--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The legislator is an indispensable…" description: "\"The legislator is an indispensable guardian of our freedom. It is true that great executives have played a powerful role in the development of civiliza..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/j-william-fulbright-7682_advancement_the-legislator-is-an-indispensable-guard_3110190.png" --- # The legislator is an indispensable guardian of our… ![“The legislator is an indispensable guardian of our freedom. It is true that great executives have played a powerful role in the development of civilization, but such leaders appear sporadically, by chance. They do not always appear when they are most needed. The great executives have given…” quote by J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/j-william-fulbright-7682_advancement_the-legislator-is-an-indispensable-guard_3110190.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/j-william-fulbright-7682_advancement_the-legislator-is-an-indispensable-guard_3110190.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/j-william-fulbright-7682_advancement_the-legislator-is-an-indispensable-guard_3110190.png) > “The legislator is an indispensable guardian of our freedom. It is true that great executives have played a powerful role in the development of civilization, but such leaders appear sporadically, by chance. They do not always appear when they are most needed. The great executives have given inspiration and push to the advancement of human society, but it is the legislator who has given stability and continuity to that slow and painful progress.” [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legislators provide continuity and stability, essential for gradual societal progress, unlike sporadic great executives. **In simple terms:** Lawmakers keep society stable over time. Key Takeaway Support and strengthen legislative institutions. Themes governance stability leadership policy societal progress Mood analytical hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - voting - policy advocacy - community organizing - public service Key Concepts political science history civic duty Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens influence legislators effectively? - What reforms could make legislatures more responsive? A Different Perspective Legislative change can be slow and resistant to urgent needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advancement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advancement/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Continuity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continuity/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guardian/) [Human society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-society/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Legislators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislators/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Stability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stability/) ## Related quotes > [What I have absolutely no sympathy with is the legislator, the man who seeks, for his own profit, to exploit the weaknesses of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-lowry/what-i-have-absolutely-no-sympathy-with-is-the-legislator-the-man-who/) [Malcolm Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-lowry/) > [The legislator commands the future; to be feeble will avail him nothing: it is for him to will what is good and to perpetuate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-antoine-de-saint-just/the-legislator-commands-the-future-to-be-feeble-will-avail-him/) [Louis Antoine de Saint-Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-antoine-de-saint-just/) > [The job of a legislator is much more fixing existing law, revising it, improving it, than it is passing something that doesn't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/the-job-of-a-legislator-is-much-more-fixing-existing-law-revising-it/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [A super-legislator body is not what the court was intended to be, When I ponder our country and its greatness, its weakness, its potential,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/a-super-legislator-body-is-not-what-the-court-was-intended-to-be-when/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [In the end, I think part of my problem was that I was a better legislator than I was a politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-maffei/in-the-end-i-think-part-of-my-problem-was-that-i-was-a-better/) [Dan Maffei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-maffei/) > [I envy neither the heart nor the head of any legislator who has been born to an inheritance of privileges, who has behind him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-harper/i-envy-neither-the-heart-nor-the-head-of-any-legislator-who-has-been/) [Frances Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-harper/) > [No man can be a competent legislator who does not add to an upright intention and a sound judgment a certain degree of knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/no-man-can-be-a-competent-legislator-who-does-not-add-to-an-upright/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [It is not true that the legislator has absolute power over our persons and property, since they pre-exist, and his work is only to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/it-is-not-true-that-the-legislator-has-absolute-power-over-our/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [A legislator must know how to take advantage of even the defects of those he wants to govern. The art consists in making others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-legislator-must-know-how-to-take-advantage-of-even-the-defects-of/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I think that we're just fortunate that you have an experienced legislator: 26 years of fighting for our issues in line. I mean, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/i-think-that-we-re-just-fortunate-that-you-have-an-experienced/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Violence against women is as American as apple pie. I know, not only as a legislator, but from personal experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-moore/violence-against-women-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-i-know-not-only-as/) [Gwen Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-moore/) > [The legislator is like the navigator of a ship on the high seas. He can steer the vessel on which he sails, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-legislator-is-like-the-navigator-of-a-ship-on-the-high-seas-he/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [ Carolyn \[Maloney\] is the kind of legislator who, whether she's in the majority or the minority, whether her party is in the majority or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/carolyn-maloney-is-the-kind-of-legislator-who-whether-she-s-in-the/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [The same things are best both for individuals and for states, and these are the things which the legislator ought to implant in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-same-things-are-best-both-for-individuals-and-for-states-and/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The legislator should keep two things constantly before his eyes: 1. The pure theory developed to its minutest details; 2. The particular condition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/the-legislator-should-keep-two-things-constantly-before-his-eyes-1/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) ## More by J. William Fulbright > [There has been a tendency through the years for reason and moderation to prevail as long as things are going tolerably well or