--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Corporations serve an important purpose…" description: "\"Corporations serve an important purpose, but telling people how to vote isn't one of them.\" — Chellie Pingree" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/chellie-pingree-15233_corporations_corporations-serve-an-important-purpose_2830435.jpg" --- # Corporations serve an important purpose, but telling… ![“Corporations serve an important purpose, but telling people how to vote isn't one of them.” quote by Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/chellie-pingree-15233_corporations_corporations-serve-an-important-purpose_2830435.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/chellie-pingree-15233_corporations_corporations-serve-an-important-purpose_2830435.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/chellie-pingree-15233_corporations_corporations-serve-an-important-purpose_2830435.jpg) > “Corporations serve an important purpose, but telling people how to vote isn't one of them.” [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Corporations have roles but should not dictate political choices. **In simple terms:** Businesses shouldn't control voting. Key Takeaway Protect political independence. Themes politics corporate power democracy ethics Mood concerned assertive Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - policy debates Key Concepts voting rights corporate influence Questions to Reflect On - How to separate business from politics? - What safeguards exist? A Different Perspective May limit corporate social responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [To survive, men and business and corporations must serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-patterson/to-survive-men-and-business-and-corporations-must-serve/) [John Henry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-patterson/) > [You have been oriented that you must pay a price in order to get somewhere, and in the process, you've come to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/you-have-been-oriented-that-you-must-pay-a-price-in-order-to-get/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Second, this law has become a special symbol of our Nation's most important purpose: to fulfill the individual - his freedom, his happiness, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/second-this-law-has-become-a-special-symbol-of-our-nation-s-most/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [“Respect the fact that all you do and are now, has evolved for a good reason and serves an important purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/respect-the-fact-that-all-you-do-and-are-now-has-evolved-for-a-good/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [As to the first, I do not know that I have done very much myself to promote fraternity between nations but I do know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/as-to-the-first-i-do-not-know-that-i-have-done-very-much-myself-to/) [Lester B. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-b-pearson/) > [If we can recycle a valuable product that serves an important purpose - and create jobs in the process - then why wouldn't we?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/if-we-can-recycle-a-valuable-product-that-serves-an-important-purpose/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [An important purpose for mortality is to help us learn to recognize and to choose the positive even though the negative more fully surrounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-eadie/an-important-purpose-for-mortality-is-to-help-us-learn-to-recognize/) [Betty Eadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-eadie/) > [I'm honored to serve as mayor of my hometown where our founders started America with three simple words: 'We, the people.' And when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/i-m-honored-to-serve-as-mayor-of-my-hometown-where-our-founders/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [So few people vote these days, and I think it's partly because they don't feel like the institution really means anything to them. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-pahlka/so-few-people-vote-these-days-and-i-think-it-s-partly-because-they/) [Jennifer Pahlka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-pahlka/) > [The idea of red-washing or blue-washing an entire county because a few more people vote one way or the other does a disservice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/the-idea-of-red-washing-or-blue-washing-an-entire-county-because-a/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [Telling or encouraging people to vote for a party would be an insult to peoples' intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fethullah-gulen/telling-or-encouraging-people-to-vote-for-a-party-would-be-an-insult/) [Fethullah Gulen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fethullah-gulen/) > [Many people expect, just as they did then, "those at the top" to make all their decisions for them: Please get us work, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladyslaw-bartoszewski/many-people-expect-just-as-they-did-then-those-at-the-top-to-make-all/) [Wladyslaw Bartoszewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladyslaw-bartoszewski/) > [Given a choice between two bald political candidates, the American people will vote for the less bald of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-gold/given-a-choice-between-two-bald-political-candidates-the-american/) Victor Gold > [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/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) ## More by Chellie Pingree > [Having started and owned two small businesses, I know what a challenge it is to keep up with the rising costs of your employees'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/having-started-and-owned-two-small-businesses-i-know-what-a-challenge/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [In Maine, we are fortunate to have a Clean Elections system that allows legislators to turn down corporate special interest money. At the national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/in-maine-we-are-fortunate-to-have-a-clean-elections-system-that/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [Our businesses can't create jobs when they're losing revenue, and the unemployed can't apply for jobs when they can't pay their phone bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/our-businesses-can-t-create-jobs-when-they-re-losing-revenue-and-the/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [As more and more people reach the Internet by mobile phone, we should make sure users are getting the open access they believe they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/as-more-and-more-people-reach-the-internet-by-mobile-phone-we-should/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [I love to come home and work on one of my other jobs. Just to remember that the floors gotta be mopped, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/i-love-to-come-home-and-work-on-one-of-my-other-jobs-just-to-remember/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [The