--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bad officials are elected by good…" description: "\"Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.\" — George Jean Nathan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/george-jean-nathan-10206_citizenship_bad-officials-are-elected-by-good-citize_452482.jpg" --- # Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote. ![“Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.” quote by George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/george-jean-nathan-10206_citizenship_bad-officials-are-elected-by-good-citize_452482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/george-jean-nathan-10206_citizenship_bad-officials-are-elected-by-good-citize_452482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/george-jean-nathan-10206_citizenship_bad-officials-are-elected-by-good-citize_452482.jpg) > “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.” [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When good citizens abstain, incompetent officials are elected. **In simple terms:** Not voting lets bad leaders win. Key Takeaway Vote to influence leadership. Themes civic duty politics responsibility Mood concerned urgent Type political motivational When to use this quote - elections - community meetings - policy decisions Key Concepts democratic participation voter apathy Questions to Reflect On - Why do people choose not to vote? - How can civic engagement be improved? A Different Perspective Voting alone may not change systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Good citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-citizens/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/) ## Related quotes > [Bad officials are the ones elected by good citizens who do not vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/bad-officials-are-the-ones-elected-by-good-citizens-who-do-not-vote/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [Some politician some years ago said that bad officials are elected by good voters who do not vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/some-politician-some-years-ago-said-that-bad-officials-are-elected-by/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [I was elected by the good people of Fort George for another five-year term, and I certainly intend to continue serving them in this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/said-musa/i-was-elected-by-the-good-people-of-fort-george-for-another-five-year/) [Said Musa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/said-musa/) > [If we only elected good men, we'd never have leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch-l-johnson/if-we-only-elected-good-men-we-d-never-have-leaders/) Enoch L. Johnson > [I think when you're running for president, especially someone that's never held elected office, there's one set of things that you may view the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-think-when-you-re-running-for-president-especially-someone-that-s/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [There is a lack of interest in voting in the United States, and that troubles me. It is very necessary that people get registered,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-parks/there-is-a-lack-of-interest-in-voting-in-the-united-states-and-that/) [Rosa Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-parks/) > [Government is best which is closest to the people. Yet that belief is betrayed by those State and local officials who engage in denying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/government-is-best-which-is-closest-to-the-people-yet-that-belief-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [From my standpoint, I want to work with homeland security, justice to make sure that U.S. citizens' vote is not diluted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-scott/from-my-standpoint-i-want-to-work-with-homeland-security-justice-to/) [Rick Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-scott/) > [I really encourage people to travel so we can see how the rest of the world views our country. That's really important. Secondly, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/i-really-encourage-people-to-travel-so-we-can-see-how-the-rest-of-the/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) > [What is more important? What the members of a politicised tribunal say, or what the citizens vote for? For me, it is clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carles-puigdemont/what-is-more-important-what-the-members-of-a-politicised-tribunal-say/) [Carles Puigdemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carles-puigdemont/) > [Letting non-citizens vote jeopardizes our principles as a nation. They vote only for entitlement, not for their own responsibility as citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kirk/letting-non-citizens-vote-jeopardizes-our-principles-as-a-nation-they/) [Charlie Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kirk/) > [This is democracy: the citizens can vote anyone to power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-shah/this-is-democracy-the-citizens-can-vote-anyone-to-power/) [Amit Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-shah/) > [I can't imagine anybody not wanting to make sure that noncitizens don't dilute legitimate U.S. citizens' vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-scott/i-can-t-imagine-anybody-not-wanting-to-make-sure-that-noncitizens-don/) [Rick Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-scott/) > [ They \[Mc Donalds\] take people and give them a first job, which enables them to get a second job. They do a very good… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/they-mc-donalds-take-people-and-give-them-a-first-job-which-enables/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [The plain fact is that education is itself a form of propaganda - a deliberate scheme to outfit the pupil, not with the capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-plain-fact-is-that-education-is-itself-a-form-of-propaganda-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by George Jean Nathan > [A man's wife is his compromise with the illusion of his first sweetheart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/a-man-s-wife-is-his-compromise-with-the-illusion-of-his-first/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [What passes for woman's intuition is more often intrinsically nothing more than man's transparency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/what-passes-for-woman-s-intuition-is-more-often-intrinsically-nothing/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [An