--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If citizens do not believe they can…" description: "\"If citizens do not believe they can change their leaders through the ballot box, they will find other ways, even at the risk of destabilizing their cou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/kofi-annan-799_believe_if-citizens-do-not-believe-they-can-chan_2391978.png" --- # If citizens do not believe they can change their leaders… ![“If citizens do not believe they can change their leaders through the ballot box, they will find other ways, even at the risk of destabilizing their countries.” quote by Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/kofi-annan-799_believe_if-citizens-do-not-believe-they-can-chan_2391978.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/kofi-annan-799_believe_if-citizens-do-not-believe-they-can-chan_2391978.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/kofi-annan-799_believe_if-citizens-do-not-believe-they-can-chan_2391978.png) > “If citizens do not believe they can change their leaders through the ballot box, they will find other ways, even at the risk of destabilizing their countries.” [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When people lose faith in peaceful electoral change, they may resort to unrest, threatening national stability. **In simple terms:** Loss of electoral trust can lead to instability. Key Takeaway Strengthen democratic legitimacy. Themes politics trust stability Mood concerned urgent Type political social When to use this quote - elections - civil protests - reform movements - media campaigns Key Concepts social contract political legitimacy Questions to Reflect On - What reforms can restore confidence in voting? - How can societies protect stability while allowing dissent? A Different Perspective If institutions are already weak, people may still seek change despite risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballot Box](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballot-box-463654/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Citizens Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-believe-362804/) [Destabilizing Countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destabilizing-countries-5960496/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leaders Ballot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-ballot-5960497/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [What motivates me is the desire to bring up a whole new generation of active citizens who believe in peace and social justice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/what-motivates-me-is-the-desire-to-bring-up-a-whole-new-generation-of/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“Any government that presumes to direct how its people relate to ultimate truths either believes it is the only guide to those truths, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-shah/any-government-that-presumes-to-direct-how-its-people-relate-to/) [Timothy Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-shah/) > [If enough citizens believe their national security’s in jeopardy then politicians who propose wars will receive the support they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morcan/if-enough-citizens-believe-their-national-security-s-in-jeopardy-then/) [James Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morcan/) > [I believe that in order for our democratic system to work as intended, the average person must have faith in their government. Citizens must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/i-believe-that-in-order-for-our-democratic-system-to-work-as-intended/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [A large portion of our citizens, who will not believe, even on the evidence of facts, that any public evils exist, or are impending.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fisher-ames/a-large-portion-of-our-citizens-who-will-not-believe-even-on-the/) [Fisher Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fisher-ames/) > [When citizens believe that the elite care more about those across the ocean than those across the train tracks, insurance has broken down, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-deaton/when-citizens-believe-that-the-elite-care-more-about-those-across-the/) [Angus Deaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-deaton/) > [“At bottom, today's Democrats from Baucus to Waters are united in only two beliefs, and they demand that American citizens believe in only two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/at-bottom-today-s-democrats-from-baucus-to-waters-are-united-in-only/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [Is not the very beginning of privilege, monopoly and industrial slavery this erecting of the ballot-box above the individual?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/is-not-the-very-beginning-of-privilege-monopoly-and-industrial/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [Democracy is defended in 3 stages. Ballot Box, Jury Box, Cartridge Box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/democracy-is-defended-in-3-stages-ballot-box-jury-box-cartridge-box/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There's a direct relationship between the ballot box and the bread box, and what the union fights for and wins at the bargaining table…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-reuther/there-s-a-direct-relationship-between-the-ballot-box-and-the-bread/) [Walter Reuther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-reuther/) > [The ballot box is a most inadequate mechanism of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-ballot-box-is-a-most-inadequate-mechanism-of-change/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [OBAMA may be the king of the ballot box after his election win over Mitt Romney on the night. But here are the stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/obama-may-be-the-king-of-the-ballot-box-after-his-election-win-over/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [That which is gained at the bargaining table can be lost at the ballot box](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-reuther/that-which-is-gained-at-the-bargaining-table-can-be-lost-at-the/) [Walter Reuther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-reuther/) > [The best hope for Australia is the ballot box and good education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-monash/the-best-hope-for-australia-is-the-ballot-box-and-good-education/) [John Monash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-monash/) > [If you take away people's identity and their ability through the ballot box to determine their future, don't be surprised if they turn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/if-you-take-away-people-s-identity-and-their-ability-through-the/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) ## More by Kofi Annan > [All our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/all-our-efforts-to-defeat-poverty-and-pursue-sustainable-development/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the well-being of our children, which has always been and will continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/we-were-all-children-once-and-we-all-share-the-desire-for-the-well/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [You will recall that for months after 9/11, there was incredible support and sympathy for the US. I really hoped and wished they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/you-will-recall-that-for-months-after-9-11-there-was-incredible/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [A nation has the right to defend itself, but when it comes to the broader issue of peace and security, the legitimacy rests only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/a-nation-has-the-right-to-defend-itself-but-when-it-comes-to-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Sometimes when you take a tough action against one side in the conflict, they see you as part of the conflict and they attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/sometimes-when-you-take-a-tough-action-against-one-side-in-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Some have suggested that ideally there must be some international body that would treat areas like the Arctic as a global commerce, a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/some-have-suggested-that-ideally-there-must-be-some-international/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [In an age of interdependence, global citizenship - based on trust and sense of shared responsibility - is a crucial pillar of progress. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/in-an-age-of-interdependence-global-citizenship-based-on-trust-and/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [We knew the Syrian situation was complex and there were lots of divisions, particularly on the side of the opposition... This is a tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/we-knew-the-syrian-situation-was-complex-and-there-were-lots-of/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The question is the morning after. What sort of Iraq do we wake up to after the bombing? What happens in the region? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-question-is-the-morning-after-what-sort-of-iraq-do-we-wake-up-to/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [I laugh a lot inside and outside, and at myself sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/i-laugh-a-lot-inside-and-outside-and-at-myself-sometimes/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Can the state, which represents the whole of society and has the duty of protecting society, fulfill that duty by lowering itself to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/can-the-state-which-represents-the-whole-of-society-and-has-the-duty/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [As long as inequality and other social problems plague us, populists will try to exploit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/as-long-as-inequality-and-other-social-problems-plague-us-populists/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Developing and newer democracies are much more susceptible to the tactics of populists and demagogues - they often do not have strong institutions, free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/developing-and-newer-democracies-are-much-more-susceptible-to-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The young and dynamic and idealistic people in the square do not have the chance to organise themselves politically, to be able to follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-young-and-dynamic-and-idealistic-people-in-the-square-do-not-have/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) [Explore all 366 Kofi Annan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If citizens do not believe they can change their leaders through the ballot box, they will find other ways, even at the risk of destabilizing their countries.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kofi Annan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/if-citizens-do-not-believe-they-can-change-their-leaders-through-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/if-citizens-do-not-believe-they-can-change-their-leaders-through-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/kofi-annan-799_believe_if-citizens-do-not-believe-they-can-chan_2391978.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/kofi-annan-799_believe_if-citizens-do-not-believe-they-can-chan_2391978.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/kofi-annan-799_believe_if-citizens-do-not-believe-they-can-chan_2391978.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If citizens do not believe they can change their leaders through the ballot box, they will find other ways…” — Kofi Annan", "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": "Kofi Annan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If citizens do not believe they...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/if-citizens-do-not-believe-they-can-change-their-leaders-through-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/if-citizens-do-not-believe-they-can-change-their-leaders-through-the/#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 } } ] } ```