Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Describes political rivals as insignificant and unworthy of attention despite their complaints.
In plain terms
They are unimportant people.
What can you take from it?
Dismiss opponents who lack real substance or achievement.

Where it applies

  • question time
  • debates
  • rivalries

Putting it to work

  • Ignore meaningless attacks
  • Focus on substantive issues

Questions to consider

  • Who decides who is nobody?
  • How to ignore attacks?

Another view

It risks underestimating genuine opposition.

More from Paul Keating

  1. You were heard in silence, so some of you scumbags on the front bench should wait a minute until you hear the responses from me.

    Permalink to quote #54
  2. You had an important place in Australian society on the ABC and you gave it up to be a pop star...with a big cheque...and now you're on to this sort of stuff. …

    Permalink to quote #56
  3. ...votes for coalition members who have always been cheats, cheats, cheats and will always be cheats, cheats, cheats and will always defend cheats, cheats, che…

    Permalink to quote #53

Related quotes

  1. The little desiccated coconut is under pressure and he is attacking anything he can get his hands on... (he is) still there araldited to the seat.

    Paul KeatingPaul Keating quote #18
  2. Our play's chief aim has been to take to bits Great propositions and their opposites, See how they work, and let them fight it out, To point some light on our …

    Peter WeissPeter Weiss quote #22
  3. We disagree so violently on almost everything that it's a real pleasure to drink with him. If nothing else, he's absolutely honest in his lunacy - and I've fou…

    Hunter S. ThompsonHunter S. Thompson quote #52