-newman/) > [Some of my fondest and most impressionable movie memories are from those early sci-fi and horror films. I've always been a Dracula/vampire aficionado, being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-wise/some-of-my-fondest-and-most-impressionable-movie-memories-are-from/) [Ray Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-wise/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Chhath Puja is very close to my heart. Few years back, I did a movie titled 'Chhathi Maiyya.' After acting in this movie, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-kishan/chhath-puja-is-very-close-to-my-heart-few-years-back-i-did-a-movie/) [Ravi Kishan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-kishan/) > [“Someone once told me that life changes, and you give up old dreams so that new ones can take their place. I held on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-pack/someone-once-told-me-that-life-changes-and-you-give-up-old-dreams-so/) Jeremy Pack > [What better way to foray into production than with 'Khaidi No 150.' The film is truly close to my heart because it is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-charan/what-better-way-to-foray-into-production-than-with-khaidi-no-150-the/) [Ram Charan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-charan/) > [I've got quite a few people who I hold close to my heart and I trust, and a lot of footballing opinions that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hart/i-ve-got-quite-a-few-people-who-i-hold-close-to-my-heart-and-i-trust/) [Joe Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hart/) > [I highlight the importance of self-care and the need to be there for people. I participate in various shows and panels and also use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananya-birla/i-highlight-the-importance-of-self-care-and-the-need-to-be-there-for/) [Ananya Birla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananya-birla/) > [There are issues that are being questioned that are fundamentally upsetting to me, deeply: immigration, funding for the arts, Planned Parenthood, and women's rights.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-posen/there-are-issues-that-are-being-questioned-that-are-fundamentally/) [Zac Posen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-posen/) > [I only hope that this memory I hold so dear and close to my heart will one day stop haunting the depths of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-hope-that-this-memory-i-hold-so-dear-and-close-to-my-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [After Benfica, Manchester is very close to my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eusebio/after-benfica-manchester-is-very-close-to-my-heart/) [Eusebio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eusebio/) > [HOW do I start putting everything in place? When everything is already where they are supposed to be. How do I say I'm broken?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee/how-do-i-start-putting-everything-in-place-when-everything-is-already/) [Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee/) > [I think you can tell the food is close to my heart, too, because I'm doing what I do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giada-de-laurentiis/i-think-you-can-tell-the-food-is-close-to-my-heart-too-because-i-m/) [Giada De Laurentiis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giada-de-laurentiis/) > [To this day, 'The Duke and I' remains particularly close to my heart; I felt it was the novel in which my writing took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/to-this-day-the-duke-and-i-remains-particularly-close-to-my-heart-i/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [The films that I've made with my company Irish DreamTime are close to my heart. 'The Greatest' being one of them, and 'Evelyn' being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/the-films-that-i-ve-made-with-my-company-irish-dreamtime-are-close-to/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) [Browse all 190 Close to my heart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-to-my-heart/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Throughout my life, I've always believed that the sole purpose of public service is to improve the lives of the people around us. 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