--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I ran for Congress, just once." description: "\"I ran for Congress, just once.\" — Shirley Temple" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f5/shirley-temple-11746_congress_i-ran-for-congress-just-once-2952275_2952275.jpg" --- # I ran for Congress, just once. ![“I ran for Congress, just once.” quote by Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f5/shirley-temple-11746_congress_i-ran-for-congress-just-once-2952275_2952275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f5/shirley-temple-11746_congress_i-ran-for-congress-just-once-2952275_2952275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f5/shirley-temple-11746_congress_i-ran-for-congress-just-once-2952275_2952275.jpg) > “I ran for Congress, just once.” [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Running for political office once reflects brief engagement in public service. **In simple terms:** A short political stint. Key Takeaway Consider the impact of even brief civic participation. Themes civic duty politics career politpolit brief engagement Mood reflective humorous Type personal political When to use this quote - election - policy influence Key Concepts public service campaigning Questions to Reflect On - What motivated the single run? - What did you learn? A Different Perspective Limited experience may restrict lasting change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) ## Related quotes > [I ran for Congress because I want to make sure others have the same chance at the dream that I had for generations to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/i-ran-for-congress-because-i-want-to-make-sure-others-have-the-same/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [ It was fascinating what a total interest he \[John F. Kennedy\] had in his tradecraft of being a politician. I didn't realize before that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/it-was-fascinating-what-a-total-interest-he-john-f-kennedy-had-in-his/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [Congress should just do its job and pass a transportation-infrastructure bill - a regular bill that doesnt borrow money and mortgage my future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stivers/congress-should-just-do-its-job-and-pass-a-transportation/) [Steve Stivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stivers/) > [I ran for Congress in 1996 to help Ted Kennedy pass a comprehensive health insurance reform bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mcgovern/i-ran-for-congress-in-1996-to-help-ted-kennedy-pass-a-comprehensive/) [Jim McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mcgovern/) > [When I ran for Congress I promised to help make health care affordable again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/when-i-ran-for-congress-i-promised-to-help-make-health-care/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [I ran for Congress in 2012 because I had had enough. Enough of career politicians, enough of political gamesmanship, and enough of the lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-yoho/i-ran-for-congress-in-2012-because-i-had-had-enough-enough-of-career/) [Ted Yoho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-yoho/) > [We need Congress to do more than just engage in partisan games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kander/we-need-congress-to-do-more-than-just-engage-in-partisan-games/) [Jason Kander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kander/) > [It's not written in the Constitution or anything else… Congress, just out of the clear blue sky, said the airwaves belong to the people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-cronauer/it-s-not-written-in-the-constitution-or-anything-else-congress-just/) [Adrian Cronauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-cronauer/) > [Congress should just do its job and pass a transportation-infrastructure bill - a regular bill that doesn't borrow money and mortgage my future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stivers/congress-should-just-do-its-job-and-pass-a-transportation-2/) [Steve Stivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stivers/) > [ \[Congress\] can just make \[Mitt\] Romney president. And we'd be like, "All right, fine." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/congress-can-just-make-mitt-romney-president-and-we-d-be-like-all/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) > [Congress must not do something just for the sake of doing something. We must carefully and thoughtfully consider the implications of any action and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/congress-must-not-do-something-just-for-the-sake-of-doing-something/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [As a candidate for Congress, I promised that I would I fight for the people of Florida in Congress, just like I fought for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/as-a-candidate-for-congress-i-promised-that-i-would-i-fight-for-the/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Restoring the people's voice in Congress is not just one part of our Better Way agenda, it's the most important part. Unless people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/restoring-the-people-s-voice-in-congress-is-not-just-one-part-of-our/) [Cathy McMorris Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/) > [I represent a district with a really proud tradition of work and innovation in health care, both in delivery and research, so serving in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/i-represent-a-district-with-a-really-proud-tradition-of-work-and/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [We did not go to Congress just to talk the talk - we are here to walk the walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaal-bowman/we-did-not-go-to-congress-just-to-talk-the-talk-we-are-here-to-walk/) [Jamaal Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaal-bowman/) ## More by Shirley Temple > [You've got to S-M-I-L-E To be H-A-Double-P-Y](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/you-ve-got-to-s-m-i-l-e-to-be-h-a-double-p-y/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [At the end of the Depression, people were perhaps looking for something to cheer themselves up. They fell in love with a dog and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/at-the-end-of-the-depression-people-were-perhaps-looking-for/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [By the time I was 4, I knew how to hit my mark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/by-the-time-i-was-4-i-knew-how-to-hit-my-mark/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [There’s nothing like real love. Nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/there-s-nothing-like-real-love-nothing/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [On the good ship Lollipop Its a sweet trip To the candy shop Where bon-bon's play, On the sunny beach Of peppermint bay Lemonade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/on-the-good-ship-lollipop-its-a-sweet-trip-to-the-candy-shop-where/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [Sunnybrook Farm is now a parking lot; the petticoats are in the garbage can, where they belong in the modern world; and I detest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/sunnybrook-farm-is-now-a-parking-lot-the-petticoats-are-in-the/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [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/) > [I'm not too proud of the movies I made as a grownup except for 'That Hagen Girl', which nobody remembers but which gave me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/i-m-not-too-proud-of-the-movies-i-made-as-a-grownup-except-for-that/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [One has to handle these negative experiences alone.You can't get help from your friends or family.You're finally alone with it, and you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/one-has-to-handle-these-negative-experiences-alone-you-can-t-get-help/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [When I was 14, I was the oldest I ever was. I've been getting younger ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/when-i-was-14-i-was-the-oldest-i-ever-was-i-ve-been-getting-younger/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [Our whole way of life today is dedicated to the removal of risk. Cradle to grave we are supported, insulated, and isolated from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/our-whole-way-of-life-today-is-dedicated-to-the-removal-of-risk/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [In the world of movie personalities the distance between popularity and politics is short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/in-the-world-of-movie-personalities-the-distance-between-popularity/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [Nothing crushes freedom as substantially as a tank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/nothing-crushes-freedom-as-substantially-as-a-tank/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [Long ago, I became more interested in the real world than in make-believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/long-ago-i-became-more-interested-in-the-real-world-than-in-make/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [I guess I was an early method actress. I would go to a quiet part of the sound stage with my mother. I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/i-guess-i-was-an-early-method-actress-i-would-go-to-a-quiet-part-of/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) [Explore all 58 Shirley Temple quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) ## 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. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. 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": "I ran for Congress, just once.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shirley Temple" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/i-ran-for-congress-just-once/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Congress" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/i-ran-for-congress-just-once/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f5/shirley-temple-11746_congress_i-ran-for-congress-just-once-2952275_2952275.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f5/shirley-temple-11746_congress_i-ran-for-congress-just-once-2952275_2952275.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f5/shirley-temple-11746_congress_i-ran-for-congress-just-once-2952275_2952275.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I ran for Congress, just once.” — Shirley Temple", "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": "Shirley Temple", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I ran for Congress, just once.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/i-ran-for-congress-just-once/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/i-ran-for-congress-just-once/#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 } } ] } ```