--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Having personally watched the Voting…" description: "\"Having personally watched the Voting Rights Act being signed into law that August day, I can't begin to imagine how we could have all been so wrong in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/andrew-young-5409_august_having-personally-watched-the-voting-rig_1420256.png" --- # Having personally watched the Voting Rights Act being… ![“Having personally watched the Voting Rights Act being signed into law that August day, I can't begin to imagine how we could have all been so wrong in believing that more Americans would vote once they were all truly free to do so.” quote by Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/andrew-young-5409_august_having-personally-watched-the-voting-rig_1420256.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/andrew-young-5409_august_having-personally-watched-the-voting-rig_1420256.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/andrew-young-5409_august_having-personally-watched-the-voting-rig_1420256.png) > “Having personally watched the Voting Rights Act being signed into law that August day, I can't begin to imagine how we could have all been so wrong in believing that more Americans would vote once they were all truly free to do so.” [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on the naive belief that legal freedom alone would ensure high voter turnout, recognizing deeper barriers. **In simple terms:** Legal freedom doesn't guarantee voting participation. Key Takeaway Address systemic barriers to voting. Themes politics civil rights voter participation Mood critical hopeful Type political historical When to use this quote - election campaigns - civic education - policy reform Key Concepts democracy social justice Questions to Reflect On - Why do people stay disengaged? - What motivates voter turnout? A Different Perspective Changing laws is insufficient without cultural change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [August](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/august/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Right to vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-vote/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/) [Voting rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting-rights/) ## Related quotes > [“If exercising the right to vote were truly effective, the government would not be so eager to promote it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-p-napolitano/if-exercising-the-right-to-vote-were-truly-effective-the-government/) [Andrew P. Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-p-napolitano/) > [We live in a country where voting rights get gutted but Sharknado gets a sequel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fugelsang/we-live-in-a-country-where-voting-rights-get-gutted-but-sharknado/) [John Fugelsang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fugelsang/) > [We must continue to have voting rights in the state, not to politicize this, but they must have a voice in the rebuilding effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-morial/we-must-continue-to-have-voting-rights-in-the-state-not-to-politicize/) [Marc Morial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-morial/) > [We must adopt reforms which will expand the range of opportunities for all Americans. We can fulfill the American dream only when each person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/we-must-adopt-reforms-which-will-expand-the-range-of-opportunities/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [The first thing that has to happen is the protection of voting rights and registration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-first-thing-that-has-to-happen-is-the-protection-of-voting-rights/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [When it comes to voting rights, Democrats push voter protection while Republicans shout voter fraud in a crowded polling place. Democrats think anyone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/when-it-comes-to-voting-rights-democrats-push-voter-protection-while/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [ I would like the Supreme Court to understand that voting rights are still a big problem in many parts of our country \[America\], that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-would-like-the-supreme-court-to-understand-that-voting-rights-are/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [President Lyndon Johnson's high spirits were marked as he circulated among the many guests whom he had invited to witness an event he confidently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits-were-marked-as-he-circulated/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [How did the party that elected the first black U.S. senator, the party that elected the first 20 African American congressmen, become a party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/how-did-the-party-that-elected-the-first-black-u-s-senator-the-party/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I deeply understand the history of civil rights and the horrendous impact that relentless and systemic discrimination and the denial of voting rights has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/i-deeply-understand-the-history-of-civil-rights-and-the-horrendous/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz accused Republicans of trying to make it a crime to be an illegal alien. Democrats see a conspiracy plot. First…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/argus-hamilton/u-s-rep-debbie-wasserman-schultz-accused-republicans-of-trying-to/) [Argus Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/argus-hamilton/) > [Michelle Alexander's brave and bold new book paints a haunting picture in which dreary felon garb, post-prison joblessness, and loss of voting rights now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lani-guinier/michelle-alexander-s-brave-and-bold-new-book-paints-a-haunting/) Lani Guinier > [No one questions the validity, the urgency, the essentiality of the Voting Rights Act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/no-one-questions-the-validity-the-urgency-the-essentiality-of-the/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [Racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/racial-discrimination-in-elections-in-texas-is-no-mere-historical/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [I spent many years working for voting rights, but we still see sophisticated efforts, led by white officials, to disenfranchise black voters in local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-brooke/i-spent-many-years-working-for-voting-rights-but-we-still-see/) [Edward Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-brooke/) ## More by Andrew Young > [Civil rights leaders are involved in helping poor people. That's what I've been doing all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/civil-rights-leaders-are-involved-in-helping-poor-people-that-s-what/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I think we've made tremendous progress on racism. We've even made progress on war. We've made almost no progress on poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/i-think-we-ve-made-tremendous-progress-on-racism-we-ve-even-made/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [Any racial reconciliation we've had in this country has come not out of confrontation but out of a spirit of reconciliation. If we continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/any-racial-reconciliation-we-ve-had-in-this-country-has-come-not-out/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I wouldn't listen to my parents, but I found out that I absorbed. I never heard what they said - told me - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/i-wouldn-t-listen-to-my-parents-but-i-found-out-that-i-absorbed-i/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [In a world where change is inevitable and continuous, the need to achieve that change without violence is essential for survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/in-a-world-where-change-is-inevitable-and-continuous-the-need-to/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [There's no problem on the planet that can't be solved without violence. That's the lesson of the