--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Elections are won by men and women…" description: "\"Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/anonymous-1_democracy_elections-are-won-by-men-and-women-chief_1065440.jpg" --- # Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most… ![“Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/anonymous-1_democracy_elections-are-won-by-men-and-women-chief_1065440.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/anonymous-1_democracy_elections-are-won-by-men-and-women-chief_1065440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/anonymous-1_democracy_elections-are-won-by-men-and-women-chief_1065440.jpg) > “Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often vote to reject candidates rather than support ones, driving election outcomes. **In simple terms:** Voting is often about opposition, not endorsement. Key Takeaway Recognize the power of negative voting. Themes politics voting behavior Mood critical reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - elections - campaigns - public opinion Key Concepts strategic voting psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can we encourage voting for positive choices? - What mechanisms reduce negative voting? A Different Perspective Positive voting can also shape outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections/) [Elections Won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections-won-811091/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-vote/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Vote Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote-somebody-741969/) ## Related quotes > [“Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody.” FRANKLIN P. ADAMS”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-werleman/elections-are-won-by-men-and-women-chiefly-because-most-people-vote/) [C.J. Werleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-werleman/) > [I think all nonpresidential elections are won or lost by motivating your own voters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/i-think-all-nonpresidential-elections-are-won-or-lost-by-motivating/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) > [The way elections are won in Minnesota is by talking to people and sharing what's on their minds. It sounds so simple, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-smith/the-way-elections-are-won-in-minnesota-is-by-talking-to-people-and/) [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) > [Issues are won based upon whether or not you can keep this economy strong; elections are won based upon economic issues and national security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/issues-are-won-based-upon-whether-or-not-you-can-keep-this-economy/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I will die. The person who succeeds me will also have to die. But elections, you won't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-pinochet/i-will-die-the-person-who-succeeds-me-will-also-have-to-die-but/) [Augusto Pinochet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-pinochet/) > [You need to remind people that you vote, you matter, and that they can't succeed without your help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-need-to-remind-people-that-you-vote-you-matter-and-that-they-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As we have always seen here in the U.S. the universal truth about elections is that people vote their pocketbook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-dunn/as-we-have-always-seen-here-in-the-u-s-the-universal-truth-about/) [Jennifer Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-dunn/) > [What I'm saying, we do not have to be mental masochists and vote for somebody that we don't really even want in office just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/what-i-m-saying-we-do-not-have-to-be-mental-masochists-and-vote-for/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [I'm an elected politician. If you don't agree with me, vote for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/i-m-an-elected-politician-if-you-don-t-agree-with-me-vote-for/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) > [If people think that local elections are won or lost on local education matters, that isn't happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/if-people-think-that-local-elections-are-won-or-lost-on-local/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [I'm not going to vote for or against somebody because they're old or young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-kennedy-iii/i-m-not-going-to-vote-for-or-against-somebody-because-they-re-old-or/) [Joe Kennedy III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-kennedy-iii/) > [Texans and independent voters like to vote for somebody who is going to buck the status quo, and isn't going to do as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-hegar/texans-and-independent-voters-like-to-vote-for-somebody-who-is-going/) [MJ Hegar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-hegar/) > [We are making politics a spectator sport in which our only duty is to vote somebody into office and then retire to the grandstands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gergen/we-are-making-politics-a-spectator-sport-in-which-our-only-duty-is-to/) [David Gergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gergen/) > [I want people to vote, I want them to pay attention. I want them to get up and go and vote and care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/i-want-people-to-vote-i-want-them-to-pay-attention-i-want-them-to-get/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [My job was always to pull a vote over from somebody who was likely to be at least at the outset disinclined to agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/my-job-was-always-to-pull-a-vote-over-from-somebody-who-was-likely-to/) [Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. 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