--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Two hundred years ago, our Founding…" description: "\"Two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers gave us a democracy. It was based upon the simple, yet noble, idea that government derives its validity fro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/paul-tsongas-17433_consent_two-hundred-years-ago-our-founding-fathe_728938.jpg" --- # Two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers gave us a… ![“Two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers gave us a democracy. It was based upon the simple, yet noble, idea that government derives its validity from the consent of the governed.” quote by Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/paul-tsongas-17433_consent_two-hundred-years-ago-our-founding-fathe_728938.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/paul-tsongas-17433_consent_two-hundred-years-ago-our-founding-fathe_728938.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/paul-tsongas-17433_consent_two-hundred-years-ago-our-founding-fathe_728938.jpg) > “Two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers gave us a democracy. It was based upon the simple, yet noble, idea that government derives its validity from the consent of the governed.” [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy rests on the principle that legitimate authority comes from the people's consent. **In simple terms:** Government must have the people's approval. Key Takeaway Ensure governance reflects popular will. Themes democracy legitimacy citizen participation Mood reflective optimistic Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - public policy formation - civic education - community organizing Key Concepts social contract political theory consent of the governed Questions to Reflect On - How do we measure true consent? - What mechanisms ensure ongoing legitimacy? A Different Perspective Consent can be vague, leading to disputes over representation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent/) [Consent of the governed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent-of-the-governed/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding-fathers/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [“Fortunately, there was government by consent of the governed in America—but just as unfortunately, such governments dearly hate to admit a mistake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-fehrenbach/fortunately-there-was-government-by-consent-of-the-governed-in/) [T. R. Fehrenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-fehrenbach/) > [Our nation is built on the bedrock principle that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-cronauer/our-nation-is-built-on-the-bedrock-principle-that-governments-derive/) [Adrian Cronauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-cronauer/) > [“My country again! Mr. Wilson, you have a country; but what country have I, or any one like me, born of slave mothers? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/my-country-again-mr-wilson-you-have-a-country-but-what-country-have-i/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [“governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-of-independence/governments-are-instituted-among-men-deriving-their-just-powers-from/) Declaration of Independence > [“above all, Locke’s transforming idea that government was established and maintained by the consent of the governed, in which all men had an equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macgregor-burns/above-all-locke-s-transforming-idea-that-government-was-established/) [James MacGregor Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macgregor-burns/) > [Democratic government requires the consent of the governed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcdonnell/democratic-government-requires-the-consent-of-the-governed/) [John McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcdonnell/) > [“The authority of government, even such as I am willing to submit to— for I will cheerfully obey those who know and can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-authority-of-government-even-such-as-i-am-willing-to-submit-to/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even government by the consent of the governed, as in our own Constitution, must be limited in its power to act against its people;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/even-government-by-the-consent-of-the-governed-as-in-our-own/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [Government itself is founded upon the great doctrine of the consent of the governed, and has its cornerstone in the memorable principle that men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-stanford/government-itself-is-founded-upon-the-great-doctrine-of-the-consent/) [Leland Stanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-stanford/) > ["All men are created equal." "Government by consent of the governed." "Give me liberty or give me death." And those are not just clever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/all-men-are-created-equal-government-by-consent-of-the-governed-give/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Governments rest on the consent of the governed, and that it is the right of the people to alter or abolish them at will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/governments-rest-on-the-consent-of-the-governed-and-that-it-is-the/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [The consent of the governed" is more than a safeguard against ignorant tyrants: it is an insurance against benevolent despots as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-consent-of-the-governed-is-more-than-a-safeguard-against-ignorant/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Even the most despotic government cannot stand except for the consent of the governed… Immediately the subject ceases to fear the despotic force, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/even-the-most-despotic-government-cannot-stand-except-for-the-consent/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The public needs to know the kinds of things a government does in its name, or the 'consent of the governed' is meaningless... The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-public-needs-to-know-the-kinds-of-things-a-government-does-in-its/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [“Democracy requires accountability and consent of the governed, which is only possible if citizens know what is being done in their name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/democracy-requires-accountability-and-consent-of-the-governed-which/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) ## More by Paul Tsongas > [You are Americans. You love this country. Together we are entrusted with the principles that represent mankind's greatest political and social achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/you-are-americans-you-love-this-country-together-we-are-entrusted/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [Breaststroke