--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man with a rifle is a citizen; a man…" description: "\"“A man with a rifle is a citizen; a man without one is merely a subject.”\" — Mark Horton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/mark-horton-105947_citizen_a-man-with-a-rifle-is-a-citizen-a-man-wi_3022241.jpg" --- # A man with a rifle is a citizen; a man without one is… ![“A man with a rifle is a citizen; a man without one is merely a subject.” quote by Mark Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/mark-horton-105947_citizen_a-man-with-a-rifle-is-a-citizen-a-man-wi_3022241.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/mark-horton-105947_citizen_a-man-with-a-rifle-is-a-citizen-a-man-wi_3022241.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/mark-horton-105947_citizen_a-man-with-a-rifle-is-a-citizen-a-man-wi_3022241.jpg) > ““A man with a rifle is a citizen; a man without one is merely a subject.”” Mark Horton ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distinguishes between citizenship with rights and subjects without power. **In simple terms:** Gun ownership defines citizenship. Key Takeaway Advocate for civic rights. Themes citizenship rights power politics Mood assertive analytical Type Citizen:1 Rifle:1 Rifle Citizen:0 Citizen Man:0 Man Rifle:0 When to use this quote - policy debate - civic education Key Concepts civil liberties government authority individual agency Questions to Reflect On - What defines a citizen? - How does armament affect rights? A Different Perspective May be politically charged. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Rifle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rifle/) ## Related quotes > [If it's lawful to have a rifle club to kill pheasants, it should be just as lawful to have one to kill wolves or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-it-s-lawful-to-have-a-rifle-club-to-kill-pheasants-it-should-be/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Some ppl think they are on a holy quaran or on a bible but when u push them they will end up on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/godsend/some-ppl-think-they-are-on-a-holy-quaran-or-on-a-bible-but-when-u/) Godsend > [Take this rifle, kid. Gimme that guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-bare/take-this-rifle-kid-gimme-that-guitar/) [Bobby Bare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-bare/) > [Who needs a bullet piercing, armor piercing bullet to go hunting? Who needs an assault rifle to go hunting? You can't even use the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/who-needs-a-bullet-piercing-armor-piercing-bullet-to-go-hunting-who/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [You don't have to be a rocket science to know that if Joe Teti has a rifle, and a round to go with it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-teti/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-rocket-science-to-know-that-if-joe-teti-has-a/) [Joe Teti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-teti/) > [I don't know anyone in the hunting or sporting arena that goes out with an assault rifle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manchin/i-don-t-know-anyone-in-the-hunting-or-sporting-arena-that-goes-out/) [Joe Manchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manchin/) > [“A single rifle flashed in a thicket before the regiment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/a-single-rifle-flashed-in-a-thicket-before-the-regiment/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [“What do you call a rifle with three barrels? A trifle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-rosenbloom/what-do-you-call-a-rifle-with-three-barrels-a-trifle/) Joseph Rosenbloom > [I am still ready to shake hands with anyone who designs a better assault rifle than mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalashnikov/i-am-still-ready-to-shake-hands-with-anyone-who-designs-a-better/) [Mikhail Kalashnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalashnikov/) > [“I’ve never understood how using a high-powered rifle to kill an unsuspecting animal from a safe distance makes some feel courageous and manly. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-martin/i-ve-never-understood-how-using-a-high-powered-rifle-to-kill-an/) [Wilkie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-martin/) > [I have no problem putting on a kit, carrying a big sniper rifle, and running a few thousand meters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-have-no-problem-putting-on-a-kit-carrying-a-big-sniper-rifle-and/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isoroku-yamamoto/you-cannot-invade-the-mainland-united-states-there-would-be-a-rifle/) [Isoroku Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isoroku-yamamoto/) > [The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-rifle-itself-has-no-moral-stature-since-it-has-no-will-of-its-own/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Why the rifle? Everybody knows you can’t shoot.” Who were these everybodies and would they like to stand in front of me, preferably within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/why-the-rifle-everybody-knows-you-can-t-shoot-who-were-these/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I don't think anybody who carries a rifle carries the future. Because I don't believe that you can really change the world by killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/i-don-t-think-anybody-who-carries-a-rifle-carries-the-future-because/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) ## More by Mark Horton > [The most unknown, unused and unrecognised tool of the human mind, is the recognition that attitude is always a choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-horton/the-most-unknown-unused-and-unrecognised-tool-of-the-human-mind-is/) Mark Horton Explore all 2 Mark Horton quotes ## 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": "“A man with a rifle is a citizen; a man without one is merely a subject.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Horton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-horton/a-man-with-a-rifle-is-a-citizen-a-man-without-one-is-merely-a-subject/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Citizen" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-horton/a-man-with-a-rifle-is-a-citizen-a-man-without-one-is-merely-a-subject/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/mark-horton-105947_citizen_a-man-with-a-rifle-is-a-citizen-a-man-wi_3022241.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/mark-horton-105947_citizen_a-man-with-a-rifle-is-a-citizen-a-man-wi_3022241.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/mark-horton-105947_citizen_a-man-with-a-rifle-is-a-citizen-a-man-wi_3022241.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A man with a rifle is a citizen; a man without one is merely a subject.” — Mark Horton", "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": "Mark Horton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-horton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A man with a rifle is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-horton/a-man-with-a-rifle-is-a-citizen-a-man-without-one-is-merely-a-subject/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-horton/a-man-with-a-rifle-is-a-citizen-a-man-without-one-is-merely-a-subject/#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 } } ] } ```