The brave man, inattentive to his duty, is worth little more to his country than the coward who deserts her in the hour of danger.
Andrew JacksonRead
The great constitutional corrective in the hands of the people against usurpation of power, or corruption by their agents is the right of suffrage; and this when used with calmness and deliberation will prove strong enough.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the power of voting as a means for the people to protect themselves against abuse of authority.
Andrew Jackson's quote highlights the importance of suffrage, or the right to vote, as a crucial tool for the public to counteract the potential misuse of power by their representatives. He underscores that when citizens exercise their voting rights thoughtfully and peacefully, it serves as a formidable check against corruption and tyranny, reinforcing the role of democracy in maintaining balance and justice in governance.
Themes
SuffrageVotingDemocracyPowerCorruptionPeople
In practice
Example use cases
During a political rally to encourage voter turnout.
More from Andrew Jackson
All quotes →The planter, the farmer, the mechanic, and the laborer...form the great body of the people of the United States they are the bone and sinew of the country men who love liberty and desire nothing but equal rights and equal laws.
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There never was a woman like her. She was gentle as a dove and brave as a lioness... The memory of my mother and her teachings were, after all, the only capital I had to start life with, and on that capital I have made my way.
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I feel in the depths of my soul that it is the highest, most sacred, and most irreversible part of my obligation to preserve the union of these states, although it may cost me my life.
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When death comes, he respects neither age nor merit. He sweeps from the earthly existence the sick and the strong, the rich and the poor, and should teach us to live to be prepared for death.
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In a free government the demand for moral qualities should be made superior to that of talents.
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