--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Voting is easy and marginally useful, but…" description: "\"Voting is easy and marginally useful, but it is a poor substitute for democracy, which requires direct action by concerned citizens.\" — Howard Zinn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/howard-zinn-576_action_voting-is-easy-and-marginally-useful-but_1639400.jpg" --- # Voting is easy and marginally useful, but it is a poor… ![“Voting is easy and marginally useful, but it is a poor substitute for democracy, which requires direct action by concerned citizens.” quote by Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/howard-zinn-576_action_voting-is-easy-and-marginally-useful-but_1639400.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/howard-zinn-576_action_voting-is-easy-and-marginally-useful-but_1639400.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/howard-zinn-576_action_voting-is-easy-and-marginally-useful-but_1639400.jpg) > “Voting is easy and marginally useful, but it is a poor substitute for democracy, which requires direct action by concerned citizens.” [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Voting alone is insufficient; true democracy needs active citizen participation beyond ballots. **In simple terms:** Voting isn’t enough for democracy. Key Takeaway Engage directly in community actions. Themes democracy citizen participation political engagement Mood hopeful determined Type political inspirational When to use this quote - local meetings - protests - community projects - policy advocacy Key Concepts direct action grassroots civic duty Questions to Reflect On - What can you do now to influence change? - How do you balance voting with activism? A Different Perspective Direct action can be risky and requires organization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Direct action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-action/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/) ## Related quotes > [Voting should be as easy as possible. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/voting-should-be-as-easy-as-possible-period/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Civil disobedience is not something outside the realm of democracy. Democracy requires civil disobedience. Without civil disobedience democracy does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/civil-disobedience-is-not-something-outside-the-realm-of-democracy/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Each situation has to be evaluated separately, for all are different. In general, I believe in non-violent direct action, which involve organizing large numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/each-situation-has-to-be-evaluated-separately-for-all-are-different/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [There is one central characteristic of anarchism on the matter of means, and that central principle is a principle of direct action - of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/there-is-one-central-characteristic-of-anarchism-on-the-matter-of/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The idea of direct action against the evil that you want to overcome is a kind of common denominator for anarchist ideas and anarchist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-idea-of-direct-action-against-the-evil-that-you-want-to-overcome/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Strike is always a form of direct action. With the strike, too, you are not asking government to make things easier for you by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/strike-is-always-a-form-of-direct-action-with-the-strike-too-you-are/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“The whole calamity would be in one of those police reports that D. B. Sinclair and his "concerned citizens" filed carefully under "T" for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-griffin/the-whole-calamity-would-be-in-one-of-those-police-reports-that-d-b/) [Kate Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-griffin/) > [Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/never-doubt-that-a-small-group-of-thoughtful-concerned-citizens-can/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [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/) > [Our duty as concerned citizens is to educate ourselves so that we can recognize and report trafficking to the proper authorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hansen/our-duty-as-concerned-citizens-is-to-educate-ourselves-so-that-we-can/) [Chris Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hansen/) > [Ah," said Mr Pin. "Right. I remember. You are concerned citizens." He knew about concerned citizens. Wherever they were, they all spoke the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/ah-said-mr-pin-right-i-remember-you-are-concerned-citizens-he-knew/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But this isn’t just a law enforcement challenge. It is your challenge. It is our collective challenge—as lawyers, as concerned citizens, as Americans. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/historica-press/but-this-isn-t-just-a-law-enforcement-challenge-it-is-your-challenge/) [Historica Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/historica-press/) > [To think that one child would go to bed hungry somewhere in this country is heartbreaking... to know how many do is virtually incomprehensible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/to-think-that-one-child-would-go-to-bed-hungry-somewhere-in-this/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [Only a well-organized movement of young people, educators, workers, parents, religious groups and other concerned citizens will be capable of changing the power relations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/only-a-well-organized-movement-of-young-people-educators-workers/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [The combined efforts of millions of concerned citizens could do wonders to help the impoverished. The American people are ready for action!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/the-combined-efforts-of-millions-of-concerned-citizens-could-do/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) ## More by Howard Zinn > [“A black man, Benjamin Banneker, who taught himself mathematics and astronomy, predicted accurately a solar eclipse, and was appointed to plan the new city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/a-black-man-benjamin-banneker-who-taught-himself-mathematics-and/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/there-is-no-flag-large-enough-to-cover-the-shame-of-killing-innocent/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“a good education is a synthesis of book learning and involvement in social action, because each enrich the other. The accumulation of knowledge, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/a-good-education-is-a-synthesis-of-book-learning-and-involvement-in/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The mountain of history books under which we all stand leans so heavily in the other direction-so tremblingly respectful of states and statesmen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-mountain-of-history-books-under-which-we-all-stand-leans-so/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Let's face a historical truth: we have never had a "free market", we have always had government intervention in the economy, and indeed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/let-s-face-a-historical-truth-we-have-never-had-a-free-market-we-have/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I can UNDERSTAND pessimism, but I don't BELIEVE in it. It's not simply a matter of faith, but of historical EVIDENCE. Not overwhelming evidence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/i-can-understand-pessimism-but-i-don-t-believe-in-it-it-s-not-simply/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it. It is a corrective to the sluggishness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/protest-beyond-the-law-is-not-a-departure-from-democracy-it-is/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Now I have been studying very closely what happens every day in the courts in Boston, Massachusetts. You would be astounded--maybe you wouldn't, maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/now-i-have-been-studying-very-closely-what-happens-every-day-in-the/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [They were not mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, they were absent in the Constitution and they were invisible in the new political democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/they-were-not-mentioned-in-the-declaration-of-independence-they-were/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“Sexual purity was to be the special virtue of a woman. It was assumed that men, as a matter of biological nature, would sin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/sexual-purity-was-to-be-the-special-virtue-of-a-woman-it-was-assumed/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“Middle-class Americans might be invited to join a new elite by attacks against the corruption of the established rich. The New Yorker Cadwallader Colden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/middle-class-americans-might-be-invited-to-join-a-new-elite-by/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/if-those-in-charge-of-our-society-politicians-corporate-executives/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [We were not born critical of existing society. There was a moment in our lives (or a month, or a year) when certain facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/we-were-not-born-critical-of-existing-society-there-was-a-moment-in/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Behind the deceptive words designed to entice people into supporting violence -- words like democracy, freedom, self-defense, national security -- there is the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/behind-the-deceptive-words-designed-to-entice-people-into-supporting/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“George Washington had turned down the requests of blacks, seeking freedom, to fight in the Revolutionary army. So when the British military commander in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/george-washington-had-turned-down-the-requests-of-blacks-seeking/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) [Explore all 461 Howard Zinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Voting is easy and marginally useful, but it is a poor substitute for democracy, which requires direct action by concerned citizens.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Howard Zinn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/voting-is-easy-and-marginally-useful-but-it-is-a-poor-substitute-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/voting-is-easy-and-marginally-useful-but-it-is-a-poor-substitute-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/howard-zinn-576_action_voting-is-easy-and-marginally-useful-but_1639400.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/howard-zinn-576_action_voting-is-easy-and-marginally-useful-but_1639400.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/howard-zinn-576_action_voting-is-easy-and-marginally-useful-but_1639400.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Voting is easy and marginally useful, but it is a poor substitute for democracy, which requires direct…” — Howard Zinn", "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": "Howard Zinn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Voting is easy and marginally useful,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/voting-is-easy-and-marginally-useful-but-it-is-a-poor-substitute-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/voting-is-easy-and-marginally-useful-but-it-is-a-poor-substitute-for/#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 } } ] } ```