--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was fear that was then making you a…" description: "\"It was fear that was then making you a good citizen, which is never a lasting teacher of duty.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_citizen_it-was-fear-that-was-then-making-you-a-g_613381.jpg" --- # It was fear that was then making you a good citizen, which… ![“It was fear that was then making you a good citizen, which is never a lasting teacher of duty.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_citizen_it-was-fear-that-was-then-making-you-a-g_613381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_citizen_it-was-fear-that-was-then-making-you-a-g_613381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_citizen_it-was-fear-that-was-then-making-you-a-g_613381.jpg) > “It was fear that was then making you a good citizen, which is never a lasting teacher of duty.” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear can motivate compliance, but it fails to instill genuine duty or lasting commitment. **In simple terms:** Fear makes you obey, not truly serve. Key Takeaway Cultivate intrinsic motivation. Themes civic duty motivation ethics Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - public service - education - leadership training Key Concepts Stoicism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster duty beyond fear? - What values replace fear as motivator? A Different Perspective Fear may produce short‑term obedience but not long‑term responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Citizen Lasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen-lasting-4976654/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-making-499220/) [Good citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-citizen/) [Lasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasting/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teacher Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher-duty-2429725/) ## Related quotes > [Fear is not a lasting teacher of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/fear-is-not-a-lasting-teacher-of-duty/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“There is some good in every person if you can find it. It is a teacher's duty to find and develop it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/there-is-some-good-in-every-person-if-you-can-find-it-it-is-a-teacher/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [The teacher’s first duty is to watch over the environment, and this takes precedence over all the rest. It’s influence is indirect, but unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-teacher-s-first-duty-is-to-watch-over-the-environment-and-this/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“Alas!' replied Maître Mouche, 'she must be trained to take her part in the struggle of life. One does not come into this world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/alas-replied-ma-tre-mouche-she-must-be-trained-to-take-her-part-in/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [Love is a better teacher than duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/love-is-a-better-teacher-than-duty/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I am a legal immigrant whose parents went from Russia to China to Chile to finally reach the United States and thereby give me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-medavoy/i-am-a-legal-immigrant-whose-parents-went-from-russia-to-china-to/) [Mike Medavoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-medavoy/) > [And what is a good citizen? Simply one who never says, does or thinks anything that is unusual. Schools are maintained in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/and-what-is-a-good-citizen-simply-one-who-never-says-does-or-thinks/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I had a simple goal in life: to be true to my parents and our country as an honorable son, a caring brother, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benigno-aquino-iii/i-had-a-simple-goal-in-life-to-be-true-to-my-parents-and-our-country/) [Benigno Aquino III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benigno-aquino-iii/) > [The reason that a good citizen does not use such destructive means to become wealthier is that, if everyone did so, we would all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/the-reason-that-a-good-citizen-does-not-use-such-destructive-means-to/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [I think it's easier than ever to hear only what you want to hear. That doesn't make a good citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-pariser/i-think-it-s-easier-than-ever-to-hear-only-what-you-want-to-hear-that/) [Eli Pariser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-pariser/) > [A poet is a good citizen turned inside out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/a-poet-is-a-good-citizen-turned-inside-out/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [You must completely dedicate yourselves to it. To do less will be to let down your country, your state, your parents, your teachers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/you-must-completely-dedicate-yourselves-to-it-to-do-less-will-be-to/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [God help anyone who disobeys my recycling system. I have all the separated bins. I'm very adamant about it because I try to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/god-help-anyone-who-disobeys-my-recycling-system-i-have-all-the/) [Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/) > [To be a good citizen, it's important to be able to put yourself in other people's shoes and see the big picture. If everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-pariser/to-be-a-good-citizen-it-s-important-to-be-able-to-put-yourself-in/) [Eli Pariser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-pariser/) > [I am here, a citizen of this country, and I'm saying, 'Hey, the system failed me. I am a good citizen. I contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-am-here-a-citizen-of-this-country-and-i-m-saying-hey-the-system/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Citizen 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 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'm less concerned about whether being a good corporate citizen burnishes a company's reputation. That's just an added benefit. I believe it's a responsibility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-m-less-concerned-about-whether-being-a-good-corporate-citizen/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [The typical American citizen is the business man. The typical business man is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a 'big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-typical-american-citizen-is-the-business-man-the-typical-business/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [I am here, a citizen of this country, and I'm saying, 'Hey, the system failed me. I am a good citizen. I contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-am-here-a-citizen-of-this-country-and-i-m-saying-hey-the-system/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [“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/) > [If the many allegations made to this date are true, then the burglars who broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/if-the-many-allegations-made-to-this-date-are-true-then-the-burglars/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [Individuality is the aim of political liberty. By leaving to the citizen as much freedom of action and of being as comports with order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/individuality-is-the-aim-of-political-liberty-by-leaving-to-the/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [Up until the point that you're a citizen, we wanna continue to make sure we understand who you are and why you're here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirstjen-nielsen/up-until-the-point-that-you-re-a-citizen-we-wanna-continue-to-make/) [Kirstjen Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirstjen-nielsen/) > [To be a good citizen, it's important to be able to put yourself in other people's shoes and see the big picture. If everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-pariser/to-be-a-good-citizen-it-s-important-to-be-able-to-put-yourself-in/) [Eli Pariser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-pariser/) > [“I am a citizen of this country,” I declare, “and Mr. Mayor, tonight I will be a citizen of this city when I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/i-am-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-declare-and-mr-mayor-tonight-i-will/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [“In a country of ideas, consciousness is its' citizen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/in-a-country-of-ideas-consciousness-is-its-citizen/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-have-no-country-to-fight-for-my-country-is-the-earth-i-am-a-citizen/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) [Browse all 464 Citizen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was fear that was then making you a good citizen, which is never a lasting teacher of duty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/it-was-fear-that-was-then-making-you-a-good-citizen-which-is-never-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Citizen" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/it-was-fear-that-was-then-making-you-a-good-citizen-which-is-never-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_citizen_it-was-fear-that-was-then-making-you-a-g_613381.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_citizen_it-was-fear-that-was-then-making-you-a-g_613381.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_citizen_it-was-fear-that-was-then-making-you-a-g_613381.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was fear that was then making you a good citizen, which is never a lasting teacher of duty.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero", "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": "Marcus Tullius Cicero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It was fear that was then...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/it-was-fear-that-was-then-making-you-a-good-citizen-which-is-never-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/it-was-fear-that-was-then-making-you-a-good-citizen-which-is-never-a/#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 } } ] } ```