is an athletic event; butterfly is a political statement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/breaststroke-is-an-athletic-event-butterfly-is-a-political-statement/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [Thinking in generations also means enabling our young to have a decent standard of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/thinking-in-generations-also-means-enabling-our-young-to-have-a/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [This land, this water, this air, this planet - this is our legacy to our young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/this-land-this-water-this-air-this-planet-this-is-our-legacy-to-our/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [You can't have employment and despise employers ... No goose, no golden eggs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/you-can-t-have-employment-and-despise-employers-no-goose-no-golden/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [It was a myth that's often perpetuated at commencement that holds that only hope and promise lie beyond the halls of academe. Don't worry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/it-was-a-myth-that-s-often-perpetuated-at-commencement-that-holds/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [Journey with me to a true commitment to our environment. Journey with me to the serenity of leaving to our children a planet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/journey-with-me-to-a-true-commitment-to-our-environment-journey-with/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [Let's try winning and see what it feels like. If we don't like it, we can go back to our traditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/let-s-try-winning-and-see-what-it-feels-like-if-we-don-t-like-it-we/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [Our destiny is greatness and we must return to its fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/our-destiny-is-greatness-and-we-must-return-to-its-fulfillment/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [In this era of the global village, the tide of democracy is running. And it will not cease, not in China, not in South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/in-this-era-of-the-global-village-the-tide-of-democracy-is-running/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [I wish I had spent more time at the office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/i-wish-i-had-spent-more-time-at-the-office/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [I am an American. I love this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/i-am-an-american-i-love-this-country/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [When George Bush used the Willie Horton ad, he knew what he was doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/when-george-bush-used-the-willie-horton-ad-he-knew-what-he-was-doing/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [America is hope. It is compassion. It is excellence. It is valor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/america-is-hope-it-is-compassion-it-is-excellence-it-is-valor/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [No one on his deathbed ever said, "I wish I had spent more time on my business."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/no-one-on-his-deathbed-ever-said-i-wish-i-had-spent-more-time-on-my/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) [Explore all 37 Paul Tsongas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) ## More Consent quotes > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [“When a lady does consent to listen to an argument against her own opinions, she is always predetermined to withstand it - to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/when-a-lady-does-consent-to-listen-to-an-argument-against-her-own/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [But a most pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-a-most-pernicious-error-widely-prevails-that-scripture-has-only/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Well I think that what we're seeing now is that the people feel like they, the people in Congress don't have their consent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/well-i-think-that-what-we-re-seeing-now-is-that-the-people-feel-like/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Even if a civil society were to be dissolved by the consent of all its members (e.g., if a people inhabiting an island decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/even-if-a-civil-society-were-to-be-dissolved-by-the-consent-of-all/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [We live in an age rather skeptical of truth, of its existence." There is a "tendency to believe that nothing is definitive, and think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/we-live-in-an-age-rather-skeptical-of-truth-of-its-existence-there-is/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Silence does not mean yes. No can be thought and felt but never said. It can be screamed silently on the inside. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-reed/silence-does-not-mean-yes-no-can-be-thought-and-felt-but-never-said/) [Amy Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-reed/) > [I can never consent to being dictated to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tyler/i-can-never-consent-to-being-dictated-to/) [John Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tyler/) > [When all moves equally (says Pascal), nothing seems to move as in a vessel under sail; and when all run by common consent into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/when-all-moves-equally-says-pascal-nothing-seems-to-move-as-in-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“There are some wounds unreachable by words, some sins immune to apology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hatvany/there-are-some-wounds-unreachable-by-words-some-sins-immune-to-apology/) [Amy Hatvany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hatvany/) > [Many people do not realize that where unions have bargaining rights employers cannot raise wages or improve benefit plans any more than they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-wilson/many-people-do-not-realize-that-where-unions-have-bargaining-rights/) [Charles E. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-wilson/) > [Fate does not seek our consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/fate-does-not-seek-our-consent/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [That is a list of the Territories that yielded to Ebon Askavi. They now stand within the shadow of the Keep. They are mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bishop/that-is-a-list-of-the-territories-that-yielded-to-ebon-askavi-they/) [Anne Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bishop/) [Browse all 676 Consent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers gave us a democracy. 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