--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Decide on some imperfect Somebody and you…" description: "\"Decide on some imperfect Somebody and you will win, because the truest truism in politics is: You can't beat Somebody with Nobody.\" — William Safire" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/william-safire-5116_beats_decide-on-some-imperfect-somebody-and-yo_92808.png" --- # Decide on some imperfect Somebody and you will win… ![“Decide on some imperfect Somebody and you will win, because the truest truism in politics is: You can't beat Somebody with Nobody.” quote by William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/william-safire-5116_beats_decide-on-some-imperfect-somebody-and-yo_92808.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/william-safire-5116_beats_decide-on-some-imperfect-somebody-and-yo_92808.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/615/william-safire-5116_beats_decide-on-some-imperfect-somebody-and-yo_92808.png) > “Decide on some imperfect Somebody and you will win, because the truest truism in politics is: You can't beat Somebody with Nobody.” [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In politics, choosing a flawed but tangible candidate beats an abstract ideal of no candidate, because action requires a concrete presence. **In simple terms:** Pick a real, imperfect candidate over none. Key Takeaway Concrete participation beats idealistic emptiness. Themes politics leadership pragmatism choice Mood pragmatic cynical Type political commentary advice When to use this quote - election strategy - organizational voting - community board selection Key Concepts realpolitik Practical Applications - focus on viable options rather than perfect fantasies Questions to Reflect On - When does compromise become harmful? - How to balance idealism with practicality? A Different Perspective Accepting imperfection may legitimize mediocrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Truism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truism/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever a breakout game looks like to somebody else, if we get a win, I'll consider that a breakout game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-agholor/whatever-a-breakout-game-looks-like-to-somebody-else-if-we-get-a-win/) [Nelson Agholor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-agholor/) > [If you can do something to get somebody excited - not everybody - but if you can be the best for somebody, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-m-shaich/if-you-can-do-something-to-get-somebody-excited-not-everybody-but-if/) [Ronald M. Shaich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-m-shaich/) > [It's hard to beat somebody when they don't give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-ruth/it-s-hard-to-beat-somebody-when-they-don-t-give-up/) [Babe Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-ruth/) > [It would be great to beat somebody like Canelo to kind of show that the naysayers that say I'm old and can't do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mosley/it-would-be-great-to-beat-somebody-like-canelo-to-kind-of-show-that/) [Shane Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mosley/) > [You can always beat somebody by just knowing the situation of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gurley/you-can-always-beat-somebody-by-just-knowing-the-situation-of-the-game/) [Todd Gurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gurley/) > [Any way I can beat somebody up, I want to learn it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-barnett/any-way-i-can-beat-somebody-up-i-want-to-learn-it/) [Josh Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-barnett/) > [There's an old American saying that says you can't beat somebody with nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-joffe/there-s-an-old-american-saying-that-says-you-can-t-beat-somebody-with/) Josef Joffe > [“Part of me wants to turn him into hamburger and part of me doesn't want to beat up somebody who's taped to a tree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/part-of-me-wants-to-turn-him-into-hamburger-and-part-of-me-doesn-t/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I'm not going to beat somebody up for talking smack to me, especially another skater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-vallely/i-m-not-going-to-beat-somebody-up-for-talking-smack-to-me-especially/) [Mike Vallely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-vallely/) > [I never focus on trying to beat somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-carter/i-never-focus-on-trying-to-beat-somebody/) [Michelle Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-carter/) > [Marijuana? It's harmless really, unless you fashion it into a club and beat somebody over the head with it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/marijuana-it-s-harmless-really-unless-you-fashion-it-into-a-club-and/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [You can't beat somebody with nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/you-can-t-beat-somebody-with-nobody/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [Even though I had been boxing, I had no idea I could beat somebody in the ring. 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We have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/i-don-t-know-about-the-rest-of-the-world-but-i-know-in-our-region/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [Grand business plans are all very well, but nothing beats dipping your toe in the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-bilimoria-karan-bilimoria/grand-business-plans-are-all-very-well-but-nothing-beats-dipping-your/) Baron Bilimoria Karan Bilimoria > [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. 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