--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Holding office often requires swearing an…" description: "\"Holding office often requires swearing an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. R..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/eric-swalwell-10862_accepting-responsibi_holding-office-often-requires-swearing-a_2997143.jpg" --- # Holding office often requires swearing an oath to support… ![“Holding office often requires swearing an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Running for office should include accepting responsibility for this, too, so that our democratic republic's underpinnings can remain strong for…” quote by Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/eric-swalwell-10862_accepting-responsibi_holding-office-often-requires-swearing-a_2997143.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/eric-swalwell-10862_accepting-responsibi_holding-office-often-requires-swearing-a_2997143.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/eric-swalwell-10862_accepting-responsibi_holding-office-often-requires-swearing-a_2997143.jpg) > “Holding office often requires swearing an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Running for office should include accepting responsibility for this, too, so that our democratic republic's underpinnings can remain strong for generations to come.” [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public officials must uphold the Constitution, accepting the oath's responsibility to preserve democratic foundations for future generations. **In simple terms:** Officials must honor the Constitution and protect democracy Key Takeaway Take the oath seriously and act responsibly Themes civic duty responsibility democracy Mood serious motivational Type political ethical When to use this quote - legislative work - campaigns - public service - civic education Key Concepts Constitutional law public trust political ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can officials stay accountable? - What safeguards protect democratic institutions? A Different Perspective Political compromise can dilute commitment ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting-responsibility/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Constitution of the united states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-of-the-united-states/) [Defend Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend-constitution/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Holding Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-office-778313/) [Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath/) [Oath Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath-support-2171689/) [Remain Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remain-strong/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Running for office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-for-office/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Swearing Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swearing-oath-4413635/) ## Related quotes > [ I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and I'm concerned that voting for this \[anti-terrorism\] legislation fundamentally… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-took-an-oath-to-support-and-defend-the-constitution-of-the-united/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [As members of Congress, we take a solemn oath to 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-ray-lujan/as-members-of-congress-we-take-a-solemn-oath-to-support-and-defend/) [Ben Ray Lujan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-ray-lujan/) > [“I’d seen enough of his stone likenesses scattered around Rome to guess his identity from his torchlit profile, but even if I hadn’t, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-livingston/i-d-seen-enough-of-his-stone-likenesses-scattered-around-rome-to/) [Lesley Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-livingston/) > [As to the Constitution and the Union, I have taken an oath to support the one, and I cannot do so without preserving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-taylor/as-to-the-constitution-and-the-union-i-have-taken-an-oath-to-support/) [Zachary Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-taylor/) > [When a man once gets a start holding office, it is nearly always necessary to finally choke him off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/when-a-man-once-gets-a-start-holding-office-it-is-nearly-always/) [E. 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Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/granted-by-the-united-states-and-no-person-holding-any-office-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“The art of governing, Dickon, is that of making use of talent wherever you do find it. Trust is too rare an attribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/the-art-of-governing-dickon-is-that-of-making-use-of-talent-wherever/) [Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/) > [The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-government-consists-of-a-gang-of-men-exactly-like-you-and-me-they/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I'm not prepared for holding office any more than I think Arnold is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/i-m-not-prepared-for-holding-office-any-more-than-i-think-arnold-is/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [That's probably the best part of holding office is being able to solve problems and really help people who feel like no one cares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-szeliga/that-s-probably-the-best-part-of-holding-office-is-being-able-to/) [Kathy Szeliga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-szeliga/) > [In the face of all this evil, we remain strong and united, 'One Nation Under God.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/in-the-face-of-all-this-evil-we-remain-strong-and-united-one-nation/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The mind requires regular use to remain strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-mind-requires-regular-use-to-remain-strong/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## More by Eric Swalwell > [One of my goals here in Congress, being the youngest member of the California delegation, is to really try and get the institution to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/one-of-my-goals-here-in-congress-being-the-youngest-member-of-the/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [All the arrows continue to point to a personal, political, and financial relationship that Donald Trump had with the Russians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/all-the-arrows-continue-to-point-to-a-personal-political-and/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [The power of incumbency cannot be underestimated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/the-power-of-incumbency-cannot-be-underestimated/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [Rule of law is based on probable cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/rule-of-law-is-based-on-probable-cause/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [Only the mob takes the Fifth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/only-the-mob-takes-the-fifth/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [Reinstating the federal assault weapons ban that was in effect from 1994 to 2004 would prohibit