Country Quote by Ambrose Bierce
““VOTE, n. The instrument and symbol of a freeman's power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Devil's Dictionary, 1906
Voting is portrayed as a paradox where citizens wield power that can lead to personal folly and national disaster.
In simple terms: Voting can cause personal and national harm.
Key Takeaway
Beware of blind political participation.
Themes
politics
citizenry
responsibility
Mood
cynical
reflective
Type
satirical
political
When to use this quote
- elections
- public policy debates
- civic engagement
- media influence
Key Concepts
democracy
paradox
human folly
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your vote reflect your values?
- What safeguards prevent collective harm?
A Different Perspective
Voting can also empower positive change when informed.
![“[T]he vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.” quote by Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/584/lyndon-b-johnson-684_injustice_t-he-vote-is-the-most-powerful-instrumen_1869599.jpg)
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
