--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Political parties serve to keep each…" description: "\"Political parties serve to keep each other in check, one keenly watching the other.\" — Henry Clay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/henry-clay-13771_checks_political-parties-serve-to-keep-each-oth_133502.png" --- # Political parties serve to keep each other in check, one… ![“Political parties serve to keep each other in check, one keenly watching the other.” quote by Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/henry-clay-13771_checks_political-parties-serve-to-keep-each-oth_133502.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/henry-clay-13771_checks_political-parties-serve-to-keep-each-oth_133502.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/henry-clay-13771_checks_political-parties-serve-to-keep-each-oth_133502.png) > “Political parties serve to keep each other in check, one keenly watching the other.” [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political parties act as mutual watchdogs, each monitoring the other to prevent abuse of power. **In simple terms:** Parties keep each other in check. Key Takeaway Support systems of checks and balances. Themes politics governance accountability Mood analytical critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - elections - legislative debates - policy making Key Concepts mutual oversight power balance Questions to Reflect On - How effective are parties at restraining each other? - What mechanisms improve mutual oversight? A Different Perspective Idealized view may ignore partisan conflict and gridlock. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parties/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-parties/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [In this House, we may belong to different parties, but we serve one country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/in-this-house-we-may-belong-to-different-parties-but-we-serve-one/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Political parties exist to get bums on seats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marta-andreasen/political-parties-exist-to-get-bums-on-seats/) Marta Andreasen > [We have these traditional political parties that are less and less responsive to the needs of ordinary people, so people are in search of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-have-these-traditional-political-parties-that-are-less-and-less/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [People don't know where they stand and what they're going to lose, and that makes things uncertain. 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It marks its victim; denounces it; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-arts-of-power-and-its-minions-are-the-same-in-all-countries-and/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [An oppressed people are authorized whenever they can to rise and break their fetters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/an-oppressed-people-are-authorized-whenever-they-can-to-rise-and/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [In a scheme of policy which is devised for a nation, we should not limit our views to its operation during a single year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/in-a-scheme-of-policy-which-is-devised-for-a-nation-we-should-not/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [A nation's character is the sum of its splendid deeds; they constitute one common patrimony, the nation's inheritance. 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My sympathies are reserved for the great mass of mankind ….](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-have-no-commiseration-for-princes-my-sympathies-are-reserved-for/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I had rather be right than be President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-had-rather-be-right-than-be-president/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [The Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the generation that then existed, but for posterity- unlimited, undefined, endless, perpetual posterity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-constitution-of-the-united-states-was-made-not-merely-for-the/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [Honor and good faith and justice are equally due from this country toward the weak as toward the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/honor-and-good-faith-and-justice-are-equally-due-from-this-country/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [The measure of the wealth of a nation is indicated by the measure of its protection of its industry; the measure of the poverty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/the-measure-of-the-wealth-of-a-nation-is-indicated-by-the-measure-of/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [We have had good and bad Presidents, and it is a consoling reflection that the American Nation possesses such elements of prosperity that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/we-have-had-good-and-bad-presidents-and-it-is-a-consoling-reflection/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [There is no power like oratory. Caesar controlled men by exciting their fears, Cicero by . . . swaying their passions. The influence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/there-is-no-power-like-oratory-caesar-controlled-men-by-exciting/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [I am not, sir, in favor of cherishing the passion of conquest. I am permitted ... to indulge the hope of seeing, ere long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/i-am-not-sir-in-favor-of-cherishing-the-passion-of-conquest-i-am/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) > [How often are we forced to charge fortune with partiality towards the unjust!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay/how-often-are-we-forced-to-charge-fortune-with-partiality-towards-the/) [Henry Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) [Explore all 49 Henry Clay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay/) ## More Checks quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. 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So when it comes around to the month of May, Send me your royalty check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/i-gave-birth-to-most-of-them-mc-s-so-when-it-comes-around-to-the/) Roxanne Shante > [I pay these niggas with a reality check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-pay-these-niggas-with-a-reality-check/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Two things you need to know about taxes. They've extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/two-things-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-they-ve-extended-the-deadline/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It's a constant man-ego-check going on in the streets, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/it-s-a-constant-man-ego-check-going-on-in-the-streets-in-this-world/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Well, a lot of our concerts do okay, and I know we still get royalty checks which still isn't that important, but again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/well-a-lot-of-our-concerts-do-okay-and-i-know-we-still-get-royalty/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [The things of the world are ever rising and falling, and in perpetual change; and this change must be according to the will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/the-things-of-the-world-are-ever-rising-and-falling-and-in-perpetual/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [If you find your feet dragging, check your path. 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