--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that Richard Nixon will go down…" description: "\"I think that Richard Nixon will go down in history as a true folk hero, who struck a vital blow to the whole diseased concept of the revered image and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/william-s-burroughs-528_america_i-think-that-richard-nixon-will-go-down_3087348.png" --- # I think that Richard Nixon will go down in history as a… ![“I think that Richard Nixon will go down in history as a true folk hero, who struck a vital blow to the whole diseased concept of the revered image and gave the American virtue of irreverence and skepticism back to the people.” quote by William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/william-s-burroughs-528_america_i-think-that-richard-nixon-will-go-down_3087348.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/william-s-burroughs-528_america_i-think-that-richard-nixon-will-go-down_3087348.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/william-s-burroughs-528_america_i-think-that-richard-nixon-will-go-down_3087348.png) > “I think that Richard Nixon will go down in history as a true folk hero, who struck a vital blow to the whole diseased concept of the revered image and gave the American virtue of irreverence and skepticism back to the people.” [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Burroughs sees Nixon as a disruptive figure who shattered the mythic, untouchable image of political leaders, restoring public doubt and critical thinking. **In simple terms:** Nixon broke the heroic image of leaders, giving people skepticism. Key Takeaway Embrace questioning authority. Themes politics heroism skepticism media culture Mood critical provocative Type political commentary When to use this quote - elections - media analysis - public discourse - activism Key Concepts iconoclasm public trust power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does skepticism shape democracy? - When is reverence appropriate? A Different Perspective Nixon’s legacy is contested; some view him as corrupt rather than heroic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-virtue-3116817/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blow/) [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Diseased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diseased/) [Folk Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folk-hero-5292738/) [Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Irreverence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irreverence/) [Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nixon/) [Nixon History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nixon-history-1908554/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Presidential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidential/) [Revered Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revered-image-5292739/) [Richard nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richard-nixon/) [Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Usa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usa/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not Catholic but the Virgin Mary fascinates me because she's like a folk hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-m-not-catholic-but-the-virgin-mary-fascinates-me-because-she-s-like/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Nixon is one of the few in the history of this country to run for high office talking out of both sides of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman-2/nixon-is-one-of-the-few-in-the-history-of-this-country-to-run-for/) [Harry S Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman-2/) > [A cardinal American virtue, 'ambition,' promotes a cardinal American vice, 'deviant behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-cardinal-american-virtue-ambition-promotes-a-cardinal-american-vice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Little G loved stories about all things sacred laced with a bit of irreverence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaelene-mcelroy/little-g-loved-stories-about-all-things-sacred-laced-with-a-bit-of/) [Michaelene McElroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaelene-mcelroy/) > [Irreverence is a way of playing hooky and remaining present at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ruefle/irreverence-is-a-way-of-playing-hooky-and-remaining-present-at-the/) [Mary Ruefle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ruefle/) > [Impiety, n.: Your irreverence toward my deity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/impiety-n-your-irreverence-toward-my-deity/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The more repression there is, the more need there is for irreverence toward those who are responsible for that repression. But too often sarcasm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krassner/the-more-repression-there-is-the-more-need-there-is-for-irreverence/) [Paul Krassner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krassner/) > [Irreverence is our only sacred cow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krassner/irreverence-is-our-only-sacred-cow/) [Paul Krassner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krassner/) > [Irreverence is a most necessary ingredient of religion. Not to speak of its importance in philosophy. Irreverence is the only way left to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/irreverence-is-a-most-necessary-ingredient-of-religion-not-to-speak/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [True irreverence is disrespect for another man's god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/true-irreverence-is-disrespect-for-another-man-s-god/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [If we had reverence for our life, our life would take at once religious form. But as it is, in our filthy irreverence, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/if-we-had-reverence-for-our-life-our-life-would-take-at-once/) [D. H. 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