--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: accountable government does not come…" description: "\"“accountable government does not come through elections. It comes through respect for law, through public spirit and through a culture of confession. T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/roger-scruton-971_accountable_accountable-government-does-not-come-thr_2831688.jpg" --- # accountable government does not come through elections. It… ![“accountable government does not come through elections. It comes through respect for law, through public spirit and through a culture of confession. To” quote by Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/roger-scruton-971_accountable_accountable-government-does-not-come-thr_2831688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/roger-scruton-971_accountable_accountable-government-does-not-come-thr_2831688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/roger-scruton-971_accountable_accountable-government-does-not-come-thr_2831688.jpg) > ““accountable government does not come through elections. It comes through respect for law, through public spirit and through a culture of confession. To”” [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that accountable governance arises from respect for law, public spirit, and a culture of confession, not merely elections. **In simple terms:** Accountable government needs law, spirit, confession, not just votes. Key Takeaway Foster legal respect and openness. Themes governance accountability law Mood critical inquisitive Type political ethical When to use this quote - public policy - community building - transparency Key Concepts political theory civic ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can a culture of confession be built? - What role does public spirit play? A Different Perspective Implementation can be hindered by entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable/) [Accountable Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable-government-292510/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-does-242096/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Public Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-spirit-1488484/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [I am firmly of the view that the Missouri citizens deserve transparent and accountable government, especially in the expenditure of their tax dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-firmly-of-the-view-that-the-missouri-citizens-deserve/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [As long as the government's actions are secret, it cannot be held accountable. 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Nothing is more evident in The Federalist than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/western-democracies-did-not-create-the-virtue-of-citizenship-on-the/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [“If one looks back to the French Revolution, one sees just how easy it is for the doctrine of “human rights” to become an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/if-one-looks-back-to-the-french-revolution-one-sees-just-how-easy-it/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [“I say it was immediately apparent, but it was not apparent to the intellectual class, which has remained largely wedded to the post-war consensus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/i-say-it-was-immediately-apparent-but-it-was-not-apparent-to-the/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [Conservatives hold on to things not only because they are attached to them, but also because they do not see the sense in radical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/conservatives-hold-on-to-things-not-only-because-they-are-attached-to/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [“Academic philosophers in the English speaking world still regard philosophy as Locke defined it in the 17th century, as “the handmaiden of the sciences”:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/academic-philosophers-in-the-english-speaking-world-still-regard/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [Delia Smith is, actually, my bete noire. I consider her a most pernicious influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/delia-smith-is-actually-my-bete-noire-i-consider-her-a-most/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [Modern art was born from a desire to destroy kitsch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/modern-art-was-born-from-a-desire-to-destroy-kitsch/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) [Explore all 317 Roger Scruton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) ## More Accountable quotes > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/) [Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [When you're in a relationship, please believe that you are held accountable for every feeling felt, word spoken, and heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/when-you-re-in-a-relationship-please-believe-that-you-are-held/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [We will make government more accountable. We will cut fraud, waste and abuse in our budget. But we will not do it by leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-will-make-government-more-accountable-we-will-cut-fraud-waste-and/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [It means a lot. 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