--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is politics, after all, but the…" description: "\"What is politics, after all, but the compulsion to preside over property and make others people's decisions for them? Liberty, the very opposite of own..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/tom-robbins-169_action_what-is-politics-after-all-but-the-compu_1282800.jpg" --- # What is politics, after all, but the compulsion to preside… ![“What is politics, after all, but the compulsion to preside over property and make others people's decisions for them? Liberty, the very opposite of ownership and control, cannot, then, result from political action, either at the polls or at the barricades, but rather evolves out of attitude. If it…” quote by Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/tom-robbins-169_action_what-is-politics-after-all-but-the-compu_1282800.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/tom-robbins-169_action_what-is-politics-after-all-but-the-compu_1282800.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/tom-robbins-169_action_what-is-politics-after-all-but-the-compu_1282800.jpg) > “What is politics, after all, but the compulsion to preside over property and make others people's decisions for them? Liberty, the very opposite of ownership and control, cannot, then, result from political action, either at the polls or at the barricades, but rather evolves out of attitude. If it results from anything, it must be levity.” [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politics is a power over property and others’ choices, while true liberty arises from a light‑hearted attitude, not from political mechanisms. **In simple terms:** Politics controls property; liberty comes from attitude, not politics. Key Takeaway Seek freedom through mindset, not just voting. Themes politics freedom attitude power Mood skeptical hopeful Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - voting - activism - personal development - community organizing Key Concepts social contract libertarian thought Questions to Reflect On - Can personal levity counteract systemic oppression? - How do attitudes influence political engagement? A Different Perspective Political structures can still limit freedom despite attitudes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Levity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levity/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Ownership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ownership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Polls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polls/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) ## Related quotes > [“What is politics, after all, but the compulsion to preside over property and make other peoples' decisions for them? Liberty, the very opposite of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/what-is-politics-after-all-but-the-compulsion-to-preside-over/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [What is politics, after all, but the compulsion to preside over property and make other peoples' decisions for them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/what-is-politics-after-all-but-the-compulsion-to-preside-over-3/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“Liberty, the very opposite of ownership and control, cannot, then, result from political action, either at the polls or the barricades, but rather evolves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/liberty-the-very-opposite-of-ownership-and-control-cannot-then-result/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Fashion: a barricade behind which men hide their nothingness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kin-hubbard/fashion-a-barricade-behind-which-men-hide-their-nothingness/) [Kin Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kin-hubbard/) > [History suggests that the disillusioned and the disaffected do not readily take to the streets nor man the barricades to defend a system that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-olusoga/history-suggests-that-the-disillusioned-and-the-disaffected-do-not/) [David Olusoga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-olusoga/) > [ What I wanted to do \[in Allied\] was get two characters who fall in love for real, across the barricade, and then it transcends… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/what-i-wanted-to-do-in-allied-was-get-two-characters-who-fall-in-love/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [Resistance here doesn't mean revolution. It doesn't mean storming the barricades. Resistance means using art for the things that it does best, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/questlove/resistance-here-doesn-t-mean-revolution-it-doesn-t-mean-storming-the/) [Questlove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/questlove/) > [I wouldn't be satisfied with a life lived solely on the barricades. I reserve my right to be frivolous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/i-wouldn-t-be-satisfied-with-a-life-lived-solely-on-the-barricades-i/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [I must spin good ghosts out of my hope to oppose the hordes at my window. If those who look in see me condescend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/i-must-spin-good-ghosts-out-of-my-hope-to-oppose-the-hordes-at-my/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [Books are, at their heart, dangerous. Yes, dangerous. Because they challenge us: our prejudices, our blind spots. They open us to new ideas, new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/books-are-at-their-heart-dangerous-yes-dangerous-because-they/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [It often occurs that pride and selfishness are muddled with strength and independence. They are neither equal nor similar; in fact, they are polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/it-often-occurs-that-pride-and-selfishness-are-muddled-with-strength/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Librarians see themselves as the guardians of the First Amendment. You got a thousand Mother Joneses at the barricades! I love the librarians, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/librarians-see-themselves-as-the-guardians-of-the-first-amendment-you/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [The class barricades have been stormed by the forces of a broad culture, which is made up of clusters of individuals who have decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvyn-bragg/the-class-barricades-have-been-stormed-by-the-forces-of-a-broad/) [Melvyn Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvyn-bragg/) > [With society and its public, there is no longer any other language than that of bombs, barricades, and all that follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-artaud/with-society-and-its-public-there-is-no-longer-any-other-language/) [Antonin Artaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-artaud/) > [Be fearless. Have the courage to take risks. Go where there are no guarantees. Get out of your comfort zone even if it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/be-fearless-have-the-courage-to-take-risks-go-where-there-are-no/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) ## More by Tom Robbins > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“I believe in everything; nothing is sacred. I believe in nothing; everything is sacred. Ha Ha Ho Ho Hee Hee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/i-believe-in-everything-nothing-is-sacred-i-believe-in-nothing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [A sense of humor...is superior to any religion so far devised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/a-sense-of-humor-is-superior-to-any-religion-so-far-devised/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the-2/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“The glue that holds the natural world together appears to be a harmonious balance of opposites: day and night, light and dark, winter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-glue-that-holds-the-natural-world-together-appears-to-be-a/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Zippers are primal and modern at the very same time. On the one hand, your zipper is primitive and reptilian, on the other, mechanical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/zippers-are-primal-and-modern-at-the-very-same-time-on-the-one-hand/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“religion is a paramount contributor to human misery. It is not merely the opium of the masses, it is the cyanide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/religion-is-a-paramount-contributor-to-human-misery-it-is-not-merely/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [She continued weeping until the heat of her tear water, the sheer velocity of its flow, finally obscured the already vague circumstances of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/she-continued-weeping-until-the-heat-of-her-tear-water-the-sheer/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [When we accept small wonders, we qualify ourselves to imagine great wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/when-we-accept-small-wonders-we-qualify-ourselves-to-imagine-great/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Explore all 994 Tom Robbins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is politics, after all, but the compulsion to preside over property and make others people's decisions for them? Liberty, the very opposite of ownership and control, cannot, then, result from political action, either at the polls or at the barricades, but rather evolves out of attitude. If it results from anything, it must be levity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Robbins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/what-is-politics-after-all-but-the-compulsion-to-preside-over-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/what-is-politics-after-all-but-the-compulsion-to-preside-over-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/tom-robbins-169_action_what-is-politics-after-all-but-the-compu_1282800.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/tom-robbins-169_action_what-is-politics-after-all-but-the-compu_1282800.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/tom-robbins-169_action_what-is-politics-after-all-but-the-compu_1282800.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is politics, after all, but the compulsion to preside over property and make others people's decisions…” — Tom Robbins", "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 Robbins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What is politics, after all, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/what-is-politics-after-all-but-the-compulsion-to-preside-over-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/what-is-politics-after-all-but-the-compulsion-to-preside-over-2/#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 } } ] } ```