"Finishing second in the Olympics gets you silver. Finishing second in politics gets you oblivion"
- Richard M. Nixon
About this Quote
This quote by Richard M. Nixon is a commentary on the nature of success in politics. Nixon is recommending that while finishing 2nd in the Olympics is an admirable achievement that is rewarded with a silver medal, finishing 2nd in politics is not rewarded at all. Instead, it is forgotten and causes oblivion. This quote indicates that success in politics is a zero-sum game, where just the winner is remembered and the losers are forgotten. Nixon is suggesting that in politics, there is no reward for can be found in second location, which those who do not win are destined obscurity. This quote is a reminder that in politics, just the victor is remembered and the losers are quickly forgotten.
"Well, I think any time you delve into this sort of religion, politics, as you well know, you're going to, you know, touch a few nerves. I wasn't - now - and this is the honest truth"