--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In America, freedom and justice have…" description: "\"In America, freedom and justice have always come from the ballot box, the jury box, and when that fails, the cartridge box.\" — Steve Symms" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/steve-symms-79658_america_in-america-freedom-and-justice-have-alwa_2907912.jpg" --- # In America, freedom and justice have always come from the… ![“In America, freedom and justice have always come from the ballot box, the jury box, and when that fails, the cartridge box.” quote by Steve Symms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/steve-symms-79658_america_in-america-freedom-and-justice-have-alwa_2907912.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/steve-symms-79658_america_in-america-freedom-and-justice-have-alwa_2907912.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/steve-symms-79658_america_in-america-freedom-and-justice-have-alwa_2907912.jpg) > “In America, freedom and justice have always come from the ballot box, the jury box, and when that fails, the cartridge box.” Steve Symms ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom and justice are secured through voting, juries, and, if those fail, armed resistance. **In simple terms:** Justice comes from voting, courts, and sometimes force. Key Takeaway Protect rights through civic participation and vigilance. Themes democracy justice citizen duty civil rights political activism Mood concerned determined cautious Type political activist cautionary When to use this quote - elections - jury trials - community organizing - self‑defense scenarios Key Concepts social contract rule of law civil disobedience revolutionary potential Questions to Reflect On - How can we strengthen democratic mechanisms to avoid violent extremes? - What safeguards prevent the "cartridge box" from becoming a default solution? A Different Perspective Reliance on violence can undermine democratic institutions and lead to escalation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-freedom/) [Ballots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballots/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ## Related quotes > [We have four boxes with which to defend our freedom: the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcdonald/we-have-four-boxes-with-which-to-defend-our-freedom-the-soap-box-the/) Larry McDonald > [Democracy is defended in 3 stages. Ballot Box, Jury Box, Cartridge Box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/democracy-is-defended-in-3-stages-ballot-box-jury-box-cartridge-box/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/a-man-s-rights-rest-in-three-boxes-the-ballot-box-the-jury-box-and/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I pretended I had urgent business at the prosecutor's table which, in one of The System's obvious tells, was always millimeters from the jury…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-de-la-pava/i-pretended-i-had-urgent-business-at-the-prosecutor-s-table-which-in/) [Sergio De La Pava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-de-la-pava/) > [The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/the-one-place-where-a-man-ought-to-get-a-square-deal-is-in-a/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“Let’s be clear: Every day, all day they sit in a jury box—judging themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheenah-hankin/let-s-be-clear-every-day-all-day-they-sit-in-a-jury-box-judging/) [Sheenah Hankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheenah-hankin/) > [The ballot box is the surest arbiter of disputes among free men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buchanan/the-ballot-box-is-the-surest-arbiter-of-disputes-among-free-men/) [James Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buchanan/) > [Is not the very beginning of privilege, monopoly and industrial slavery this erecting of the ballot-box above the individual?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/is-not-the-very-beginning-of-privilege-monopoly-and-industrial/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [Our 'pathway' is straight to the ballot box, with no variableness nor shadow of turning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/our-pathway-is-straight-to-the-ballot-box-with-no-variableness-nor/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [My view is that discrimination against anyone at the ballot box is wrong and should have the full enforcement of the federal government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-view-is-that-discrimination-against-anyone-at-the-ballot-box-is/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Democracy is more than a ballot box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/democracy-is-more-than-a-ballot-box/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [There's a direct relationship between the ballot box and the bread box, and what the union fights for and wins at the bargaining table…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-reuther/there-s-a-direct-relationship-between-the-ballot-box-and-the-bread/) [Walter Reuther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-reuther/) > [The ballot box is a most inadequate mechanism of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-ballot-box-is-a-most-inadequate-mechanism-of-change/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [The best hope for Australia is the ballot box and good education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-monash/the-best-hope-for-australia-is-the-ballot-box-and-good-education/) [John Monash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-monash/) > [Never forgive at the ballot box!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/never-forgive-at-the-ballot-box/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) ## More by Steve Symms > [When Congress talks of tax reform, grab your wallet and run for cover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-symms/when-congress-talks-of-tax-reform-grab-your-wallet-and-run-for-cover/) Steve Symms > [Those who cannot afford to sue currently have no protection of their property rights if they come in conflict with a regulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-symms/those-who-cannot-afford-to-sue-currently-have-no-protection-of-their/) Steve Symms Explore all 3 Steve Symms quotes ## More America quotes > [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/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [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/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [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/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In America, freedom and justice have always come from the ballot box, the jury box, and when that fails, the cartridge box.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Symms" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-symms/in-america-freedom-and-justice-have-always-come-from-the-ballot-box/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-symms/in-america-freedom-and-justice-have-always-come-from-the-ballot-box/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/steve-symms-79658_america_in-america-freedom-and-justice-have-alwa_2907912.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/steve-symms-79658_america_in-america-freedom-and-justice-have-alwa_2907912.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/steve-symms-79658_america_in-america-freedom-and-justice-have-alwa_2907912.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In America, freedom and justice have always come from the ballot box, the jury box, and when that fails, the…” — Steve Symms", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steve Symms", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-symms/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In America, freedom and justice have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-symms/in-america-freedom-and-justice-have-always-come-from-the-ballot-box/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-symms/in-america-freedom-and-justice-have-always-come-from-the-ballot-box/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```