civil rights movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/there-s-no-problem-on-the-planet-that-can-t-be-solved-without/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [More and more I find I'm really impressed with how much my son knows and how much he thinks like me. But he never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/more-and-more-i-find-i-m-really-impressed-with-how-much-my-son-knows/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [Look at those they call unfortunate and at a closer view, you'll find many of them are unwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/look-at-those-they-call-unfortunate-and-at-a-closer-view-you-ll-find/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [We've changed in the sense that we flipped - and this is no longer the Republican party of Lincoln. This is the party of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/we-ve-changed-in-the-sense-that-we-flipped-and-this-is-no-longer-the/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I call upon both Republicans and Democrats to work with us to have a national ID card that is free and accessible. President Lyndon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/i-call-upon-both-republicans-and-democrats-to-work-with-us-to-have-a/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [“Nothing is illegal if one hundred businessmen decide to do it. -Andrew Young, author, civil rights activist, US congressman, mayor, and UN ambassador (b. 1932)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/nothing-is-illegal-if-one-hundred-businessmen-decide-to-do-it-andrew/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [The commercialization of sport is the democratization of sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/the-commercialization-of-sport-is-the-democratization-of-sport/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I have about concluded that wealth is a state of mind, and that anyone can acquire a wealthy state of mind by thinking rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/i-have-about-concluded-that-wealth-is-a-state-of-mind-and-that-anyone/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [Martin Luther King said America had given a bad check to black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/martin-luther-king-said-america-had-given-a-bad-check-to-black-people/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I was raised that way: don't get mad, get smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/i-was-raised-that-way-don-t-get-mad-get-smart/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) [Explore all 101 Andrew Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) ## More August quotes > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [Meanwhile after failing the bar twice, I knew some people in New York and moved here in August '71.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-quine/meanwhile-after-failing-the-bar-twice-i-knew-some-people-in-new-york/) [Robert Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-quine/) > [I had the advantage, that I know Swedish. So I had the Swedish book and I had a lot of English translations, and German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-ullmann/i-had-the-advantage-that-i-know-swedish-so-i-had-the-swedish-book-and/) [Liv Ullmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-ullmann/) > [I love the little garden in the back of my family's brownstone in Brooklyn. Digging out there in the dirt is a joy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-love-the-little-garden-in-the-back-of-my-family-s-brownstone-in/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [I can see that I imagine all kinds of rejection that never happens. I can see that I beg and plead for love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/i-can-see-that-i-imagine-all-kinds-of-rejection-that-never-happens-i/) [Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/) > [August depresses me a little. I don't even feel like eating. And when I don't eat, that's a sure sign of stagnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-scott/august-depresses-me-a-little-i-don-t-even-feel-like-eating-and-when-i/) [Willard Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-scott/) > [August, the summer's last messenger of misery, is a hollow actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/august-the-summer-s-last-messenger-of-misery-is-a-hollow-actor/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [ It \[August 10th 1792\] was the bloodiest day of the Revolution so far, but also one of the most decisive. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-doyle/it-august-10th-1792-was-the-bloodiest-day-of-the-revolution-so-far/) William Doyle > [How sociable the garden was. We ate and talked in given light. The children put their toys to grass All the warm wakeful August…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/how-sociable-the-garden-was-we-ate-and-talked-in-given-light-the/) [Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/) > [It's August, which means Congress is on recess and Mitch McConnell has shimmied back into the ocean to seek a mate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/it-s-august-which-means-congress-is-on-recess-and-mitch-mcconnell-has/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I studied acting in NYU's graduate program, in which we covered everything from Ibsen and Chekov to August Wilson and David Mamet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-studied-acting-in-nyu-s-graduate-program-in-which-we-covered/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [There could be oil coming up until August.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-browner/there-could-be-oil-coming-up-until-august/) [Carol Browner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-browner/) > [The 6th of August in the morning we saw an opening in the land and we ran into it, and anchored in 7 and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dampier/the-6th-of-august-in-the-morning-we-saw-an-opening-in-the-land-and-we/) [William Dampier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dampier/) > [August creates as she slumbers, replete and satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/august-creates-as-she-slumbers-replete-and-satisfied/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [I left for Petersburg in August, 1871 and stayed there until 1879.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-spitteler/i-left-for-petersburg-in-august-1871-and-stayed-there-until-1879/) Carl Spitteler [Browse all 448 August quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/august/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Having personally watched the Voting Rights Act being signed into law that August day, I can't begin to imagine how we could have all been so wrong in believing that more Americans would vote once they were all truly free to do so.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andrew Young" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/having-personally-watched-the-voting-rights-act-being-signed-into-law/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "August" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/having-personally-watched-the-voting-rights-act-being-signed-into-law/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/andrew-young-5409_august_having-personally-watched-the-voting-rig_1420256.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/andrew-young-5409_august_having-personally-watched-the-voting-rig_1420256.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/andrew-young-5409_august_having-personally-watched-the-voting-rig_1420256.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Having personally watched the Voting Rights Act being signed into law that August day, I can't begin to…” — Andrew Young", "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 Young", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Having personally watched the Voting Rights...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/having-personally-watched-the-voting-rights-act-being-signed-into-law/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/having-personally-watched-the-voting-rights-act-being-signed-into-law/#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 } } ] } ```