--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Citizenship is a tough occupation which…" description: "\"Citizenship is a tough occupation which obliges the citizen to make his own informed opinion and stand by it.\" — Martha Gellhorn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/martha-gellhorn-8061_citizen_citizenship-is-a-tough-occupation-which_566956.jpg" --- # Citizenship is a tough occupation which obliges the… ![“Citizenship is a tough occupation which obliges the citizen to make his own informed opinion and stand by it.” quote by Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/martha-gellhorn-8061_citizen_citizenship-is-a-tough-occupation-which_566956.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/martha-gellhorn-8061_citizen_citizenship-is-a-tough-occupation-which_566956.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/martha-gellhorn-8061_citizen_citizenship-is-a-tough-occupation-which_566956.jpg) > “Citizenship is a tough occupation which obliges the citizen to make his own informed opinion and stand by it.” [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Citizenship demands independent thought and the courage to stand by one's informed opinions. **In simple terms:** Think independently, act responsibly. Key Takeaway Cultivate informed, courageous civic engagement. Themes civic duty independence responsibility Mood thoughtful assertive Type philosophical political When to use this quote - voting - community activism - public debate Key Concepts democracy public discourse Questions to Reflect On - What informs your opinions? - How do you handle dissent? A Different Perspective Opinion can be socially risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Occupation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupation/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) ## Related quotes > [We are dealing with the question of the 11 million people paying their taxes, having a path to legalization and, then, ultimately, to citizenship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-are-dealing-with-the-question-of-the-11-million-people-paying/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [“Until there is equal and fair portion of opportunities apportioned for every citizen, the power structure may need to be restructured.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/until-there-is-equal-and-fair-portion-of-opportunities-apportioned/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Voting is the least arduous of a citizen's duties. He has the prior and harder duty of making up his mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-barton-perry/voting-is-the-least-arduous-of-a-citizen-s-duties-he-has-the-prior/) [Ralph Barton Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-barton-perry/) > [In your ordered verdict of guilty, you have trampled under foot every vital principle of our government. My natural rights, my civil rights, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/in-your-ordered-verdict-of-guilty-you-have-trampled-under-foot-every/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [“It is a tragedy, at rate at which EBOLA VIRUS is spreading in West Africa. It is a fatal disease in the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/it-is-a-tragedy-at-rate-at-which-ebola-virus-is-spreading-in-west/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 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/) > [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/) ## More by Martha Gellhorn > [Nothing is better for self-esteem than survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/nothing-is-better-for-self-esteem-than-survival/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [All politicians are bores and liars and fakes. I talk to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/all-politicians-are-bores-and-liars-and-fakes-i-talk-to-people/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [“This was not the velvet embracing desert sky at El Geneina; this was infinite space. The idea of no boundaries, no end, is terrifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/this-was-not-the-velvet-embracing-desert-sky-at-el-geneina-this-was/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [I do not see myself as a footnote to someone else's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/i-do-not-see-myself-as-a-footnote-to-someone-else-s-life/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [the English don't go in for imagination: imagination is considered to be improper if not downright alarmist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/the-english-don-t-go-in-for-imagination-imagination-is-considered-to/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [My definition of what makes a journey wholly or partially horrible is boredom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/my-definition-of-what-makes-a-journey-wholly-or-partially-horrible-is/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Joseph McCarthy, the Junior Republican Senator from Wisconsin, ruled America like devil king for four years. His purges were an American mirror image of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/joseph-mccarthy-the-junior-republican-senator-from-wisconsin-ruled/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Public opinion, though slow as lava, in the end forces governments towards more sanity, more justice. My heroes and heroines are all private citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/public-opinion-though-slow-as-lava-in-the-end-forces-governments/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [I daresay I was the worst bed partner in five continents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/i-daresay-i-was-the-worst-bed-partner-in-five-continents/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Once you get a tyranny, you don't easily get rid of it. Much better to remember about eternal vigilance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/once-you-get-a-tyranny-you-don-t-easily-get-rid-of-it-much-better-to/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [In the last camp they all ate grass, until the authorities forbade them to pull it up. They were accustomed to having the fruits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/in-the-last-camp-they-all-ate-grass-until-the-authorities-forbade/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Americans did not acquire their fear neurosis as the result of a traumatic experience - war devasting their country, pestilence sweeping the land, famine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/americans-did-not-acquire-their-fear-neurosis-as-the-result-of-a/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [From the earliest wars of men to our last heart-breaking worldwide effort, all we could do was kill ourselves. Now we are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/from-the-earliest-wars-of-men-to-our-last-heart-breaking-worldwide/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Why do people talk of the horrors of old age? It's great. I feel like a fine old car with the parts gradually wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/why-do-people-talk-of-the-horrors-of-old-age-it-s-great-i-feel-like-a/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [“What was new to our ears these days, and thrilling to hear, was the steadiness and justice of those who spoke, the abscence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/what-was-new-to-our-ears-these-days-and-thrilling-to-hear-was-the/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) [Explore all 84 Martha Gellhorn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) ## 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": "Citizenship is a tough occupation which obliges the citizen to make his own informed opinion and stand by it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martha Gellhorn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/citizenship-is-a-tough-occupation-which-obliges-the-citizen-to-make/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Citizen" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/citizenship-is-a-tough-occupation-which-obliges-the-citizen-to-make/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/martha-gellhorn-8061_citizen_citizenship-is-a-tough-occupation-which_566956.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/martha-gellhorn-8061_citizen_citizenship-is-a-tough-occupation-which_566956.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a8/martha-gellhorn-8061_citizen_citizenship-is-a-tough-occupation-which_566956.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Citizenship is a tough occupation which obliges the citizen to make his own informed opinion and stand by it.” — Martha Gellhorn", "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": "Martha Gellhorn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Citizenship is a tough occupation which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/citizenship-is-a-tough-occupation-which-obliges-the-citizen-to-make/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/citizenship-is-a-tough-occupation-which-obliges-the-citizen-to-make/#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 } } ] } ```