--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fellow senators balked at punishing…" description: "\"Fellow senators balked at punishing Senator Alfonse D'Amato of New York though he was caught in a series of transactions that earned him the label \"Sen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ac/william-greider-14089_behavior_fellow-senators-balked-at-punishing-sena_1505543.png" --- # Fellow senators balked at punishing Senator Alfonse… ![“Fellow senators balked at punishing Senator Alfonse D'Amato of New York though he was caught in a series of transactions that earned him the label "Senator Sleaze." D'Amato explained their reluctance as he defended his own behavior. "There but for the grace of God go most of my colleagues," he said.” quote by William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ac/william-greider-14089_behavior_fellow-senators-balked-at-punishing-sena_1505543.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ac/william-greider-14089_behavior_fellow-senators-balked-at-punishing-sena_1505543.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ac/william-greider-14089_behavior_fellow-senators-balked-at-punishing-sena_1505543.png) > “Fellow senators balked at punishing Senator Alfonse D'Amato of New York though he was caught in a series of transactions that earned him the label "Senator Sleaze." D'Amato explained their reluctance as he defended his own behavior. "There but for the grace of God go most of my colleagues," he said.” [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights hypocrisy in politics, where leaders condemn others while excusing their own similar misconduct. **In simple terms:** Politicians often blame others while ignoring their own faults. Key Takeaway Recognize and address double standards. Themes politics hypocrisy accountability Mood critical reflective Type political ethical When to use this quote - legislative debates - media analysis - public accountability - campaign rhetoric Key Concepts ethics power dynamics moral relativism Questions to Reflect On - How do we hold leaders accountable for double standards? - What mechanisms can reduce political hypocrisy? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex political motivations and ignore systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Colleagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleagues/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Grace of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace-of-god/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Reluctance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reluctance/) [Sleazes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleazes/) ## Related quotes > [Once a decision is made to be tasteful and risk-free, all spark, soul, variety, sleaze, spontaneity and fun go right out the window](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cintra-wilson/once-a-decision-is-made-to-be-tasteful-and-risk-free-all-spark-soul/) [Cintra Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cintra-wilson/) > [Sleaze is a point by point refutation of elegance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/sleaze-is-a-point-by-point-refutation-of-elegance/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [People always go on about sleaze, but I think it's only a small part of what I write about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/people-always-go-on-about-sleaze-but-i-think-it-s-only-a-small-part/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [Alaska's chief attractions are: (a) its small and insignificant human population, thanks to the miserable climate; and (b) its large and magnificent wildlife population,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/alaska-s-chief-attractions-are-a-its-small-and-insignificant-human/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [To grasp the true meaning of socialism, imagine a world where everything is designed by the post office, even the sleaze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-grasp-the-true-meaning-of-socialism-imagine-a-world-where/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No band on 21st-century radio has mined pre-grunge hair-metal's sleaze like L.A.'s Buckcherry. So it makes poetic sense that they'd spend their sixth album…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-eddy/no-band-on-21st-century-radio-has-mined-pre-grunge-hair-metal-s/) [Chuck Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-eddy/) > [Every time I nostalgically try to regain my liking of John McCain, he reaches into his sleaze bag and pulls out something malodorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cavett/every-time-i-nostalgically-try-to-regain-my-liking-of-john-mccain-he/) [Dick Cavett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cavett/) > [I had a lot of classical influences. I had classical music and opera and literature, but I also liked sleaze. And putting it together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-owens/i-had-a-lot-of-classical-influences-i-had-classical-music-and-opera/) [Rick Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-owens/) > [There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradford/there-but-for-the-grace-of-god-goes-john-bradford/) John Bradford > [Gore Vidal said "Nixon is us, we are Nixon." I think we have to acknowledge that combination of idealism and sleaze; we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/gore-vidal-said-nixon-is-us-we-are-nixon-i-think-we-have-to/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [How about this John Edwards thing? Imagine that, a personal injury attorney who turns out to be a sleaze ball. Who could have seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/how-about-this-john-edwards-thing-imagine-that-a-personal-injury/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Power will be maintained by the groovy guy or gal who gets the most media coverage for his sleaze. Naturally, his friends in various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/power-will-be-maintained-by-the-groovy-guy-or-gal-who-gets-the-most/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [I'm the last of the truly tacky women. I do trash with flash and sleaze with ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-m-the-last-of-the-truly-tacky-women-i-do-trash-with-flash-and/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [ This is a sleaze bag murdering dog and he \[O.J. Simpson\] has played us for fools. 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I just hated the idea that lust and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/i-had-a-very-important-personal-point-to-make-with-this-song-i-want/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) ## More by William Greider > [If you think about it, Washington's overwhelming power in the world is founded on death, the awesome arsenal for killing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/if-you-think-about-it-washington-s-overwhelming-power-in-the-world-is/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) > [The threat to globalization is not the wasted American dollars but Washington's readiness to mix US commercial interests with its self-appointed role as global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/the-threat-to-globalization-is-not-the-wasted-american-dollars-but/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) > [If US per capita income continues to grow at a rate of 1.5 percent a year, the country will have plenty of money to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/if-us-per-capita-income-continues-to-grow-at-a-rate-of-1-5-percent-a/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) > [The burnt odor in Washington is from the disintegrating authority of the governing classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/the-burnt-odor-in-washington-is-from-the-disintegrating-authority-of/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) > [If one benefits tangibly from the exploitation of others who are weak, is one morally implicated in their predicament? 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They keep searching for political meanings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/the-point-is-the-political-reporters-are-the-ones-who-no-longer/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) > [The trauma of 9/11 stimulated infinite possibilities for worry - some quite plausible, but most inspired by remote what-if fantasies. A society bingeing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/the-trauma-of-9-11-stimulated-infinite-possibilities-for-worry-some/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) > [The economy is not governed with the bottom half in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/the-economy-is-not-governed-with-the-bottom-half-in-mind/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) > [The ways in which people treat animals will be reflected in how people relate to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/the-ways-in-which-people-treat-animals-will-be-reflected-in-how/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) > [The quest for homeland security is heading ... toward the quasi-militarization of everyday life ... If danger might lurk anywhere, maybe everything must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/the-quest-for-homeland-security-is-heading-toward-the-quasi/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) > [Americans cannot teach democracy to the world until they restore their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/americans-cannot-teach-democracy-to-the-world-until-they-restore/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) [Explore all 48 William Greider quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [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/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. 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