--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe in the critical importance of…" description: "\"I believe in the critical importance of participating in the political system - from voting to standing for election. It's both rewarding and necessary..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/michael-nutter-14707_believe_i-believe-in-the-critical-importance-of_1206345.jpg" --- # I believe in the critical importance of participating in… ![“I believe in the critical importance of participating in the political system - from voting to standing for election. It's both rewarding and necessary that men and women of good will and clear thinking engage in honest, open debate.” quote by Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/michael-nutter-14707_believe_i-believe-in-the-critical-importance-of_1206345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/michael-nutter-14707_believe_i-believe-in-the-critical-importance-of_1206345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/michael-nutter-14707_believe_i-believe-in-the-critical-importance-of_1206345.jpg) > “I believe in the critical importance of participating in the political system - from voting to standing for election. It's both rewarding and necessary that men and women of good will and clear thinking engage in honest, open debate.” [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Active civic participation strengthens democracy and ensures diverse voices shape policy. **In simple terms:** Voting and running for office matter. Key Takeaway Engage in politics at any level. Themes civic duty democracy engagement Mood inspirational determined Type speech call to action When to use this quote - voter registration drives - running for local office - public forums - policy advocacy Key Concepts political theory public policy community organizing Questions to Reflect On - How can you encourage others to vote? - What barriers stop you from running for office? A Different Perspective People may feel disempowered or apathetic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Clear thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-thinking/) [Critical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/) [Critical Importance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical-importance-338642/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-in/) [Importance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance/) [Importance Participating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance-participating-3638219/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Open Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-debate-487752/) [Participating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participating/) [Participating Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participating-political-2924612/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-system/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [There is something about participating; it is almost my religion. If the world is still here in 100 years, people will know the importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/there-is-something-about-participating-it-is-almost-my-religion-if/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [In a lifetime of observing and participating in political debate, I have seen a lot of meanness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/in-a-lifetime-of-observing-and-participating-in-political-debate-i/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Journalism is a way of voicing opinion, of participating in the political, social, or cultural debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/journalism-is-a-way-of-voicing-opinion-of-participating-in-the/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [The critical importance of honest journalism and a free flowing, respectful national conversation needs to be had in our country. But it is being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/the-critical-importance-of-honest-journalism-and-a-free-flowing/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [The United States Navy is of critical importance to the defense of this country and to maintaining freedom of the seas internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-united-states-navy-is-of-critical-importance-to-the-defense-of/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [“Halfway through the televised debate I kick my boot into the screen. Even on mute I can't stand it. It feels good to smash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-comeau/halfway-through-the-televised-debate-i-kick-my-boot-into-the-screen/) [Joey Comeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-comeau/) > [As a combat veteran, I am keenly aware of the critical importance of authorizing funding for our military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/as-a-combat-veteran-i-am-keenly-aware-of-the-critical-importance-of/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [A father is a person who's around, participating in a child's life. He's a teacher who helps to guide and shape and mold that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/a-father-is-a-person-who-s-around-participating-in-a-child-s-life-he/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [I can officially state that my government and myself believe that all over Europe we need to open a debate on the 'drug question'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-papandreou/i-can-officially-state-that-my-government-and-myself-believe-that-all/) [George Papandreou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-papandreou/) > [“If we conceive of free speech as promoting the search for truth—as the metaphor of “the marketplace of ideas” suggests—we should be troubled whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-healy/if-we-conceive-of-free-speech-as-promoting-the-search-for-truth-as/) [Thomas Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-healy/) > [This country is about, in my judgment, aggressive, open debate. There is an old saying: When everyone is thinking the same thing, no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-dorgan/this-country-is-about-in-my-judgment-aggressive-open-debate-there-is/) [Byron Dorgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-dorgan/) > [“the instant she made a point of telling me I was just as good as them, I saw that the whole question was open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bird/the-instant-she-made-a-point-of-telling-me-i-was-just-as-good-as-them/) [Sarah Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bird/) > [I