--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...if the citizens neglect their Duty and…" description: "\"...if the citizens neglect their Duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the publi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/noah-webster-8440_citizens_if-the-citizens-neglect-their-duty-and-p_743966.jpg" --- # ...if the citizens neglect their Duty and place… ![“...if the citizens neglect their Duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be…” quote by Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/noah-webster-8440_citizens_if-the-citizens-neglect-their-duty-and-p_743966.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/noah-webster-8440_citizens_if-the-citizens-neglect-their-duty-and-p_743966.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/noah-webster-8440_citizens_if-the-citizens-neglect-their-duty-and-p_743966.jpg) > “...if the citizens neglect their Duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be violated or disregarded.” [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Neglecting duty leads to corrupt officials, wasteful spending, and violated rights. **In simple terms:** Neglecting duty breeds corruption. Key Takeaway Uphold civic responsibility to prevent abuse. Themes civic duty corruption governance Mood cautious critical Type analytical political When to use this quote - elections - public administration - budget oversight Key Concepts political science ethics Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can ensure accountable leadership? - How does public apathy enable corruption? A Different Perspective Even with vigilance, systemic inertia can persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Citizens Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-neglect-5586696/) [Corrupt Incompetent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrupt-incompetent-2066185/) [Corrupted Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrupted-laws-5803069/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglect/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purposes Corrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purposes-corrupt-5803070/) [Revenue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenue/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Unprincipled Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unprincipled-men-2004927/) [Unworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unworthy/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted . . . . If a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/if-the-citizens-neglect-their-duty-and-place-unprincipled-men-in-2/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Was there ever a clique of such unprincipled men? Their love of office is their controlling passion. In despite of them however we shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tyler/was-there-ever-a-clique-of-such-unprincipled-men-their-love-of-office/) [John Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tyler/) > [“And am I answerable that thoughtless and unprincipled men exist whose shades of contenance may resemble mine?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fenimore-cooper/and-am-i-answerable-that-thoughtless-and-unprincipled-men-exist-whose/) [James Fenimore Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fenimore-cooper/) > [“A woefully corrupt and incompetent government is only a problem to the taxpayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-broad/a-woefully-corrupt-and-incompetent-government-is-only-a-problem-to/) [Lee Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-broad/) > [“When placing an emergency call, it is important to remember that a corrupt or incompetent cop may be on their way to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-placing-an-emergency-call-it-is-important-to-remember-that-a/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Corrupt and incompetent cops are making the world a dangerous place for good and honest police officers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/corrupt-and-incompetent-cops-are-making-the-world-a-dangerous-place/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Corrupt and incompetent police officers have a long history of being protected by their colleagues, police internal affairs and the government.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/corrupt-and-incompetent-police-officers-have-a-long-history-of-being/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Being reproached for giving to an unworthy person, Aristotle said, I did not give it to the man, but to humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/being-reproached-for-giving-to-an-unworthy-person-aristotle-said-i/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Man and woman and speech and deed and city and object should be honored with praise if praiseworthy and incur blame if unworthy, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gorgias/man-and-woman-and-speech-and-deed-and-city-and-object-should-be/) [Gorgias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gorgias/) > [For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-earthly-princes-lay-aside-their-power-when-they-rise-up-against/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Had Elijah Muhammad tried to introduce an orthodox form of Arab-oriented Islam, I doubt if he would have attracted 500 people, but he introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/had-elijah-muhammad-tried-to-introduce-an-orthodox-form-of-arab/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [You cannot will yourself to be happy while believing that you have no right to happiness, or that you are unworthy of it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/you-cannot-will-yourself-to-be-happy-while-believing-that-you-have-no/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Everyone is leaving me... nobody wants me around... am I worse than a dog then... why everything is this way? Perhaps I don't deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dari-a-malaunt/everyone-is-leaving-me-nobody-wants-me-around-am-i-worse-than-a-dog/) [Dari A. Malaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dari-a-malaunt/) ## More by Noah Webster > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [The freedom of the press is a valuable privilege; but the abuse of it, in this country, is a frightful evil. The licentiousness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-freedom-of-the-press-is-a-valuable-privilege-but-the-abuse-of-it/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [EDUCATION, n. The bringing up, as of a child; instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/education-n-the-bringing-up-as-of-a-child-instruction-formation-of/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [The education of youth, an employment of more consequence than making laws and preaching the gospel, because it lays the foundation on which both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-education-of-youth-an-employment-of-more-consequence-than-making/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Every civil government is based upon some religion or philosophy of life. Education in a nation will propagate the religion of that nation. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/every-civil-government-is-based-upon-some-religion-or-philosophy-of/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [The virtues of men are of more consequence to society than their abilities, and for this reason, the heart should be cultivated with more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-virtues-of-men-are-of-more-consequence-to-society-than-their/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [It is alleged by men of loose principles , or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/it-is-alleged-by-men-of-loose-principles-or-defective-views-of-the/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [ \[T\]he Christian religion, in its purity, is the basis, or rather the source of all genuine freedom in government. . . . and I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/t-he-christian-religion-in-its-purity-is-the-basis-or-rather-the/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [An immense effect may be produced by small powers wisely and steadily directed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/an-immense-effect-may-be-produced-by-small-powers-wisely-and-steadily/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [The Moral Law is summarily contained in the Decalogue or Ten Commandments; written by the finger of God on two tablets of stone, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-moral-law-is-summarily-contained-in-the-decalogue-or-ten/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [It is the sincere desire of the writer that our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/it-is-the-sincere-desire-of-the-writer-that-our-citizens-should-early/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Knowledge, learning, talents are not necessarily connected with sound moral and political principles… And eminent abilities, accompanied with depravity of heart, render the possessor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/knowledge-learning-talents-are-not-necessarily-connected-with-sound/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Might his last glance behold the glorious ensign of the Republic still full high advanced, its arms and trophies streaming in all their original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/might-his-last-glance-behold-the-glorious-ensign-of-the-republic/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Ability is active power, or power to perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/ability-is-active-power-or-power-to-perform/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [The Bible was America's basic textbook in all fields.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-bible-was-america-s-basic-textbook-in-all-fields/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) [Explore all 81 Noah Webster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) ## More Citizens 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 language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [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 think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. 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