manufacture and sales, but it would not affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/reinstating-the-federal-assault-weapons-ban-that-was-in-effect-from/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [Why do we not have online voting? There's a security system in place already - on our cellphones. We already use biometrics to log…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/why-do-we-not-have-online-voting-there-s-a-security-system-in-place/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [Americans are at our best when we build bridges between us, not walls around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/americans-are-at-our-best-when-we-build-bridges-between-us-not-walls/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [I support an assault weapons ban, and I'll tell you why. We already have one in California, so I don't support doing anything above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/i-support-an-assault-weapons-ban-and-i-ll-tell-you-why-we-already/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [Our military shouldn't be outgunned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/our-military-shouldn-t-be-outgunned/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [I believe in the promise of America, which is if you work hard, you do better for yourselves, and you dream bigger for kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/i-believe-in-the-promise-of-america-which-is-if-you-work-hard-you-do/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [The NRA - they are a paper tiger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/the-nra-they-are-a-paper-tiger/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [I think the best term limit is to have public financing of campaigns and independent redistricting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/i-think-the-best-term-limit-is-to-have-public-financing-of-campaigns/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [Donald Trump, for years, had been working with the Russians. He brought people on his campaign who had ties to the Russians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/donald-trump-for-years-had-been-working-with-the-russians-he-brought/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [Our country needs help, and I think the best way to help the country is to bring new energy, new ideas, and new leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/our-country-needs-help-and-i-think-the-best-way-to-help-the-country/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) [Explore all 63 Eric Swalwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) ## More Accepting responsibility quotes > [They must move from a psychological state of victimization to a psychological state of accepting responsibility. The Palestinians must leave behind their revolutionary adolescence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-shavit/they-must-move-from-a-psychological-state-of-victimization-to-a/) [Ari Shavit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-shavit/) > [A refusal to admit one's mistake & not accepting responsibility for that mistake by blaming everyone else, is d beginning of one's decline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-refusal-to-admit-one-s-mistake-not-accepting-responsibility-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“With great power comes great responsibility.” It is true. But there’s a better version of this quote, a version that actually is profound, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility-it-is-true-but-there-s-a/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [Accepting responsibility for your life means you are aware that you know it is yourself who makes decisions for where it goes. No one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/accepting-responsibility-for-your-life-means-you-are-aware-that-you/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Its always easier to place the blame on someone else. Accepting responsibility for one's actions is not a key trait for many!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-always-easier-to-place-the-blame-on-someone-else-accepting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Accepting responsibility for problems that you didn't cause is a reflection of true humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-responsibility-for-problems-that-you-didn-t-cause-is-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The key to accepting responsibility for your life is to accept the fact that your choices, every one of them, are leading you inexorably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/the-key-to-accepting-responsibility-for-your-life-is-to-accept-the/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [Accepting responsibility for the actions of others contributes to your own greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/accepting-responsibility-for-the-actions-of-others-contributes-to/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [Accepting responsibility is the fulcrum point for succeeding at anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/accepting-responsibility-is-the-fulcrum-point-for-succeeding-at/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [It is time to return to those core values, time to get back to basics: to self-discipline and respect for the law, to consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/it-is-time-to-return-to-those-core-values-time-to-get-back-to-basics/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [Lets start the week by accepting responsibility for doing with our gifts whatever we chose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lets-start-the-week-by-accepting-responsibility-for-doing-with-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[The blame for the future 'plight of civilization\] must rest on scientific men, equally with others, for being incapable of accepting the responsibility for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-soddy/the-blame-for-the-future-plight-of-civilization-must-rest-on/) [Frederick Soddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-soddy/) > [Maturity is developed by respecting others and accepting responsibility for violating that respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-fesler/maturity-is-developed-by-respecting-others-and-accepting/) [Wes Fesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-fesler/) > [Maturity is accepting the responsibility and totally understanding what responsibility means. So when we say, accept the responsibility for your attitude, we mean (1)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-d/maturity-is-accepting-the-responsibility-and-totally-understanding/) [Thomas D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-d/) > [By accepting responsibility, we take effective steps toward our goal: an inclusive human society on a habitable planet, a society that works for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharif-abdullah/by-accepting-responsibility-we-take-effective-steps-toward-our-goal/) [Sharif Abdullah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharif-abdullah/) [Browse all 64 Accepting responsibility quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting-responsibility/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Holding office often requires swearing an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. 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