think there are a lot of people who feel very passionate about needing to have an open debate. And I think it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-think-there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-feel-very-passionate-about/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Open debate and full discourse on the topic of torture is a double-edged sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-d-ellison/open-debate-and-full-discourse-on-the-topic-of-torture-is-a-double/) [Charles D Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-d-ellison/) > [Our schools should be places that encourage the open debate of ideas and teach important morals to our young people so that they know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tuberville/our-schools-should-be-places-that-encourage-the-open-debate-of-ideas/) [Tommy Tuberville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tuberville/) ## More by Michael Nutter > [Politics in Philadelphia is a contact sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/politics-in-philadelphia-is-a-contact-sport/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [For those of us in the political business, generally, it's been pretty much an unwritten but understood rule that family and children are out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/for-those-of-us-in-the-political-business-generally-it-s-been-pretty/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [Everyone felt comfortable with these guys and what their vision was, and when they said they want to keep the staff intact, that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/everyone-felt-comfortable-with-these-guys-and-what-their-vision-was/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [There is no Democratic or Republican way to fill a pothole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/there-is-no-democratic-or-republican-way-to-fill-a-pothole/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [Mayors could never get away with the kind of nonsense that goes on in Washington. In our world, you either picked up the trash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/mayors-could-never-get-away-with-the-kind-of-nonsense-that-goes-on-in/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [If you want to act like a butthead, your butt is going to get locked up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/if-you-want-to-act-like-a-butthead-your-butt-is-going-to-get-locked-up/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [Somehow, someway, for some people there's an automatic assumption that a mayor who is African-American or some other elected official has to support another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/somehow-someway-for-some-people-there-s-an-automatic-assumption-that/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [Philly is a place where people love change as long as things stay the same for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/philly-is-a-place-where-people-love-change-as-long-as-things-stay-the/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [If you walk into somebody's office with your hair uncombed and a pick in the back, and your shoes untied, and your pants half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/if-you-walk-into-somebody-s-office-with-your-hair-uncombed-and-a-pick/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [I'm honored to serve as mayor of my hometown where our founders started America with three simple words: 'We, the people.' And when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/i-m-honored-to-serve-as-mayor-of-my-hometown-where-our-founders/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [We need sensible gun safety measures. The federal government could do something about this; they could show up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/we-need-sensible-gun-safety-measures-the-federal-government-could-do/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [What the mayors care about is, 'How can I get money to invest in the infrastructure in my city? How do we put people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/what-the-mayors-care-about-is-how-can-i-get-money-to-invest-in-the/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [We are serious about our music here in Philadelphia, and jazz has meant a lot to this city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/we-are-serious-about-our-music-here-in-philadelphia-and-jazz-has/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [A father is a person who's around, participating in a child's life. He's a teacher who helps to guide and shape and mold that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/a-father-is-a-person-who-s-around-participating-in-a-child-s-life-he/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [Our economy grows from the middle out, not the top down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/our-economy-grows-from-the-middle-out-not-the-top-down/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) [Explore all 45 Michael Nutter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe in the critical importance of participating in the political system - from voting to standing for election. It's both rewarding and necessary that men and women of good will and clear thinking engage in honest, open debate.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Nutter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/i-believe-in-the-critical-importance-of-participating-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/i-believe-in-the-critical-importance-of-participating-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/michael-nutter-14707_believe_i-believe-in-the-critical-importance-of_1206345.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/michael-nutter-14707_believe_i-believe-in-the-critical-importance-of_1206345.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/michael-nutter-14707_believe_i-believe-in-the-critical-importance-of_1206345.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believe in the critical importance of participating in the political system - from voting to standing for…” — Michael Nutter", "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": "Michael Nutter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believe in the critical importance...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/i-believe-in-the-critical-importance-of-participating-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/i-believe-in-the-critical-importance-of-participating-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```