--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you go into public service, you…" description: "\"When you go into public service, you understand you're trading something. You want to feel good about what you do, but you're not going to make what pe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/trey-gowdy-11613_feel-good_when-you-go-into-public-service-you-unde_371803.jpg" --- # When you go into public service, you understand you're… ![“When you go into public service, you understand you're trading something. You want to feel good about what you do, but you're not going to make what people in private sector make.” quote by Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/trey-gowdy-11613_feel-good_when-you-go-into-public-service-you-unde_371803.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/trey-gowdy-11613_feel-good_when-you-go-into-public-service-you-unde_371803.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea5/trey-gowdy-11613_feel-good_when-you-go-into-public-service-you-unde_371803.jpg) > “When you go into public service, you understand you're trading something. You want to feel good about what you do, but you're not going to make what people in private sector make.” [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) ## 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 requires personal sacrifice and lower pay, but offers moral fulfillment and societal impact. **In simple terms:** Public work pays less but gives purpose. Key Takeaway Balance personal expectations with civic duty. Themes service sacrifice ethics career motivation Mood reflective serious Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - government jobs - nonprofit work - career counseling - budget planning Key Concepts Public economics intrinsic reward social contract Questions to Reflect On - What values outweigh financial loss? - How can public sectors improve morale? A Different Perspective Compensation gaps can deter talent and cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Private sector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-sector/) [Public service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-service/) [Trading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trading/) ## Related quotes > [I don't feel comfortable talking about my private life, and some people in my private life don't feel comfortable about me talking about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-mckee/i-don-t-feel-comfortable-talking-about-my-private-life-and-some/) [Gina McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-mckee/) > [The camera is more than a recorder, it's a microscope. It penetrates, it goes into people and you see their most private and concealed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-camera-is-more-than-a-recorder-it-s-a-microscope-it-penetrates-it/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [ \[Melania Trump\] would go home at night and didn't even want to go out with people. She was a very private person. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/melania-trump-would-go-home-at-night-and-didn-t-even-want-to-go-out/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I've spent a lot of years living with normal people. If I take a private jet to go to a meeting in Milan, well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brunello-cucinelli/i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-years-living-with-normal-people-if-i-take-a/) [Brunello Cucinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brunello-cucinelli/) > [Sexuality is among the most personal of issues, and it has never been my intent to weigh in on people's private lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-anschutz/sexuality-is-among-the-most-personal-of-issues-and-it-has-never-been/) [Philip Anschutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-anschutz/) > [When I came to England I was quite surprised to see that you people have it too. But why people are so interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/when-i-came-to-england-i-was-quite-surprised-to-see-that-you-people/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [“There are so many qualities that make up a human being... by the time I get through with all the things that I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/there-are-so-many-qualities-that-make-up-a-human-being-by-the-time-i/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [A company shouldn't take value from people's private messages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-rotenberg/a-company-shouldn-t-take-value-from-people-s-private-messages/) [Marc Rotenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-rotenberg/) > [“There are times when I think it's impossible to know another soul. I don't know, maybe we're lucky that way. If we knew what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/there-are-times-when-i-think-it-s-impossible-to-know-another-soul-i/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [It's not government's business what people do in their private bedrooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/it-s-not-government-s-business-what-people-do-in-their-private/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [I think the media has got into this Enquirer mentality. Years ago, legitimate press didn't really concern itself with sordid details of people's personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/i-think-the-media-has-got-into-this-enquirer-mentality-years-ago/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) > [I've always been very zealous about not invading other people's private spaces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jennings/i-ve-always-been-very-zealous-about-not-invading-other-people-s/) [Peter Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jennings/) > [I don't know what fun newspapers and magazines derive from interfering in people's private lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rishi-kapoor/i-don-t-know-what-fun-newspapers-and-magazines-derive-from/) [Rishi Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rishi-kapoor/) > [I spent a lot of time in the White House in the public areas where reporters are allowed to go, but I spoke to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-kantor/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-in-the-white-house-in-the-public-areas-where/) [Jodi Kantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-kantor/) > [Private schools are gaming the system. There is way too much state money going in, and people who go to private schools seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rayner/private-schools-are-gaming-the-system-there-is-way-too-much-state/) [Angela Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rayner/) ## More by Trey Gowdy > [I can tell you this. It is not going to be evenly constituted and when she was Speaker Pelosi, she certainly showed no interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-can-tell-you-this-it-is-not-going-to-be-evenly-constituted-and-when/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Honestly, I have heard a lot in my 16 years as a prosecutor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/honestly-i-have-heard-a-lot-in-my-16-years-as-a-prosecutor/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [I suspect that with men like General Petraeus, where honor means something - losing your life is secondary