--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is . . . [the citizens] choice, and…" description: "\"It is . . . [the citizens] choice, and depends upon their conduct, whether they will be respectable and prosperous, or contemptable and miserable as a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/george-washington-257_choices_it-is-the-citizens-choice-and-depends-up_2542424.jpg" --- # It is . . . \[the citizens\] choice, and depends upon their… ![“It is . . . [the citizens] choice, and depends upon their conduct, whether they will be respectable and prosperous, or contemptable and miserable as a Nation. This is the time of their political probation; this is the moment when the eyes of the World are turned upon them.” quote by George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/george-washington-257_choices_it-is-the-citizens-choice-and-depends-up_2542424.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/george-washington-257_choices_it-is-the-citizens-choice-and-depends-up_2542424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/george-washington-257_choices_it-is-the-citizens-choice-and-depends-up_2542424.jpg) > “It is . . . \[the citizens\] choice, and depends upon their conduct, whether they will be respectable and prosperous, or contemptable and miserable as a Nation. This is the time of their political probation; this is the moment when the eyes of the World are turned upon them.” [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A nation's fate hinges on citizens' choices and conduct, under global scrutiny. **In simple terms:** Nation's destiny depends on people's actions and reputation. Key Takeaway Promote civic virtue and responsible behavior. Themes civic duty reputation politics Mood patriotic serious Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - elections - public policy - community service - media relations Key Concepts national character global perception responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What actions best uphold national honor? - How does global scrutiny influence local decisions? A Different Perspective Public opinion can shift quickly, challenging stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Citizens Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-choice-1446365/) [Conduct Respectable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conduct-respectable-1446367/) [Depends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depends/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political Probation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-probation-1446364/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Probation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probation/) [Prosperous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperous/) [Prosperous Contemptable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperous-contemptable-1446366/) [Respectable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respectable/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Playing the good guy is tough because you know as well as I do, in real life, you have to watch your P's and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-lee-ermey/playing-the-good-guy-is-tough-because-you-know-as-well-as-i-do-in/) [R. Lee Ermey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-lee-ermey/) > [Let me be clear - I want all Louisiana citizens to have choice - including the elderly and persons with disabilities - and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-blanco/let-me-be-clear-i-want-all-louisiana-citizens-to-have-choice/) [Kathleen Blanco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-blanco/) > [We must take care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, in a respectable defensive posture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/we-must-take-care-always-to-keep-ourselves-by-suitable-establishments/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [What astonishing changes a few years are capable of producing! I am told that even respectable characters speak of a monarchical form of government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/what-astonishing-changes-a-few-years-are-capable-of-producing-i-am/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [In his recent book, When Brute Force Fails, UCLA's Kleiman argues that new strategies for targeting repeat offenders--including reforms to make probation an effective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-von-drehle/in-his-recent-book-when-brute-force-fails-ucla-s-kleiman-argues-that/) [David Von Drehle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-von-drehle/) > [Plus I'm on probation, when they test me I just pee Rose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meek-mill/plus-i-m-on-probation-when-they-test-me-i-just-pee-rose/) [Meek Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meek-mill/) > [The NCAA is so mad at Kentucky theyre going to give Cleveland State another year of probation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-tarkanian/the-ncaa-is-so-mad-at-kentucky-theyre-going-to-give-cleveland-state/) [Jerry Tarkanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-tarkanian/) > [“Probation? How amusing. Probation would imply a source of authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/probation-how-amusing-probation-would-imply-a-source-of-authority/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [There are more African Americans under correctional control, in prison or jail, on probation or parole, than were enslaved in 1850 a decade before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/there-are-more-african-americans-under-correctional-control-in-prison/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [Well, maybe there are one or two things about the double jeopardy concept that are overlooked. 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