---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No free government can stand without…"
description: "\"No free government can stand without virtue in the people, and a lofty spirit of partiotism.\" — Andrew Jackson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/andrew-jackson-2317_free-government_no-free-government-can-stand-without-vir_2964595.png"
---

#  No free government can stand without virtue in the people…

![“No free government can stand without virtue in the people, and a lofty spirit of partiotism.” quote by Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/andrew-jackson-2317_free-government_no-free-government-can-stand-without-vir_2964595.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/andrew-jackson-2317_free-government_no-free-government-can-stand-without-vir_2964595.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/andrew-jackson-2317_free-government_no-free-government-can-stand-without-vir_2964595.png)

> “No free government can stand without virtue in the people, and a lofty spirit of partiotism.”

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A virtuous populace is essential for a government to function without corruption.

**In simple terms:** Virtue in people sustains government.

Key Takeaway

Promote civic virtue and patriotism.

Themes

government virtue patriotism

Mood

reflective serious

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- elections
- public service
- community projects

Key Concepts

political theory ethics citizenship

Questions to Reflect On

- What actions foster virtue in citizens?
- How can patriotism be balanced with critical thinking?

A Different Perspective

Virtue alone may not prevent systemic abuse.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Free government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-government/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-stand-1229883/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Lofty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lofty/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Stand Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-virtue-4533527/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-people-864275/)

## Related quotes

> [Trusting as we did to the virtue of the people, the real people, not the politicians and demagogues, we passed through the most responsible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/trusting-as-we-did-to-the-virtue-of-the-people-the-real-people-not/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [The fundamental question facing Iraq government is whether or not we will stand with reformers across the region. It's really the task. And we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-fundamental-question-facing-iraq-government-is-whether-or-not-we/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [The U.S. government must stand on the side of human rights, the rule of law, and democratic progress, not impede or otherwise stunt such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/the-u-s-government-must-stand-on-the-side-of-human-rights-the-rule-of/)

[Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/)

> [I believe the role of government is to stand side by side with our citizens to help them realize their dreams, not tell citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-believe-the-role-of-government-is-to-stand-side-by-side-with-our/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [A Lewis-led government will always stand up for Canadian farmers and our agriculture sector.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslyn-lewis/a-lewis-led-government-will-always-stand-up-for-canadian-farmers-and/)

[Leslyn Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslyn-lewis/)

> [When foreigners struggle for their freedoms, they've long expected the U.S. government to be the first to stand with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-grenell/when-foreigners-struggle-for-their-freedoms-they-ve-long-expected-the/)

[Richard Grenell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-grenell/)

> [I believe it is in the national interest that government stand side-by-side with people of faith who work to change lives for the better.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-believe-it-is-in-the-national-interest-that-government-stand-side/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Let's not allow the voice of the people to be overwhelmed by the siren song of those who opposed regulation, who demanded that government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blunkett/let-s-not-allow-the-voice-of-the-people-to-be-overwhelmed-by-the/)

[David Blunkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blunkett/)

> [If two people of the same sex fall in love and want to marry, why would our government stand in their way?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-casey-jr/if-two-people-of-the-same-sex-fall-in-love-and-want-to-marry-why/)

[Bob Casey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-casey-jr/)

> [In a free government the demand for moral qualities should be made superior to that of talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/in-a-free-government-the-demand-for-moral-qualities-should-be-made/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-opposed-to-any-form-of-tyranny-over-the-mind-of-man/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-country-can-preserve-its-liberties-if-its-rulers-are-not-warned/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/without-morals-a-republic-cannot-subsist-any-length-of-time-they/)

[Charles Carroll of Carrollton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/)

