--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Citizenship means every four years you…" description: "\"Citizenship means every four years you put a mark somewhere and you go home and let other guys run the world. It's a very destructive ideology.\" — Noam..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/noam-chomsky-42_citizenship_citizenship-means-every-four-years-you-p_978383.jpg" --- # Citizenship means every four years you put a mark… ![“Citizenship means every four years you put a mark somewhere and you go home and let other guys run the world. It's a very destructive ideology.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/noam-chomsky-42_citizenship_citizenship-means-every-four-years-you-p_978383.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/noam-chomsky-42_citizenship_citizenship-means-every-four-years-you-p_978383.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/noam-chomsky-42_citizenship_citizenship-means-every-four-years-you-p_978383.jpg) > “Citizenship means every four years you put a mark somewhere and you go home and let other guys run the world. It's a very destructive ideology.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Citizenship reduced reduced to periodic voting, ignoring deeper civic responsibility, fostering destructive ideology. **In simple terms:** Voting alone isn’t true citizenship. Key Takeaway Engage beyond voting. Themes civic duty political apathy democracy Mood critical concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - community projects - public discourse - policy advocacy Key Concepts social contract citizen engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens influence beyond elections? - What responsibilities accompany voting? A Different Perspective Voting alone cannot change systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Ideology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideology/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Global citizenship means simply being willing to focus on the game, to notice the world and the people in it. It does not mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-sprink/global-citizenship-means-simply-being-willing-to-focus-on-the-game-to/) [Holly Sprink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-sprink/) > [Citizenship means standing up for the lives that gun violence steals from us each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/citizenship-means-standing-up-for-the-lives-that-gun-violence-steals/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Full financial citizenship means more than just a savings account and a way to transfer money and pay bills. It also requires access to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schulman/full-financial-citizenship-means-more-than-just-a-savings-account-and/) [Dan Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schulman/) > [“So the final conclusion would surely be that whereas other civilizations have been brought down by attacks of barbarians from without, ours had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/so-the-final-conclusion-would-surely-be-that-whereas-other/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [“Ideology is the enemy of joyful community life, and the most destructive ideology is the belief that creating utopia is possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-dreher/ideology-is-the-enemy-of-joyful-community-life-and-the-most/) [Rod Dreher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-dreher/) > [“I know that my late diagnosis means I am in this for years, perhaps even for life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-singleton/i-know-that-my-late-diagnosis-means-i-am-in-this-for-years-perhaps/) [Kenneth Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-singleton/) > [Well, we won the war. You know what that means. In twenty years, we'll all be driving Iraqi cars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/well-we-won-the-war-you-know-what-that-means-in-twenty-years-we-ll/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [“...your pain brand new no matter how long it lasts which now means years...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-motion/your-pain-brand-new-no-matter-how-long-it-lasts-which-now-means-years/) [Andrew Motion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-motion/) > [Citizenship means standing up for the lives that gun violence steals from us each day. I have seen the courage of parents, students, pastors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/citizenship-means-standing-up-for-the-lives-that-gun-violence-steals-2/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Citizenship means standing up for everyone's right to vote.\*\*\*](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/citizenship-means-standing-up-for-everyone-s-right-to-vote/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Citizenship means standing up for everyones right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/citizenship-means-standing-up-for-everyones-right-to-vote/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I bought a house, it's a two bedroom house, but I think it's up to me to decide how many bedrooms there are. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-bought-a-house-it-s-a-two-bedroom-house-but-i-think-it-s-up-to-me/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [All you have to do is play better than the other guy and things go well. If you don't play better than the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-parcells/all-you-have-to-do-is-play-better-than-the-other-guy-and-things-go/) [Bill Parcells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-parcells/) > [Most people are dead. Hitler. Ray Charles. Some other guys. But mostly those two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-people-are-dead-hitler-ray-charles-some-other-guys-but-mostly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All nations that have nuclear weapons think that they are responsible and it is the other guys who are irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cirincione/all-nations-that-have-nuclear-weapons-think-that-they-are-responsible/) Joseph Cirincione ## More by Noam Chomsky > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More Citizenship quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [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/) > [There can be a debate on the Citizenship Amendment Act, but why should we shelter someone who has come to India illegally from outside?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-thackeray/there-can-be-a-debate-on-the-citizenship-amendment-act-but-why-should/) [Raj Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-thackeray/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul--our Protestant idea, the right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before-you-on-this-occasion-is-the/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“Encouraging Robert E. Lee to take a job as college president, "You might be presenting to the world in such a position an example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-nelson-pendleton/encouraging-robert-e-lee-to-take-a-job-as-college-president-you-might/) William Nelson Pendleton > [“What constitutes an American? Not color nor race nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family nor the place of his birth. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ickes/what-constitutes-an-american-not-color-nor-race-nor-religion-not-the/) Harold Ickes > [In an age of interdependence, global citizenship - based on trust and sense of shared responsibility - is a crucial pillar of progress. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/in-an-age-of-interdependence-global-citizenship-based-on-trust-and/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Strengthening our identity is one way of reinforcing people's confidence and sense of citizenship and well-being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blunkett/strengthening-our-identity-is-one-way-of-reinforcing-people-s/) [David Blunkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blunkett/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Browse all 793 Citizenship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Citizenship means every four years you put a mark somewhere and you go home and let other guys run the world. 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