as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/there-has-been-a-tendency-through-the-years-for-reason-and-moderation/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [One simply cannot engage in barbarous action without becoming a barbarian, because one cannot defend human values by calculated and unprovoked violence without doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/one-simply-cannot-engage-in-barbarous-action-without-becoming-a/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [It is amazing how soon one becomes accustomed to the sound of ones voice, when forced to repeat a speech five or six times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/it-is-amazing-how-soon-one-becomes-accustomed-to-the-sound-of-ones/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [What a curious picture it is to find man, homo sapiens, of divine origin, we are told, seriously considering going underground to escape the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/what-a-curious-picture-it-is-to-find-man-homo-sapiens-of-divine/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Educational exchange can turn nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to the humanizing of international relations. Man's capacity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/educational-exchange-can-turn-nations-into-people-contributing-as-no/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [In the name of noble purposes men have committed unspeakable acts of cruelty against one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/in-the-name-of-noble-purposes-men-have-committed-unspeakable-acts-of/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Insofar as it represents a genuine reconciliation of differences, a consensus is a fine thing; insofar as it represents a concealment of differences, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/insofar-as-it-represents-a-genuine-reconciliation-of-differences-a/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Insofar as international law is observed, it provides us with stability and order and with a means of predicting the behavior of those with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/insofar-as-international-law-is-observed-it-provides-us-with/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [The age of warrior kings and of warrior presidents has passed. The nuclear age calls for a different kind of leadership… a leadership of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/the-age-of-warrior-kings-and-of-warrior-presidents-has-passed-the/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [We must dare to think 'unthinkable' thoughts. We must learn to explore all the options and possibilities that confront us in a complex and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/we-must-dare-to-think-unthinkable-thoughts-we-must-learn-to-explore/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [International educational exchange is the most significant current project designed to continue the process of humanizing mankind to the point, we would hope, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/international-educational-exchange-is-the-most-significant-current/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [ To give \[the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba\] even covert support is on a par with the hypocrisy and cynicism for which the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/to-give-the-bay-of-pigs-invasion-of-cuba-even-covert-support-is-on-a/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > […Man's struggle to be rational about himself, about his relationship to his own society and to other peoples and nations involves a constant search…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/man-s-struggle-to-be-rational-about-himself-about-his-relationship-to/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [I do not question the power of our weapons and the efficiency of our logistics; I cannot say these things delight me as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/i-do-not-question-the-power-of-our-weapons-and-the-efficiency-of-our/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [The Soviet Union has indeed been our greatest menace - not so much because of what it has done, but because of the excuses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/the-soviet-union-has-indeed-been-our-greatest-menace-not-so-much/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) [Explore all 88 J. William Fulbright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) ## More Advancement quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [They either attach themselves to God's will, which results in their continuous progress, improvement and advancement, or they oppose God's will, are justly subjected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/they-either-attach-themselves-to-god-s-will-which-results-in-their/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-curiosity-or-confine-the-labours/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [We have won the time lottery of the last 4 billion years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/we-have-won-the-time-lottery-of-the-last-4-billion-years/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [“Creativity is key to productivity and prosperity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/creativity-is-key-to-productivity-and-prosperity/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [No one can stop the advancement of a country wheretalent is recognized properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/no-one-can-stop-the-advancement-of-a-country-wheretalent-is/) Mak\_786 > [Each restorational advancement of the Army of the Lord has established denominational forts that are given responsibility to maintain the purity and power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hamon/each-restorational-advancement-of-the-army-of-the-lord-has/) [Bill Hamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hamon/) > [Setting is preliminary to brighter rising; decay is a process of advancement; death is the condition of higher and more fruitful life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/setting-is-preliminary-to-brighter-rising-decay-is-a-process-of/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Certainly, none of us enjoy going through struggles, but you have to understand that your struggle may be an opportunity for advancement and promotion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/certainly-none-of-us-enjoy-going-through-struggles-but-you-have-to/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Always work towards a dream or you'll always dream of working elsewhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/always-work-towards-a-dream-or-you-ll-always-dream-of-working/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Those who are successfully to lead their fellow-men, should have once possessed the nobler feelings. 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The ability to code and understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/our-civilization-is-experiencing-unprecedented-changes-across-many/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) [Browse all 423 Advancement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advancement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The legislator is an indispensable guardian of our freedom. It is true that great executives have played a powerful role in the development of civilization, but such leaders appear sporadically, by chance. They do not always appear when they are most needed. The great executives have given inspiration and push to the advancement of human society, but it is the legislator who has given stability and continuity to that slow and painful progress.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. 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