--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What comes to pass does so not so much…" description: "\"What comes to pass does so not so much because a few people want it to happen, as because the mass of citizens abdicate their responsibility and let th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/antonio-gramsci-12150_citizens_what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-b_1969285.jpg" --- # What comes to pass does so not so much because a few… ![“What comes to pass does so not so much because a few people want it to happen, as because the mass of citizens abdicate their responsibility and let things be.” quote by Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/antonio-gramsci-12150_citizens_what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-b_1969285.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/antonio-gramsci-12150_citizens_what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-b_1969285.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/antonio-gramsci-12150_citizens_what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-b_1969285.jpg) > “What comes to pass does so not so much because a few people want it to happen, as because the mass of citizens abdicate their responsibility and let things be.” [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Citizens’ collective inaction, not a few leaders, allows undesirable outcomes to persist. **In simple terms:** People’s neglect fuels bad outcomes. Key Takeaway Encourage active civic participation. Themes politics responsibility collective action Mood critical motivational Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - community projects Key Concepts civic duty social inertia Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do you hold as a citizen? - How can you motivate others to act? A Different Perspective Change is slow when many stay passive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [The mass of the citizens is the safest depositary of their own rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-mass-of-the-citizens-is-the-safest-depositary-of-their-own-rights/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I would never abdicate, nor would I expect any other governor to abdicate, the responsibility to protect the people of my state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manchin/i-would-never-abdicate-nor-would-i-expect-any-other-governor-to/) [Joe Manchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manchin/) > [“In proportion as the mass of citizens who possess political rights increases, and the number of elected ruler’s increases, the actual power is concentrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lafargue/in-proportion-as-the-mass-of-citizens-who-possess-political-rights/) [Paul Lafargue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lafargue/) > [The great mass of our citizens require only to understand matters rightly, to form right decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-great-mass-of-our-citizens-require-only-to-understand-matters/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The mode by which the inevitable comes to pass is effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/the-mode-by-which-the-inevitable-comes-to-pass-is-effort/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [“When living comes to pass, one wonders: but was that it? And the answer is: that is not only it, that is exactly it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/when-living-comes-to-pass-one-wonders-but-was-that-it-and-the-answer/) [Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/) > [And what 's impossible can't be, And never, never comes to pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-what-s-impossible-can-t-be-and-never-never-comes-to-pass/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I assert that nothing ever comes to pass without a cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/i-assert-that-nothing-ever-comes-to-pass-without-a-cause/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [The big play comes with the pass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-gillman/the-big-play-comes-with-the-pass/) [Sid Gillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-gillman/) > [Opportunity comes to pass-not to pause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wallace/opportunity-comes-to-pass-not-to-pause/) James Wallace > [“And so, it comes to pass in time, that the earth ceases for us to be a weltering chaos. We walk in the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olive-schreiner/and-so-it-comes-to-pass-in-time-that-the-earth-ceases-for-us-to-be-a/) [Olive Schreiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olive-schreiner/) > [What goes around comes around so I pass my weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-viera/what-goes-around-comes-around-so-i-pass-my-weed/) [John Viera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-viera/) > [The thing we look forward to often comes to pass, but never precisely in the way we have imagined to ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/the-thing-we-look-forward-to-often-comes-to-pass-but-never-precisely/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“Whatever one writes, comes to pass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/whatever-one-writes-comes-to-pass/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [How many times have I wondered if it is really possible to forge links with a mass of people when one has never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/how-many-times-have-i-wondered-if-it-is-really-possible-to-forge/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) ## More by Antonio Gramsci > [A social group can, indeed must, already exercise 'leadership' before winning governmental power (this is indeed one of the principal conditions for the winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/a-social-group-can-indeed-must-already-exercise-leadership-before/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [I'm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/i-m-a-pessimist-because-of-intelligence-but-an-optimist-because-of/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [All men are intellectuals, but not all men have in society the function of intellectuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/all-men-are-intellectuals-but-not-all-men-have-in-society-the/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [How many times have I wondered if it is really possible to forge links with a mass of people when one has never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/how-many-times-have-i-wondered-if-it-is-really-possible-to-forge/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [“The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and without becoming disillusioned. I’m a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/the-challenge-of-modernity-is-to-live-without-illusions-and-without/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [The people themselves are not a homogeneous cultural collectivity but present numerous and variously combined cultural stratifications which, in their pure form, cannot always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/the-people-themselves-are-not-a-homogeneous-cultural-collectivity-but/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [Indifference is the dead weight of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/indifference-is-the-dead-weight-of-history/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [My practicality consists in this, in the knowledge that if you beat your head against the wall it is your head which breaks and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/my-practicality-consists-in-this-in-the-knowledge-that-if-you-beat/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [“We need to free ourselves from the habit of seeing culture as encyclopedia knowledge, and men as mere receptacles to be stuffed full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/we-need-to-free-ourselves-from-the-habit-of-seeing-culture-as/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [The abolition of the class struggle does not mean the abolition of the need to struggle as a principle of development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/the-abolition-of-the-class-struggle-does-not-mean-the-abolition-of/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [From the moment when a subordinate class becomes really independent and dominant, calling into being a new type of State, the need arises concretely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/from-the-moment-when-a-subordinate-class-becomes-really-independent/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [“Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/pessimism-of-the-intellect-optimism-of-the-will/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [What are the "maximum" limits of acceptance of the term "intellectual"?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/what-are-the-maximum-limits-of-acceptance-of-the-term-intellectual/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [This is really the common mentality of prisoners: they read with great attention all the articles that deal with illnesses and send away for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/this-is-really-the-common-mentality-of-prisoners-they-read-with-great/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [Before puberty the child's personality has not yet formed and it is easier to guide its life and make it acquire specific habits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/before-puberty-the-child-s-personality-has-not-yet-formed-and-it-is/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) [Explore all 49 Antonio Gramsci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) ## More Citizens quotes > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/) [Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Without the ability to talk about government power, there's no way for citizens to make sure this power isn't being misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/without-the-ability-to-talk-about-government-power-there-s-no-way-for/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I will stand up for is what I think is right and for the best interests of the citizens of the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/what-i-will-stand-up-for-is-what-i-think-is-right-and-for-the-best/) [Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/) Browse all 4,189 Citizens quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What comes to pass does so not so much because a few people want it to happen, as because the mass of citizens abdicate their responsibility and let things be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonio Gramsci" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-because-a-few-people-want-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Citizens" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-because-a-few-people-want-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/antonio-gramsci-12150_citizens_what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-b_1969285.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/antonio-gramsci-12150_citizens_what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-b_1969285.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7d/antonio-gramsci-12150_citizens_what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-b_1969285.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What comes to pass does so not so much because a few people want it to happen, as because the mass of…” — Antonio Gramsci", "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": "Antonio Gramsci", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What comes to pass does so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-because-a-few-people-want-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-because-a-few-people-want-it/#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 } } ] } ```