"I am convinced that success is not measured by what you get out of life, but by what you give back"
About this Quote
The subtext is strategic. In an era when government is routinely framed as corrupt or self-serving, “what you give back” casts public life as altruism rather than ambition. It’s a subtle inoculation against cynicism: if you accept the premise, then a career in politics can be read as sacrifice, not self-dealing. The phrasing also quietly shifts responsibility from structures to individuals. Instead of arguing about policy outcomes or inequality, the quote invites a cultural consensus around personal virtue and community-mindedness. You can endorse it without committing to any specific program.
Context matters: Moran is a longtime U.S. senator from Kansas, a state with strong traditions of churchgoing civic rhetoric, volunteerism, and suspicion of coastal elitism. This kind of language is built to travel across partisan lines because it’s less about what government should do and more about who Americans should be. It works by giving people a flattering identity: not just strivers, but givers.
Quote Details
| Topic | Success |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Moran, Jerry. (2026, January 15). I am convinced that success is not measured by what you get out of life, but by what you give back. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-am-convinced-that-success-is-not-measured-by-170831/
Chicago Style
Moran, Jerry. "I am convinced that success is not measured by what you get out of life, but by what you give back." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-am-convinced-that-success-is-not-measured-by-170831/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I am convinced that success is not measured by what you get out of life, but by what you give back." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-am-convinced-that-success-is-not-measured-by-170831/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.












