--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important office... that of…" description: "\"The most important office... that of private citizen.\" — Louis D. Brandeis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12b/louis-d-brandeis-5049_citizens_the-most-important-office-that-of-privat_871062.png" --- # The most important office... that of private citizen. ![“The most important office... that of private citizen.” quote by Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12b/louis-d-brandeis-5049_citizens_the-most-important-office-that-of-privat_871062.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12b/louis-d-brandeis-5049_citizens_the-most-important-office-that-of-privat_871062.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12b/louis-d-brandeis-5049_citizens_the-most-important-office-that-of-privat_871062.png) > “The most important office... that of private citizen.” [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The most vital role is that of an ordinary citizen, emphasizing civic responsibility over official positions. **In simple terms:** Citizen role is most important. Key Takeaway Engage in community life. Themes civic duty public service democracy citizenship Mood inspirational thoughtful Type civic philosophical When to use this quote - voting - volunteering - local activism Key Concepts political theory social contract ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can ordinary citizens influence change? - What responsibilities accompany citizenship? A Different Perspective Power can be limited without institutional authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-office-704211/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Office Private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office-private-613675/) [Private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private/) [Private Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-citizen-613673/) ## Related quotes > [What I have desired to do is to make the people of Boston realize that the most important office, and the one which all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/what-i-have-desired-to-do-is-to-make-the-people-of-boston-realize/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [The most important office, and the one which all of us can and should fill, is that of private citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-most-important-office-and-the-one-which-all-of-us-can-and-should/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [“What I have desired to do is to make the people of Boston realize that the most important office, and the one which all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-brandeis/what-i-have-desired-to-do-is-to-make-the-people-of-boston-realize-2/) [Louis Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-brandeis/) > [“The most important political office is that of private citizen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-brandeis/the-most-important-political-office-is-that-of-private-citizen/) [Louis Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-brandeis/) > [The most important political office is that of the private citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-most-important-political-office-is-that-of-the-private-citizen/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [In a democracy, the most important office is the office of citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/in-a-democracy-the-most-important-office-is-the-office-of-citizen/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Enough is enough. Six years you serve the countries. You been working hard. You sacrifice your time even your life. And, even your family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thaksin-shinawatra/enough-is-enough-six-years-you-serve-the-countries-you-been-working/) [Thaksin Shinawatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thaksin-shinawatra/) > [I really enjoy the lattitude I have with being a private citizen. I can get a lot done. I am good with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-really-enjoy-the-lattitude-i-have-with-being-a-private-citizen-i/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [The new political gospel: public office is private graft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-new-political-gospel-public-office-is-private-graft/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Generally office and home were far apart, and home was much more important than office. I was not ashamed of valuing my private life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-athill/generally-office-and-home-were-far-apart-and-home-was-much-more/) [Diana Athill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-athill/) > [The press, important as is its office, is but the servant of the human intellect, and its ministry is for good or for evil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/the-press-important-as-is-its-office-is-but-the-servant-of-the-human/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [The less important you are in an office, the more they expect the happy smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/the-less-important-you-are-in-an-office-the-more-they-expect-the/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [I definitely think people think celebrities have it easy. I think they have it twice as hard as someone going to a nine-to-five sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mckenna/i-definitely-think-people-think-celebrities-have-it-easy-i-think-they/) [Megan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mckenna/) > [“And it’s not very easy to refute him. He is our skeptic; a very important office.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/and-it-s-not-very-easy-to-refute-him-he-is-our-skeptic-a-very/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [As Members of Congress, we should not be using public office for private gain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-jackson-lee/as-members-of-congress-we-should-not-be-using-public-office-for/) [Sheila Jackson Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-jackson-lee/) ## More by Louis D. Brandeis > [Men feared witches and burned women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/men-feared-witches-and-burned-women/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [The goose that lays golden eggs has been considered a most valuable possession. But even more profitable is the privilege of taking the golden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been-considered-a-most-valuable/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Fear of serious injury cannot alone justify suppression of free speech and assembly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/fear-of-serious-injury-cannot-alone-justify-suppression-of-free/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [We gain nothing by trading the tyranny of capital for the tyranny of labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/we-gain-nothing-by-trading-the-tyranny-of-capital-for-the-tyranny-of/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the Government's purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/experience-should-teach-us-to-be-most-on-our-guard-to-protect-liberty/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill it teaches the whole people by example. Crime is contagious. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/our-government-is-the-potent-the-omnipresent-teacher-for-good-or-for/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [What are the American ideals? They are the development of the individual for his own and the common good; the development of the individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/what-are-the-american-ideals-they-are-the-development-of-the/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/most-of-the-things-worth-doing-in-the-world-had-been-declared/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [What I have desired to do is to make the people of Boston realize that the most important office, and the one which all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/what-i-have-desired-to-do-is-to-make-the-people-of-boston-realize/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/if-we-desire-respect-for-the-law-we-must-first-make-the-law/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Fear of serious injury alone cannot justify oppression of free speech and assembly. Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/fear-of-serious-injury-alone-cannot-justify-oppression-of-free-speech/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [I abhor averages. I like the individual case. A man may have six meals one day and none the next, making an average of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/i-abhor-averages-i-like-the-individual-case-a-man-may-have-six-meals/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Organisation can never be a substitute for initiative and for judgement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/organisation-can-never-be-a-substitute-for-initiative-and-for/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Let no American imagine that Zionism is inconsistent with patriotism. Multiple loyalties are objectionable only if they are inconsistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/let-no-american-imagine-that-zionism-is-inconsistent-with-patriotism/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [“The protection guaranteed by the Amendments is much broader in scope. The makers of our Constitution undertook to secure conditions favorable to the pursuit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-protection-guaranteed-by-the-amendments-is-much-broader-in-scope/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) [Explore all 104 Louis D. Brandeis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) ## More Citizens quotes > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/) [Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Without the ability to talk about government power, there's no way for citizens to make sure this power isn't being misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/without-the-ability-to-talk-about-government-power-there-s-no-way-for/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I will stand up for is what I think is right and for the best interests of the citizens of the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/what-i-will-stand-up-for-is-what-i-think-is-right-and-for-the-best/) [Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/) [Browse all 4,189 Citizens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most important office... that of private citizen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis D. 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