--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: President Jimmy Carter was a citizen…" description: "\"President Jimmy Carter was a citizen soldier. Ironically, he was considered weak because he didn't kill anybody and he didn't get anyone killed.\" — And..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/andrew-young-5409_carter_president-jimmy-carter-was-a-citizen-sol_2048785.png" --- # President Jimmy Carter was a citizen soldier. Ironically… ![“President Jimmy Carter was a citizen soldier. Ironically, he was considered weak because he didn't kill anybody and he didn't get anyone killed.” quote by Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/andrew-young-5409_carter_president-jimmy-carter-was-a-citizen-sol_2048785.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/andrew-young-5409_carter_president-jimmy-carter-was-a-citizen-sol_2048785.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/andrew-young-5409_carter_president-jimmy-carter-was-a-citizen-sol_2048785.png) > “President Jimmy Carter was a citizen soldier. Ironically, he was considered weak because he didn't kill anybody and he didn't get anyone killed.” [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. Jimmy Carter’s non‑violent stance led some to view him as weak, despite his dedication to service. **In simple terms:** Non‑violence can be misread as weakness. Key Takeaway Recognize strength in peaceful leadership. Themes leadership peace perception service Mood thoughtful analytical Type historical political When to use this quote - political speeches - leadership training - peace studies - public policy debates Key Concepts political science ethical leadership civilian‑military relations Questions to Reflect On - What defines strength in a citizen soldier? - How can societies value non‑violent service? A Different Perspective Peaceful approaches may be challenged in conflict zones. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President jimmy carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-jimmy-carter/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) ## Related quotes > [President Jimmy Carter inherited an impossible situation - and he and his advisers made the worst of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaddis-smith/president-jimmy-carter-inherited-an-impossible-situation-and-he-and/) Gaddis Smith > [During a recent press conference, former President Jimmy Carter said he could never run for president today because he doesn't have a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/during-a-recent-press-conference-former-president-jimmy-carter-said/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [I was deeply involved in the decision that President Jimmy Carter made to boycott the Olympics in Moscow in 1980.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-was-deeply-involved-in-the-decision-that-president-jimmy-carter/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [There is no question that, in 1980, Ronald Reagan had been portrayed as a war-monger, somebody who couldn't do anything off a script. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/there-is-no-question-that-in-1980-ronald-reagan-had-been-portrayed-as/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [The malaise and military decline of the post-Vietnam years under President Jimmy Carter set the stage for Russian aggression abroad and uncertainty among our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cook/the-malaise-and-military-decline-of-the-post-vietnam-years-under/) Paul Cook > [Bush met with former President Jimmy Carter. Jimmy Carter is 76 years old, or as Democrats call him 'their bright new star of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/bush-met-with-former-president-jimmy-carter-jimmy-carter-is-76-years/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border of Afghanistan, I wrote to President Jimmy Carter: We now have the opportunity of giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-day-that-the-soviets-officially-crossed-the-border-of-afghanistan/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [“Northfield Free Academy, there was a long and proud tradition of seniors who attempted to do the seemingly impossible. In 1972, the senior class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-ripley/northfield-free-academy-there-was-a-long-and-proud-tradition-of/) [Ron Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-ripley/) > [“Oil shaped U.S. decisions about the Middle East during both Democratic and Republican presidencies. The administration of President Jimmy Carter, a liberal Democrat, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/oil-shaped-u-s-decisions-about-the-middle-east-during-both-democratic/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [If I hadn't been so outspoken, Jimmy Carter wouldn't have wanted me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/if-i-hadn-t-been-so-outspoken-jimmy-carter-wouldn-t-have-wanted-me/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I find it interesting that it was back in the 1970s that the swine flu broke out under another, then under another Democrat president,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-find-it-interesting-that-it-was-back-in-the-1970s-that-the-swine/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I'm sorry for everything I couldn't do.I was to weak,and didn't have the strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-sorry-for-everything-i-couldn-t-do-i-was-to-weak-and-didn-t-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always call and whisper your name even though Im so tired of your stupid game. When I needed you most you weren't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nodo/i-always-call-and-whisper-your-name-even-though-im-so-tired-of-your/) [Michael Nodo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nodo/) > [Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/every-citizen-should-be-a-soldier-this-was-the-case-with-the-greeks/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## 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 Carter quotes > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/benny-carter-came-up-to-me-and-said-to-me-you-know-in-the-whole/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Trying to make it from the bottom. His sins Feeling as hard as Vince Carter's knee cartilage is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-sweatshirt/trying-to-make-it-from-the-bottom-his-sins-feeling-as-hard-as-vince/) [Earl Sweatshirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-sweatshirt/) > [ \[A\]n Obama presidency would be an amusing approximation of the Carter administration, complete with vaporous moralizing and foreign policy bungling. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-tyrrell/a-n-obama-presidency-would-be-an-amusing-approximation-of-the-carter/) [Emmett Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-tyrrell/) > [When I worked in the White House for President Carter, we tried to do comprehensive tax reform and we made some progress, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rubenstein/when-i-worked-in-the-white-house-for-president-carter-we-tried-to-do/) [David Rubenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rubenstein/) > [They know where Carter at, straight off the launchin pad marching on the moon muthafuka I've been to Mars and back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/they-know-where-carter-at-straight-off-the-launchin-pad-marching-on/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [ I've kept the people who've been in my career who I feel are my family. Kathy \[Kennedy\] had been with me since 1978. Janusz… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-ve-kept-the-people-who-ve-been-in-my-career-who-i-feel-are-my/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [ Here's a foolproof method for keeping America safe. Always do the exact 180-degree opposite of whatever \[Jimmy\] Carter says, as quickly as possible. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/here-s-a-foolproof-method-for-keeping-america-safe-always-do-the/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“Time crawls in the silence. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tock. Tock. Tock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mckay/time-crawls-in-the-silence-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tock-tock/) [Emily McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mckay/) > [No doubt the ridiculous politicians are right to like politics. They have found careers in which success can be achieved by being ridiculous. Imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/no-doubt-the-ridiculous-politicians-are-right-to-like-politics-they/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Over the weekend, former Enron executives Jeffrey Skilling and Rebecca Carter married each other during a huge ceremony in Houston. The happy couple is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/over-the-weekend-former-enron-executives-jeffrey-skilling-and-rebecca/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Look at what Jimmy Carter did. Look at the risks he took for a country that wasn't his. Israel has benefited unbelievably from that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/look-at-what-jimmy-carter-did-look-at-the-risks-he-took-for-a-country/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [After my bad experience as a kite, I simply refused to go about as a glowing Sadie-headed chicken. That’s fine for Carter, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/after-my-bad-experience-as-a-kite-i-simply-refused-to-go-about-as-a/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [- "Women should all move to Amazonia, or at least vacation there four times a year." - "Amazonia?" - "It's the girl world in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/women-should-all-move-to-amazonia-or-at-least-vacation-there-four/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; I am too unlike them. It is a sad fate, since I must live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-rice-burroughs/mine-own-people-do-not-care-for-me-john-carter-i-am-too-unlike-them/) [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-rice-burroughs/) Browse all 437 Carter quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "President Jimmy Carter was a citizen soldier. 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