--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we really want to know who is…" description: "\"If we really want to know who is responsible for the mess we're in, all we have to do is look in the mirror. You and I own this country, and we are res..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/ross-perot-10054_country_if-we-really-want-to-know-who-is-respons_1125146.jpg" --- # If we really want to know who is responsible for the mess… ![“If we really want to know who is responsible for the mess we're in, all we have to do is look in the mirror. You and I own this country, and we are responsible for what happens to it.” quote by Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/ross-perot-10054_country_if-we-really-want-to-know-who-is-respons_1125146.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/ross-perot-10054_country_if-we-really-want-to-know-who-is-respons_1125146.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/ross-perot-10054_country_if-we-really-want-to-know-who-is-respons_1125146.jpg) > “If we really want to know who is responsible for the mess we're in, all we have to do is look in the mirror. You and I own this country, and we are responsible for what happens to it.” [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Responsibility for a nation's problems lies with each citizen; we must examine ourselves first. **In simple terms:** We all share responsibility. Key Takeaway Reflect on personal impact. Themes civic duty accountability self‑reflection Mood serious motivational Type political thought‑provoking When to use this quote - voting - community service - public discourse Key Concepts political engagement social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What personal changes can you make? - How can you influence broader change? A Different Perspective Systemic issues also require collective action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Country Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country-responsible-1159112/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Know Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-responsible-808803/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mess/) [Mess Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mess-look-3011961/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Responsible Mess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible-mess-590822/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [In Washington, of course, evading responsibility is an art form, so it is not always easy to tell who's responsible for which mess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-horowitz/in-washington-of-course-evading-responsibility-is-an-art-form-so-it/) [David Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-horowitz/) > [God don't look at me as a mess he look's at me because I'am the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earlene-michelle-robateau/god-don-t-look-at-me-as-a-mess-he-look-s-at-me-because-i-am-the-best/) [Earlene Michelle Robateau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earlene-michelle-robateau/) > [I think if we are at a war with an enemy country, that country is responsible for our soldiers' deaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geeta-phogat/i-think-if-we-are-at-a-war-with-an-enemy-country-that-country-is/) [Geeta Phogat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geeta-phogat/) > [The bigger the population gets, the more serious the problems become... We have to address the population issue. The United Nations, with the U.S.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-nelson/the-bigger-the-population-gets-the-more-serious-the-problems-become/) [Gaylord Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-nelson/) > [It is certainly not possible that a whole country is responsible for something as hateful as terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/it-is-certainly-not-possible-that-a-whole-country-is-responsible-for/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [Some say we are responsible for those we love. Others know we are responsible for those who love us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/some-say-we-are-responsible-for-those-we-love-others-know-we-are/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [“If you want to know who is responsible for anything, ask who benefits from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/if-you-want-to-know-who-is-responsible-for-anything-ask-who-benefits/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [I do know that I'm responsible not for what happens, but for what I make of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-do-know-that-i-m-responsible-not-for-what-happens-but-for-what-i/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [“If you want to know who is responsible for anything, as who benefits from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/if-you-want-to-know-who-is-responsible-for-anything-as-who-benefits/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [Whether you know it or not, you are a role model for somebody. Watch what you say and know that you're responsible for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/whether-you-know-it-or-not-you-are-a-role-model-for-somebody-watch/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [My heart is so heavy when I see the reality of the Indian reservation and as an American, I know I am, too, responsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/my-heart-is-so-heavy-when-i-see-the-reality-of-the-indian-reservation/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“When you are drowned by your sorry state, and you feel as if you are carried away from the road that leads to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/when-you-are-drowned-by-your-sorry-state-and-you-feel-as-if-you-are/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [Those who know should be responsible for the failures of those who don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/those-who-know-should-be-responsible-for-the-failures-of-those-who/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Well if you were asking my personal opinion on that I think the answer can only be yes but it was missed. Much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-anderson/well-if-you-were-asking-my-personal-opinion-on-that-i-think-the/) [John Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-anderson/) > [If you have children, you know you're responsible for somebody. You realize you are being imitated; your belief systems and priorities have a direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/if-you-have-children-you-know-you-re-responsible-for-somebody-you/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) ## More by Ross Perot > [We have to succeed, so we will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/we-have-to-succeed-so-we-will/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [Inventories can be managed, but people must be led.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/inventories-can-be-managed-but-people-must-be-led/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [Sometimes in human nature causes us to start slacking off at our moment of greatest accomplishment.As you become successful,you will need a great deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/sometimes-in-human-nature-causes-us-to-start-slacking-off-at-our/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [Big is not beautiful. Big is inefficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/big-is-not-beautiful-big-is-inefficient/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [This planet is our home. If we destroy the planet, we've destroyed our home, so it is fundamentally important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/this-planet-is-our-home-if-we-destroy-the-planet-we-ve-destroyed-our/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [Anything that is excellent or praiseworthy stands moment by moment on the cutting edge and must be constantly fought for. Well placed priorities always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/anything-that-is-excellent-or-praiseworthy-stands-moment-by-moment-on/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [I honestly believe I'd make one of the worst elected officials in the history of this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/i-honestly-believe-i-d-make-one-of-the-worst-elected-officials-in-the/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [If you can't stand a little sacrifice and you can't stand a trip across the desert with limited water, we're never going to straighten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/if-you-can-t-stand-a-little-sacrifice-and-you-can-t-stand-a-trip/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [If someone as blessed as I am is not willing to clean out the barn, who will?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/if-someone-as-blessed-as-i-am-is-not-willing-to-clean-out-the-barn/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [The budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, the public debt should be reduced and the arrogance of public officials should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/the-budget-should-be-balanced-the-treasury-should-be-refilled-the/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [Punishing honest mistakes stifles creativity. I want people moving and shaking the earth and they're going to make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/punishing-honest-mistakes-stifles-creativity-i-want-people-moving-and/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [If you see a snake, just kill it - don't appoint a committee on snakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/if-you-see-a-snake-just-kill-it-don-t-appoint-a-committee-on-snakes/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [The best way to make money is not to have money as your primary goal. I've seen great people come into the business world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/the-best-way-to-make-money-is-not-to-have-money-as-your-primary-goal/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [If we decide to take this level of business creating ability nationwide, we'll all be plucking chickens for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/if-we-decide-to-take-this-level-of-business-creating-ability/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [I love this country, I love the principles on which it's founded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/i-love-this-country-i-love-the-principles-on-which-it-s-founded/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) [Explore all 68 Ross Perot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) ## More Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) [Browse all 29,881 Country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we really want to know who is responsible for the mess we're in, all we have to do is look in the mirror. 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