optimist is a fellow who believes a housefly is looking for a way to get out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/an-optimist-is-a-fellow-who-believes-a-housefly-is-looking-for-a-way/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [In the theatre, a hero is one who believes that all women are ladies, a villain one who believes that all ladies are women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/in-the-theatre-a-hero-is-one-who-believes-that-all-women-are-ladies-a/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [A life spent in constant labor is a life wasted, save a man be such a fool as to regard a fulsome obituary notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/a-life-spent-in-constant-labor-is-a-life-wasted-save-a-man-be-such-a/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [Hollywood is ten million dollars worth of intricate and high ingenious machinery functioning elaborately to put skin on baloney.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/hollywood-is-ten-million-dollars-worth-of-intricate-and-high/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [The notion that as a man grows older his illusions leave him is not quite true. What is true is that his early illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/the-notion-that-as-a-man-grows-older-his-illusions-leave-him-is-not/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [I drink to make other people interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/i-drink-to-make-other-people-interesting/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [A man may be said to love most truly that woman in whose company he can feel drowsy in comfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/a-man-may-be-said-to-love-most-truly-that-woman-in-whose-company-he/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [The Russian dramatist is one who, walking through a cemetery, does not see the flowers on the graves. The American dramatist . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/the-russian-dramatist-is-one-who-walking-through-a-cemetery-does-not/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [Drama - what literature does at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/drama-what-literature-does-at-night/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [The triumph of sugar over diabetes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/the-triumph-of-sugar-over-diabetes/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [The sweetest memory is that which involves something which one should not have done; the bitterest, that which involves something which one should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/the-sweetest-memory-is-that-which-involves-something-which-one-should/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [Great drama is the souvenir of the adventure of a master among the pieces of his own soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/great-drama-is-the-souvenir-of-the-adventure-of-a-master-among-the/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) [Explore all 67 George Jean Nathan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) ## More Citizenship quotes > [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/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [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/) > [There can be a debate on the Citizenship Amendment Act, but why should we shelter someone who has come to India illegally from outside?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-thackeray/there-can-be-a-debate-on-the-citizenship-amendment-act-but-why-should/) [Raj Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-thackeray/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul--our Protestant idea, the right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before-you-on-this-occasion-is-the/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“Encouraging Robert E. Lee to take a job as college president, "You might be presenting to the world in such a position an example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-nelson-pendleton/encouraging-robert-e-lee-to-take-a-job-as-college-president-you-might/) William Nelson Pendleton > [“What constitutes an American? Not color nor race nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family nor the place of his birth. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ickes/what-constitutes-an-american-not-color-nor-race-nor-religion-not-the/) Harold Ickes > [In an age of interdependence, global citizenship - based on trust and sense of shared responsibility - is a crucial pillar of progress. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/in-an-age-of-interdependence-global-citizenship-based-on-trust-and/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Strengthening our identity is one way of reinforcing people's confidence and sense of citizenship and well-being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blunkett/strengthening-our-identity-is-one-way-of-reinforcing-people-s/) [David Blunkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blunkett/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Browse all 793 Citizenship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Jean Nathan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/bad-officials-are-elected-by-good-citizens-who-do-not-vote/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Citizenship" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/bad-officials-are-elected-by-good-citizens-who-do-not-vote/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/george-jean-nathan-10206_citizenship_bad-officials-are-elected-by-good-citize_452482.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/george-jean-nathan-10206_citizenship_bad-officials-are-elected-by-good-citize_452482.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bac/george-jean-nathan-10206_citizenship_bad-officials-are-elected-by-good-citize_452482.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.” — George Jean Nathan", "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": "George Jean Nathan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Bad officials are elected by good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/bad-officials-are-elected-by-good-citizens-who-do-not-vote/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/bad-officials-are-elected-by-good-citizens-who-do-not-vote/#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 } } ] } ```