--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great mass of our citizens require…" description: "\"The great mass of our citizens require only to understand matters rightly, to form right decisions.\" — George Washington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/george-washington-257_citizens_the-great-mass-of-our-citizens-require-o_1060153.jpg" --- # The great mass of our citizens require only to understand… ![“The great mass of our citizens require only to understand matters rightly, to form right decisions.” quote by George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/george-washington-257_citizens_the-great-mass-of-our-citizens-require-o_1060153.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/george-washington-257_citizens_the-great-mass-of-our-citizens-require-o_1060153.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/george-washington-257_citizens_the-great-mass-of-our-citizens-require-o_1060153.jpg) > “The great mass of our citizens require only to understand matters rightly, to form right decisions.” [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. Citizens need clear, accurate information to make sound judgments. **In simple terms:** People need correct facts to decide wisely. Key Takeaway Seek reliable information before deciding. Themes civic duty information decision making Mood thoughtful concerned Type political educational When to use this quote - voting - public policy - community meetings - media consumption Key Concepts democracy critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify the accuracy of information? - What sources do you trust for important decisions? A Different Perspective Information can be biased or incomplete, leading to poor choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Right decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-decision/) [Right decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-decisions/) ## Related quotes > [Rebuilding our communities where the police and citizens all see themselves as being on the same side will require contributions from all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/rebuilding-our-communities-where-the-police-and-citizens-all-see/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [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/) > [What comes to pass does so not so much because a few people want it to happen, as because the mass of citizens abdicate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/what-comes-to-pass-does-so-not-so-much-because-a-few-people-want-it/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) > [“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/) > [“I need him to know that I want to understand him because he matters, because we matter. Because life made me believe that what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-renee-jones/i-need-him-to-know-that-i-want-to-understand-him-because-he-matters/) [Lisa Renee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-renee-jones/) > [To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/to-understand-matters-rightly-we-should-understand-their-details-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“If you approach an argument trying to see the other person’s perspective. If you both truly listen and take the time to understand each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-messenger/if-you-approach-an-argument-trying-to-see-the-other-person-s/) A.J. Messenger > [“Nobody seems to understand that in such matters the tact and sympathy should come from the one who is about to die, not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/nobody-seems-to-understand-that-in-such-matters-the-tact-and-sympathy/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [At the end of the day, everybody has to take the right decisions for the right reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrus-pallonji-mistry/at-the-end-of-the-day-everybody-has-to-take-the-right-decisions-for/) [Cyrus Pallonji Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrus-pallonji-mistry/) > [We have to make the right decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-have-to-make-the-right-decisions/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [All around as a person, on right decisions, on holding your money, on doing your trade, a good education is a must. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-vinton/all-around-as-a-person-on-right-decisions-on-holding-your-money-on/) [Bobby Vinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-vinton/) > [I don't take right decisions, I take decisions and make them right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/i-don-t-take-right-decisions-i-take-decisions-and-make-them-right/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [Your legacy is being written by yourself. Make the right decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/your-legacy-is-being-written-by-yourself-make-the-right-decisions/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [I haven't always made the right decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steinbrenner/i-haven-t-always-made-the-right-decisions/) [George Steinbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steinbrenner/) > [We need to stop spending so much of our time trying to make the right decisions and instead start spending our time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-vaden/we-need-to-stop-spending-so-much-of-our-time-trying-to-make-the-right/) [Rory Vaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-vaden/) ## More by George Washington > [It is absolutely necessary... for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-absolutely-necessary-for-me-to-have-persons-that-can-think-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-propitious-smiles-of-heaven-can-never-be-expected-on-a-nation/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/interwoven-as-is-the-love-of-liberty-with-every-ligament-of-your/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/in-vain-would-that-man-claim-the-tribute-of-patriotism-who-should/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institution may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-blessed-religion-revealed-in-the-word-of-god-will-remain-an/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-contending-for-our-own-liberty-we-should-be-very/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Among many other weighty objections to the Measure, it has been suggested, that it has a tendency to introduce religious disputes into the Army,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/among-many-other-weighty-objections-to-the-measure-it-has-been/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Democratical States must always feel before they can see: it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/democratical-states-must-always-feel-before-they-can-see-it-is-this/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/if-in-the-opinion-of-the-people-the-distribution-or-modification-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [A man's intentions should be allowed in some respects to plead for his actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/a-man-s-intentions-should-be-allowed-in-some-respects-to-plead-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. Do not ever let anyone claim to be a true American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-impossible-to-rightly-govern-the-world-without-god-and-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-first-wish-is-to-see-this-plague-of-mankind-banished-from-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor. It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/lenity-will-operate-with-greater-force-in-some-instances-than-rigor/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) [Explore all 801 George Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) ## 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": "The great mass of our citizens require only to understand matters rightly, to form right decisions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Washington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-great-mass-of-our-citizens-require-only-to-understand-matters/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Citizens" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-great-mass-of-our-citizens-require-only-to-understand-matters/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/george-washington-257_citizens_the-great-mass-of-our-citizens-require-o_1060153.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/george-washington-257_citizens_the-great-mass-of-our-citizens-require-o_1060153.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/george-washington-257_citizens_the-great-mass-of-our-citizens-require-o_1060153.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The great mass of our citizens require only to understand matters rightly, to form right decisions.” — George Washington", "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 Washington", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The great mass of our citizens...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-great-mass-of-our-citizens-require-only-to-understand-matters/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-great-mass-of-our-citizens-require-only-to-understand-matters/#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 } } ] } ```