founding leaders of our country believed in a three-part sharing of governmental power, with each branch jealously watching the actions of the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/the-founding-leaders-of-our-country-believed-in-a-three-part-sharing/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [For too long, the system has been biased in favor of oil and gas developers: sweetheart lease deals, generous subsidies and a regulatory process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/for-too-long-the-system-has-been-biased-in-favor-of-oil-and-gas/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [I think we've found a better solution on North Haven and Vinalhaven: Instead of paying increasing expensive electric bills every month, with the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/i-think-we-ve-found-a-better-solution-on-north-haven-and-vinalhaven/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [During the summer of 2009, the debate on health care reform was emotional and intense. At its best, it represented the free exchange of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/during-the-summer-of-2009-the-debate-on-health-care-reform-was/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [Certainly, my advice is that communicating, lobbying, fundraising and engaging the public in policy and politics is far more exciting and inexpensive via the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/certainly-my-advice-is-that-communicating-lobbying-fundraising-and/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [One of the reasons I wanted to leave my position at Common Cause and return to politics was to regain the freedom to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/one-of-the-reasons-i-wanted-to-leave-my-position-at-common-cause-and/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [A good place to start a more civil dialog would be for my Republican colleagues in the House to change the name of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/a-good-place-to-start-a-more-civil-dialog-would-be-for-my-republican/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [Like many older D.C. organizations, Common Cause has had to come a long way both in its use of the Internet and its understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/like-many-older-d-c-organizations-common-cause-has-had-to-come-a-long/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [I never thought I'd see the day when the U.S. government could listen in on phone conversations or read private mail without first obtaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/i-never-thought-i-d-see-the-day-when-the-u-s-government-could-listen/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [One of the first members of Congress I met when I was first elected in 2008 was Barney Frank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/one-of-the-first-members-of-congress-i-met-when-i-was-first-elected/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) [Explore all 43 Chellie Pingree quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) ## More Corporations quotes > [It makes no sense to talk of the social obligations of the corporation without reference to its economic obligations. The two are intertwined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-r-raymond/it-makes-no-sense-to-talk-of-the-social-obligations-of-the/) [Lee R. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-r-raymond/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Corporations have nothing to do with values, and they know it, and sometimes say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/corporations-have-nothing-to-do-with-values-and-they-know-it-and/) [Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/) > [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [“Whatever happened in those more than one hundred years, from the time my great-great-great grandfather studied law to the time when my own father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwenn-wright/whatever-happened-in-those-more-than-one-hundred-years-from-the-time/) [Gwenn Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwenn-wright/) > [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/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Subsequently there ensues an epoch of complex, proliferating intrigues and conspiracies among the ranks of double agents, whose agendas become so densely intertwined that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/subsequently-there-ensues-an-epoch-of-complex-proliferating-intrigues/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [I'm not only a fan of Apple products, I have stock in the company. I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Since FDR's New Deal, corporations and wealthy families have been non-stop finding new ways to get tax breaks, deregulation and entitlements from the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/since-fdr-s-new-deal-corporations-and-wealthy-families-have-been-non/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [There's a whole journalistic-industrial complex dedicated to keeping newsprint, TV screens and radio waves clean of destabilizing scoops damaging to corporations or the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/there-s-a-whole-journalistic-industrial-complex-dedicated-to-keeping/) [Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/) > [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) [Browse all 1,673 Corporations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Corporations serve an important purpose, but telling people how to vote isn't one of them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chellie Pingree" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/corporations-serve-an-important-purpose-but-telling-people-how-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Corporations" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/corporations-serve-an-important-purpose-but-telling-people-how-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/chellie-pingree-15233_corporations_corporations-serve-an-important-purpose_2830435.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/chellie-pingree-15233_corporations_corporations-serve-an-important-purpose_2830435.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c94/chellie-pingree-15233_corporations_corporations-serve-an-important-purpose_2830435.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Corporations serve an important purpose, but telling people how to vote isn't one of them.” — Chellie Pingree", "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": "Chellie Pingree", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Corporations serve an important purpose, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/corporations-serve-an-important-purpose-but-telling-people-how-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/corporations-serve-an-important-purpose-but-telling-people-how-to/#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 } } ] } ```