--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Few things infuse a member of Congress…" description: "\"Few things infuse a member of Congress with more courage than self-imposed term limits or an imminent retirement. The issues they choose to focus on in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/tom-coburn-9771_congress_few-things-infuse-a-member-of-congress-w_3055823.jpg" --- # Few things infuse a member of Congress with more courage… ![“Few things infuse a member of Congress with more courage than self-imposed term limits or an imminent retirement. The issues they choose to focus on in their final months say a great deal about what are really the most important issues in the country.” quote by Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/tom-coburn-9771_congress_few-things-infuse-a-member-of-congress-w_3055823.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/tom-coburn-9771_congress_few-things-infuse-a-member-of-congress-w_3055823.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/tom-coburn-9771_congress_few-things-infuse-a-member-of-congress-w_3055823.jpg) > “Few things infuse a member of Congress with more courage than self-imposed term limits or an imminent retirement. The issues they choose to focus on in their final months say a great deal about what are really the most important issues in the country.” [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑imposed term limits or retirement can free legislators to focus on truly important issues, revealing their priorities. **In simple terms:** Retirement lets politicians show what truly matters. Key Takeaway Use transitions to clarify values. Themes politics integrity legacy Mood thoughtful inspirational Type political ethical When to use this quote - final legislative sessions - campaign promises - public statements Key Concepts term limits policy focus Questions to Reflect On - What issues would you prioritize if you knew you were leaving soon? - How does tenure affect decision‑making? A Different Perspective Political pressure may still bias final actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Congress Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress-courage-5103701/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Finals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finals/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-issues/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Issues Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues-choose-4531468/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Member Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/member-congress/) [Members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/members/) [Months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/months/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Retirement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retirement/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Term limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-limits/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [In the current climate motorists have a long list of issues from which to choose to raise on the doorstep. Policies aimed at reducing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/in-the-current-climate-motorists-have-a-long-list-of-issues-from/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [The member of Congress who is not making a career of politics looks quite differently at the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-novak/the-member-of-congress-who-is-not-making-a-career-of-politics-looks/) [Robert Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-novak/) > [The founding fathers never once rationalized getting in power and having control so they could stay in power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/the-founding-fathers-never-once-rationalized-getting-in-power-and/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [Career politicians do not have the courage to prioritize spending and say no to demanding special interest groups who do not reflect the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/career-politicians-do-not-have-the-courage-to-prioritize-spending-and/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [Statesmen exhibit five key commitments: 1) A commitment to principles above politics; 2) An ability to compromise without abandoning principle; 3) A commitment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/statesmen-exhibit-five-key-commitments-1-a-commitment-to-principles/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [When I came to Washington, I was troubled to observe so many similarities between the behaviors of drug-addicted patients and my political colleagues. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/when-i-came-to-washington-i-was-troubled-to-observe-so-many/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [The career politicians in Washington had transformed a government "for the people" into a government for themselves and for special interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/the-career-politicians-in-washington-had-transformed-a-government-for/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [People that had the guts to put their loyalty to the Constitution ahead of their loyalty to their political party were citizen legislators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/people-that-had-the-guts-to-put-their-loyalty-to-the-constitution/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [The traits in career politicians the public detests most are produced when ego triumphs over principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/the-traits-in-career-politicians-the-public-detests-most-are-produced/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [Careerism in Washington "goes to the heart of what's wrong in America right now."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/careerism-in-washington-goes-to-the-heart-of-what-s-wrong-in-america/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [We can achieve much greater representation through term-limited members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/we-can-achieve-much-greater-representation-through-term-limited/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [Careerism: the self-centered philosophy of governing to win the next election above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/careerism-the-self-centered-philosophy-of-governing-to-win-the-next/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [I would like to believe I would not have behaved differently had I not made a term limits pledge, but my own frailties and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/i-would-like-to-believe-i-would-not-have-behaved-differently-had-i/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [The voting records of virtually every member of Congress reveal that the oath of office is more a ceremonial gesture than a sacred commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/the-voting-records-of-virtually-every-member-of-congress-reveal-that/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [What makes this mentality dangerous is that when the team is held together by careerism and mindless partisanship, individual members are punished for thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/what-makes-this-mentality-dangerous-is-that-when-the-team-is-held/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) ## More by Tom Coburn > [I believe keeping our promises should be our highest priority and that means saving Social Security and Medicare while preserving the American dream for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/i-believe-keeping-our-promises-should-be-our-highest-priority-and/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [The founding fathers never once rationalized getting in power and having control so they could stay in power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/the-founding-fathers-never-once-rationalized-getting-in-power-and/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [The real debate is we've had an activist court, and the American people don't want an activist court. And the real fear from those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/the-real-debate-is-we-ve-had-an-activist-court-and-the-american/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [It is inexcusable for the White House and Congress to not even make the effort to find at least some offsets to this new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/it-is-inexcusable-for-the-white-house-and-congress-to-not-even-make/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [I firmly believe that the court should take another direction on many of these moral issues that face us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/i-firmly-believe-that-the-court-should-take-another-direction-on-many/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [The voting records of virtually every member of Congress reveal that the oath of office is more a ceremonial gesture than a sacred commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/the-voting-records-of-virtually-every-member-of-congress-reveal-that/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [When we have heartbeat and brain waves, we refuse to accept it as the presence of life - this lack of logic of which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/when-we-have-heartbeat-and-brain-waves-we-refuse-to-accept-it-as-the/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [All change starts with a distant rumble at the grassroots level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/all-change-starts-with-a-distant-rumble-at-the-grassroots-level/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [I would like to believe I would not have behaved differently had I not made a term limits pledge, but my own frailties and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/i-would-like-to-believe-i-would-not-have-behaved-differently-had-i/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [Welfare reform happened with reconciliation; half the Democrats voted for it. The Bush tax cuts happened with reconciliation; twelve Democratic Senators voted for it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/welfare-reform-happened-with-reconciliation-half-the-democrats-voted/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [Careerism: the self-centered philosophy of governing to win the next election above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/careerism-the-self-centered-philosophy-of-governing-to-win-the-next/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [The question that arises as we use all these adjectives and adverbs to describe our physicians as we approach a Supreme Court nominee is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/the-question-that-arises-as-we-use-all-these-adjectives-and-adverbs/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [You're going to die sooner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/you-re-going-to-die-sooner/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [We can achieve much greater representation through term-limited members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/we-can-achieve-much-greater-representation-through-term-limited/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [I believe all life has value, from conception to natural death. And I believe the intentional taking of human life, except to save lives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/i-believe-all-life-has-value-from-conception-to-natural-death-and-i/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) [Explore all 70 Tom Coburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Few things infuse a member of Congress with more courage than self-imposed term limits or an imminent retirement. The issues they choose to focus on in their final months say a great deal about what are really the most important issues in the country.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Coburn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/few-things-infuse-a-member-of-congress-with-more-courage-than-self/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Congress" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/few-things-infuse-a-member-of-congress-with-more-courage-than-self/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/tom-coburn-9771_congress_few-things-infuse-a-member-of-congress-w_3055823.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/tom-coburn-9771_congress_few-things-infuse-a-member-of-congress-w_3055823.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6db/tom-coburn-9771_congress_few-things-infuse-a-member-of-congress-w_3055823.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Few things infuse a member of Congress with more courage than self-imposed term limits or an imminent…” — Tom Coburn", "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": "Tom Coburn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Few things infuse a member of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/few-things-infuse-a-member-of-congress-with-more-courage-than-self/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/few-things-infuse-a-member-of-congress-with-more-courage-than-self/#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 } } ] } ```