to losing your honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-suspect-that-with-men-like-general-petraeus-where-honor-means/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [What did Republicans get for 16 days of a government shutdown with people being hurt? We have absolutely nothing to show for it, other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/what-did-republicans-get-for-16-days-of-a-government-shutdown-with/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [No law can give Congress a backbone if it refuses to stand off as the coequal branch the Constitution made it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/no-law-can-give-congress-a-backbone-if-it-refuses-to-stand-off-as-the/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Well, I certainly hope the Democrats participate. I continue to think that some things transcend politics like the murder of four of our fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/well-i-certainly-hope-the-democrats-participate-i-continue-to-think/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [The same Constitution that allows her the right, if she wants to, to sit there and say nothing, allows these groups the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/the-same-constitution-that-allows-her-the-right-if-she-wants-to-to/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Unless your name is Jack Bauer, you cannot make people talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/unless-your-name-is-jack-bauer-you-cannot-make-people-talk/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [What do we do with a president who can basically change what Congress passed by attaching a letter saying I don't agree with this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/what-do-we-do-with-a-president-who-can-basically-change-what-congress/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [I am not surprised that the president of the United States called this a phony scandal. I'm not surprised Secretary Clinton asked, "What difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-am-not-surprised-that-the-president-of-the-united-states-called/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [The United States attorney in South Carolina was a Barack Obama appointee. Politically, he is to the left of Mao Zedong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/the-united-states-attorney-in-south-carolina-was-a-barack-obama/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [I don't have an issue with whether - from a legal standpoint, with whether or not government can impose the ultimate punishment on people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-don-t-have-an-issue-with-whether-from-a-legal-standpoint-with/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [There's no way we can get to the bottom of Benghazi without David Petraeus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/there-s-no-way-we-can-get-to-the-bottom-of-benghazi-without-david/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [You may be less likely to pick on someone if you don't know what's in their briefcase or purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/you-may-be-less-likely-to-pick-on-someone-if-you-don-t-know-what-s-in/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [The president already has a Nobel Prize for peace. I think he's shooting for one in fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/the-president-already-has-a-nobel-prize-for-peace-i-think-he-s/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) [Explore all 59 Trey Gowdy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) ## More Feel good quotes > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [To fashion stars out of dog dung, that is the Great Work. To take a negative experience and, by comparing it to something worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-david-neel/to-fashion-stars-out-of-dog-dung-that-is-the-great-work-to-take-a/) [Alexandra David-Neel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-david-neel/) > [I've had a couple knockouts, but I feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanderlei-silva/i-ve-had-a-couple-knockouts-but-i-feel-good/) [Wanderlei Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanderlei-silva/) > [I feel good about who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-torv/i-feel-good-about-who-i-am/) [Anna Torv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-torv/) > [As long as I can sing halfway decent, I'd rather sing than act. There's nothing like being in good voice, feeling good, having good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-keel/as-long-as-i-can-sing-halfway-decent-i-d-rather-sing-than-act-there-s/) [Howard Keel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-keel/) > [Life is not a PG feel-good movie. Real life often ends badly. Literature tries to document this reality, while showing us it is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/life-is-not-a-pg-feel-good-movie-real-life-often-ends-badly/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I always suggest that when you're going through cancer to find something in your day that makes you feel centered and that makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/i-always-suggest-that-when-you-re-going-through-cancer-to-find/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [It wasn't like, 'I'ma lose weight and start doing dramas.' I wanted to be healthier, and that was the impetus for wanting to lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/it-wasn-t-like-i-ma-lose-weight-and-start-doing-dramas-i-wanted-to-be/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I like pie! Pie with proper pastry and a meaty filling always works. It just makes you feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whaite/i-like-pie-pie-with-proper-pastry-and-a-meaty-filling-always-works-it/) [John Whaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-whaite/) > [What is moral is what you feel good after, and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/what-is-moral-is-what-you-feel-good-after-and-what-is-immoral-is-what/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I don't feel I'm as good a mum as my mum was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-don-t-feel-i-m-as-good-a-mum-as-my-mum-was/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I love Muji pens. They feel good to hold, and they're my favorite pens to journal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-abrams/i-love-muji-pens-they-feel-good-to-hold-and-they-re-my-favorite-pens/) [Gracie Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-abrams/) > [I feel it is good to be nervous because you are not fully sure or over-confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaani-kapoor/i-feel-it-is-good-to-be-nervous-because-you-are-not-fully-sure-or/) [Vaani Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaani-kapoor/) > [I don't need to be on the cover of 'Maxim.' But I want to feel good, and I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-myrin/i-don-t-need-to-be-on-the-cover-of-maxim-but-i-want-to-feel-good-and/) [Arden Myrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-myrin/) Browse all 2,333 Feel good quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you go into public service, you understand you're trading something. 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