---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a soldier, fighting for this…"
description: "\"Being a soldier, fighting for this country, is neither Republican nor Democrat.\" — Max Cleland"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/max-cleland-38234_country_being-a-soldier-fighting-for-this-countr_62208.png"
---

#  Being a soldier, fighting for this country, is neither…

![“Being a soldier, fighting for this country, is neither Republican nor Democrat.” quote by Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/max-cleland-38234_country_being-a-soldier-fighting-for-this-countr_62208.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/max-cleland-38234_country_being-a-soldier-fighting-for-this-countr_62208.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/max-cleland-38234_country_being-a-soldier-fighting-for-this-countr_62208.png)

> “Being a soldier, fighting for this country, is neither Republican nor Democrat.”

[Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The statement asserts that military service transcends partisan politics, emphasizing duty to the nation over party affiliation.

**In simple terms:** Service beyond politics

Key Takeaway

Patriotism is nonpartisan

Themes

civic duty political neutrality national unity military service

Mood

respectful serious

Type

political military

When to use this quote

- political debates
- military recruitment
- public policy discussions

Key Concepts

nonpartisanship civic responsibility

Practical Applications

- public speeches
- educational curricula

Questions to Reflect On

- How does partisanship affect perceptions of military service?
- Can patriotism be truly apolitical?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm still a soldier, fighting with my pen and paper for peace till the day I cease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-jal/i-m-still-a-soldier-fighting-with-my-pen-and-paper-for-peace-till-the/)

[Emmanuel Jal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-jal/)

> [The way we're going to win elections in this country is not to become Republican lite. The way we're going to win elections in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/the-way-we-re-going-to-win-elections-in-this-country-is-not-to-become/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [I revere the history of my party, most particularly the value it has always placed on the worth and dignity of the individual, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/i-revere-the-history-of-my-party-most-particularly-the-value-it-has/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [When I read the script of 'The Wall,' I saw how much different the war looks from the point of view of a soldier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/when-i-read-the-script-of-the-wall-i-saw-how-much-different-the-war/)

[Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/)

> [One of the great joys this year and the year before has been how all of the people in this body, men and women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hayes/one-of-the-great-joys-this-year-and-the-year-before-has-been-how-all/)

[Robin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hayes/)

> [Don't you just love watching people say they're gonna kill themselves because they get yelled at? Then you look at a different life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/don-t-you-just-love-watching-people-say-they-re-gonna-kill-themselves/)

[Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/)

> [There’s no way I’m going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-no-way-i-m-going-to-put-myself-through-sandhurst-and-then-sit/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Let the one fight for his flag, and the other for his ideal, and let them both imagine that they are fighting for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/let-the-one-fight-for-his-flag-and-the-other-for-his-ideal-and-let/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [This country is in a crisis. And if you're fighting to save this country, if you're fighting to take this country back, it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/this-country-is-in-a-crisis-and-if-you-re-fighting-to-save-this/)

[Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/)

> [“Never confuse fighting for one's government with fighting for one's country.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/never-confuse-fighting-for-one-s-government-with-fighting-for-one-s/)

[J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/)

> [“Imagine fighting for a country where the only civilian you know is a Chinese laundryman!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/imagine-fighting-for-a-country-where-the-only-civilian-you-know-is-a/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

> [I'm fighting for real change, not just partisan change where everybody else gets rich but you. I'm fighting all of us across the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-fighting-for-real-change-not-just-partisan-change-where-everybody/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [In the end, my story, in Iraq and afterward, is about more than just killing people or even fighting for my country. It's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/in-the-end-my-story-in-iraq-and-afterward-is-about-more-than-just/)

[Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/)

> [As a 12-year Army veteran injured fighting for a country I love, I know as well as any that our enemies in the Middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mast/as-a-12-year-army-veteran-injured-fighting-for-a-country-i-love-i/)

[Brian Mast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mast/)

> [When we talk about fighting for our country, we're talking about our vote, our vote is our arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/when-we-talk-about-fighting-for-our-country-we-re-talking-about-our/)

[Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/)

## More by Max Cleland

> [I'm not going to be part of looking at information only partially. I'm not going to be part of just coming to quick conclusions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/i-m-not-going-to-be-part-of-looking-at-information-only-partially-i-m/)

[Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

> [“Nem mindig hittem hogy erő fakadhat egy összetört szívből, vagy az isteni ösvény meglátható a tragédiában. De most már hiszem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/nem-mindig-hittem-hogy-er-fakadhat-egy-sszet-rt-sz-vb-l-vagy-az/)

[Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

> [I volunteered 35 years ago to go to Vietnam and the guy I was running against got out of going to Vietnam with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/i-volunteered-35-years-ago-to-go-to-vietnam-and-the-guy-i-was-running/)

[Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

> [Someone once said, 'Adversity introduces a man to himself.' For some reason, that's scary, but most people discover that adversity does make them stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/someone-once-said-adversity-introduces-a-man-to-himself-for-some/)

[Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

> [The commission had to subpoena the F.A.A. for documents, had to subpoena NORAD for documents and they will never get the full story. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/the-commission-had-to-subpoena-the-f-a-a-for-documents-had-to/)

[Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

> [Our mission is to go after Al Qaeda, not the Taliban. Right now, they are in Pakistan, not Afghanistan. We should go after them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/our-mission-is-to-go-after-al-qaeda-not-the-taliban-right-now-they/)

[Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

> [John Kerry's service did not end in Vietnam. It began there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/john-kerry-s-service-did-not-end-in-vietnam-it-began-there/)

[Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

> [We are running out of time. We need a strategy to win in Iraq or an exit strategy to leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/we-are-running-out-of-time-we-need-a-strategy-to-win-in-iraq-or-an/)

[Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

> [Within the soul of each Vietnam veteran there is probably something that says "Bad war, good soldier." Only now are Americans beginning to separate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/within-the-soul-of-each-vietnam-veteran-there-is-probably-something/)

[Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

> [Then I heard this young veteran on TV speaking about the war. It was John Kerry. He put everything I was feeling into words.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/then-i-heard-this-young-veteran-on-tv-speaking-about-the-war-it-was/)

[Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

> [The Bible tells me that no greater love has a man than to lay down his life for his friends. John Kerry's fellow crewmates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/the-bible-tells-me-that-no-greater-love-has-a-man-than-to-lay-down/)

[Max Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

[Explore all 12 Max Cleland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/)

## More Country quotes

> [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/)

[Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/)

> [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/)

[Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/)

> [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/)

[Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/)

[Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/)

> [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/)

[Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/)

> [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/)

[Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/)

> [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/)

[Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/)

> [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/)

[Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/)

> [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/)

[Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/)

[Browse all 29,881 Country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Being a soldier, fighting for this country, is neither Republican nor Democrat.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Max Cleland"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/being-a-soldier-fighting-for-this-country-is-neither-republican-nor/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Country"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/being-a-soldier-fighting-for-this-country-is-neither-republican-nor/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/max-cleland-38234_country_being-a-soldier-fighting-for-this-countr_62208.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/max-cleland-38234_country_being-a-soldier-fighting-for-this-countr_62208.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/922/max-cleland-38234_country_being-a-soldier-fighting-for-this-countr_62208.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Being a soldier, fighting for this country, is neither Republican nor Democrat.” — Max Cleland",
                "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": "Max Cleland",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cleland/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Being a soldier, fighting for this...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/being-a-soldier-fighting-for-this-country-is-neither-republican-nor/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cleland/being-a-soldier-fighting-for-this-country-is-neither-republican-nor/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
