Context

This line is spoken by Skeeters (played by William Demarest) in the film The Great McGinty, directed by Preston Sturges (1940).

Boss Tweed. Rod Blagojevich. Jimmy Stewart. All of these men were involved in a political graft scheme of some sort—Boss Tweed in the 1800s, Blago in the 2000s, and Jimmy Stewart in the 1900s (in the movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington). But it was The Great McGinty, the film preceding Stewart's, that really put graft—the use of a politician's authority for personal gain—into perspective.

In this movie, Skeeters, the best name for a blood-sucking politician we've ever heard, says, "If it wasn't for graft, you'd get a very low type of people in politics. Men without ambition." He's talking to Catherine, who agrees with him. She says you can't steal money from people anyway. "What you rob, you spend, and what you spend goes back to the people. So, where's the robbery?"

Wow. Think about that the next time a politician spends $80k on snacks without giving you a single pretzel.

Where you've heard it

You hear this when someone is either criticizing a politician or praising him. Depending on whether you view the quote as sincere or ironic, its versatility allows it to be used for either situation.

Additional Notable References:

• This quote was referenced in an article about Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was accused of auctioning off Barack Obama's senate seat in 2008.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

If you're using it sincerely, and you think a politician taking advantage of his constituents is fair game, add a few points to the pretentious factor scale and please…never go into politics.