--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is for men to choose whether they will…" description: "\"It is for men to choose whether they will govern themselves or be governed.\" — Henry Ward Beecher" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/henry-ward-beecher-175_govern_it-is-for-men-to-choose-whether-they-wil_2385774.png" --- # It is for men to choose whether they will govern… ![“It is for men to choose whether they will govern themselves or be governed.” quote by Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/henry-ward-beecher-175_govern_it-is-for-men-to-choose-whether-they-wil_2385774.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/henry-ward-beecher-175_govern_it-is-for-men-to-choose-whether-they-wil_2385774.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/henry-ward-beecher-175_govern_it-is-for-men-to-choose-whether-they-wil_2385774.png) > “It is for men to choose whether they will govern themselves or be governed.” [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individuals must decide between self‑rule and submission to external authority, emphasizing personal responsibility. **In simple terms:** People choose self‑rule or being ruled. Key Takeaway Choose self‑governance over subjugation. Themes freedom responsibility political philosophy Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal decisions - political activism - community leadership Key Concepts autonomy social contract civil liberty Questions to Reflect On - What does self‑governance mean to you? - How can you support others in gaining autonomy? A Different Perspective Self‑governance can be limited by systemic oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choose Govern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-govern-4865950/) [Govern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/govern/) [Govern Governed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/govern-governed-4368369/) [Governed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governed/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-choose-336729/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [For there are very few so foolish who would not rather govern themselves than be governed by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/for-there-are-very-few-so-foolish-who-would-not-rather-govern/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [How can a thing possibly govern others when it cannot be governed itself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/how-can-a-thing-possibly-govern-others-when-it-cannot-be-governed/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [There are very few so foolish that they had not rather govern themselves than be governed by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/there-are-very-few-so-foolish-that-they-had-not-rather-govern/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [Let the people think they govern and they will be governed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/let-the-people-think-they-govern-and-they-will-be-governed/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [The true principle of a republic is that the people should choose whom they please to govern them. Representation is imperfect, in proportion as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-true-principle-of-a-republic-is-that-the-people-should-choose/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [When those who are governed do too little, those who govern can - and often will - do too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/when-those-who-are-governed-do-too-little-those-who-govern-can-and/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It is far better to be free to govern or misgovern yourself than to be governed by anybody else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/it-is-far-better-to-be-free-to-govern-or-misgovern-yourself-than-to/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It takes very little to govern good people. Very little. And bad people cant be governed at all. Or if they could I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/it-takes-very-little-to-govern-good-people-very-little-and-bad-people/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [A general presumption that Icings will govern well, is not a sufficient security to the People... those who subjected themselves to the will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-general-presumption-that-icings-will-govern-well-is-not-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only legitimate right to govern is an express grant of power from the governed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-harrison/the-only-legitimate-right-to-govern-is-an-express-grant-of-power-from/) [William Henry Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-harrison/) > [I must govern the clock, not be governed by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/golda-meir/i-must-govern-the-clock-not-be-governed-by-it/) [Golda Meir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/golda-meir/) > [Men can never escape being governed. Either they must govern themselves or they must submit to being governed by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/men-can-never-escape-being-governed-either-they-must-govern/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“It is far better to be free to govern or misgovern yourself than to be governed by anybody else. — Kwame Nkrumah”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/it-is-far-better-to-be-free-to-govern-or-misgovern-yourself-than-to-2/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [There is no liberty to men who know not how to govern themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-is-no-liberty-to-men-who-know-not-how-to-govern-themselves/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [. . . why some men choose to fill their brief allotment of time engaging the impossible, others in the manufacture of sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/why-some-men-choose-to-fill-their-brief-allotment-of-time-engaging/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) ## More by Henry Ward Beecher > [Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/astronomers-have-built-telescopes-which-can-show-myriads-of-stars/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [A lie always needs a truth for a handle to it. The worst lies are those whose blade is false, but whose handle is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-lie-always-needs-a-truth-for-a-handle-to-it-the-worst-lies-are/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Even a liar tells a hundred truths to one lie; he has to, to make the lie good for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/even-a-liar-tells-a-hundred-truths-to-one-lie-he-has-to-to-make-the/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obey them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/laws-are-not-masters-but-servants-and-he-rules-them-who-obey-them/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Our sweetest experiences of affection are meant to be suggestions of that realm which is the home of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/our-sweetest-experiences-of-affection-are-meant-to-be-suggestions-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [In America there is not one single