> [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

## More by Andrew Jackson

> [Disunion by force is treason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/disunion-by-force-is-treason/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [Peace, above all things, is to be desired, but blood must sometimes be spilled to obtain it on equable and lasting terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/peace-above-all-things-is-to-be-desired-but-blood-must-sometimes-be/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [It is a well-settled principle of the international code that where one nation owes another a liquidated debt which it refuses or neglects to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/it-is-a-well-settled-principle-of-the-international-code-that-where/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [Desperate courage makes One a majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/desperate-courage-makes-one-a-majority/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [The great constitutional corrective in the hands of the people against usurpation of power, or corruption by their agents is the right of suffrage;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/the-great-constitutional-corrective-in-the-hands-of-the-people/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [“The mischief springs from the power which the monied interest derives from a paper currency which they are able to control, from the multitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/the-mischief-springs-from-the-power-which-the-monied-interest-derives/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [Mere precedent is a dangerous source of authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/mere-precedent-is-a-dangerous-source-of-authority/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [Temporize not! It is always injurious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/temporize-not-it-is-always-injurious/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [The authority of the Supreme Court must not be permitted to control the Congress or the Executive when acting in their legislative capacities, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/the-authority-of-the-supreme-court-must-not-be-permitted-to-control/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [Hemans gallows ought to be the fate of all such ambitious men who would involve their country in civil wars, and all the evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/hemans-gallows-ought-to-be-the-fate-of-all-such-ambitious-men-who/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [All the rights secured to the citizens under the Constitution are worth nothing, and a mere bubble, except guaranteed to them by an independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/all-the-rights-secured-to-the-citizens-under-the-constitution-are/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [To extraordinary powers of labor, both mental and physical, he unites that tact and judgement which are requisite to the successful direction of such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/to-extraordinary-powers-of-labor-both-mental-and-physical-he-unites/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [“Fun is having lots to do and not doing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/fun-is-having-lots-to-do-and-not-doing-it/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [It is one of the serious evils of our present system of banking , that it enables one class of society - and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/it-is-one-of-the-serious-evils-of-our-present-system-of-banking-that/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

> [In England the judges should have independence to protect the people against the crown. Here the judges should not be independent of the people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/in-england-the-judges-should-have-independence-to-protect-the-people/)

[Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

[Explore all 172 Andrew Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/)

## More Free government quotes

> [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/without-morals-a-republic-cannot-subsist-any-length-of-time-they/)

[Charles Carroll of Carrollton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/)

> [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-country-can-preserve-its-liberties-if-its-rulers-are-not-warned/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [I deny the right of Congress to force a slaveholding State upon an unwilling people. I deny their right to force a free State…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-douglas/i-deny-the-right-of-congress-to-force-a-slaveholding-state-upon-an/)

[Stephen A. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-douglas/)

> [Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundations-not-of-republicanism-and/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [“For my part I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us of proving that popular government is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/for-my-part-i-consider-the-central-idea-pervading-this-struggle-is/)

[Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/)

> [I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-opposed-to-any-form-of-tyranny-over-the-mind-of-man/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [By this action, the Government has proved that so long as it exists, none of us are truly free. Government and freedom are mutually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-barry/by-this-action-the-government-has-proved-that-so-long-as-it-exists/)

[Max Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-barry/)

> ['Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/tis-substantially-true-that-virtue-or-morality-is-a-necessary-spring/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [It is all the more necessary under a system of free government that the people should be enlightened, that they should be correctly informed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/it-is-all-the-more-necessary-under-a-system-of-free-government-that/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [Let one state in the U.S. be free of government and overnight you would have an economic powerhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/let-one-state-in-the-u-s-be-free-of-government-and-overnight-you/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [Can a free government possibly exist with the Roman Catholic religion?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/can-a-free-government-possibly-exist-with-the-roman-catholic-religion/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [“The idea of freedom is complex and it is all-encompassing. It’s the idea that the economy must remain free of government persuasion. It’s the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-guillory/the-idea-of-freedom-is-complex-and-it-is-all-encompassing-it-s-the/)

[Elbert Guillory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-guillory/)

[Browse all 128 Free government quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-government/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "No free government can stand without virtue in the people, and a lofty spirit of partiotism.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Andrew Jackson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/no-free-government-can-stand-without-virtue-in-the-people-and-a-lofty/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Free government"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/no-free-government-can-stand-without-virtue-in-the-people-and-a-lofty/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/andrew-jackson-2317_free-government_no-free-government-can-stand-without-vir_2964595.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/andrew-jackson-2317_free-government_no-free-government-can-stand-without-vir_2964595.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/andrew-jackson-2317_free-government_no-free-government-can-stand-without-vir_2964595.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“No free government can stand without virtue in the people, and a lofty spirit of partiotism.” — Andrew Jackson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Andrew Jackson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "No free government can stand without...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/no-free-government-can-stand-without-virtue-in-the-people-and-a-lofty/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/no-free-government-can-stand-without-virtue-in-the-people-and-a-lofty/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