element of civilization that is not made to depend, in the end, upon public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/in-america-there-is-not-one-single-element-of-civilization-that-is/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The best lessons a man ever learns are from his mistakes. It is not for want of schoolmasters that we are still ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/the-best-lessons-a-man-ever-learns-are-from-his-mistakes-it-is-not/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I never knew an early-rising, hard-working, prudent man, careful of his earnings, and strictly honest who complained of bad luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-never-knew-an-early-rising-hard-working-prudent-man-careful-of-his/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [THERE are joys which long to be ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-are-joys-which-long-to-be-ours/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [People may talk about the equality of the sexes! They are not equal. The silent smile of a sensible, loving woman will vanquish ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/people-may-talk-about-the-equality-of-the-sexes-they-are-not-equal/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Mirthfulness is in the mind and you cannot get it out. It is just as good in its place as conscience or veneration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirthfulness-is-in-the-mind-and-you-cannot-get-it-out-it-is-just-as/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirth-is-god-s-medicine-everybody-ought-to-bathe-in-it/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Some of God's noblest sons, I think, will be selected from those that know how to take wealth, with all its temptations, and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/some-of-god-s-noblest-sons-i-think-will-be-selected-from-those-that/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [You have seen a ship out on the bay, swinging with the tide, and seeming as if it would follow it; and yet it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/you-have-seen-a-ship-out-on-the-bay-swinging-with-the-tide-and/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) [Explore all 990 Henry Ward Beecher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## More Govern quotes > [The only legitimate right to govern is an express grant of power from the governed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-harrison/the-only-legitimate-right-to-govern-is-an-express-grant-of-power-from/) [William Henry Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-harrison/) > [All power corrupts but some must govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/all-power-corrupts-but-some-must-govern/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [You should govern not by partisanship, but by leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-faulconer/you-should-govern-not-by-partisanship-but-by-leadership/) [Kevin Faulconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-faulconer/) > [“An anarchist government somehow creates an impression in the hearts of citizens that no one cares.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-anarchist-government-somehow-creates-an-impression-in-the-hearts/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [They that govern the most make the least noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/they-that-govern-the-most-make-the-least-noise/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [It is the stars, The stars above us, govern our conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/it-is-the-stars-the-stars-above-us-govern-our-conditions/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [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/) > [If Rob Ford decided he wanted to run for the Liberal Party in 2015, we'd say, 'No, sorry, the way you approach things, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/if-rob-ford-decided-he-wanted-to-run-for-the-liberal-party-in-2015-we/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [In the White House, you can be on the pitcher's mound or you can be in the catcher's position. Put points on the board.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/in-the-white-house-you-can-be-on-the-pitcher-s-mound-or-you-can-be-in/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [Those that govern most make least noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/those-that-govern-most-make-least-noise/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [The simple truth is that unless you can control immigration you cannot govern because you cannot set a budget or plan public services.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/the-simple-truth-is-that-unless-you-can-control-immigration-you/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [Every class is unfit to govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/every-class-is-unfit-to-govern/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [In Washington and Moscow they are saying, 'Man has finally come of age; he doesn't need paternalistic help.' Which is another way of saying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/in-washington-and-moscow-they-are-saying-man-has-finally-come-of-age/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The only people who should suffer financial hardship when elected leaders can't govern are the elected leaders themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/the-only-people-who-should-suffer-financial-hardship-when-elected/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) > [To govern mankind, one must not overrate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-govern-mankind-one-must-not-overrate-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 331 Govern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/govern/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is for men to choose whether they will govern themselves or be governed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Ward Beecher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-for-men-to-choose-whether-they-will-govern-themselves-or-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Govern" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-for-men-to-choose-whether-they-will-govern-themselves-or-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/henry-ward-beecher-175_govern_it-is-for-men-to-choose-whether-they-wil_2385774.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/henry-ward-beecher-175_govern_it-is-for-men-to-choose-whether-they-wil_2385774.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/227/henry-ward-beecher-175_govern_it-is-for-men-to-choose-whether-they-wil_2385774.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is for men to choose whether they will govern themselves or be governed.” — Henry Ward Beecher", "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": "Henry Ward Beecher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is for men to choose...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-for-men-to-choose-whether-they-will-govern-themselves-or-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-for-men-to-choose-whether-they-will-govern-themselves-or-be/#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 } } ] } ```