--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here, in this very first paragraph of the…" description: "\"Here, in this very first paragraph of the Declaration, is the assertion of the natural right of all to the ballot; for how can 'the consent of the gove..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/susan-b-anthony-2103_consent_here-in-this-very-first-paragraph-of-the_2980799.png" --- # Here, in this very first paragraph of the Declaration, is… ![“Here, in this very first paragraph of the Declaration, is the assertion of the natural right of all to the ballot; for how can 'the consent of the governed' be given if the right to vote be denied?” quote by Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/susan-b-anthony-2103_consent_here-in-this-very-first-paragraph-of-the_2980799.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/susan-b-anthony-2103_consent_here-in-this-very-first-paragraph-of-the_2980799.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/susan-b-anthony-2103_consent_here-in-this-very-first-paragraph-of-the_2980799.png) > “Here, in this very first paragraph of the Declaration, is the assertion of the natural right of all to the ballot; for how can 'the consent of the governed' be given if the right to vote be denied?” [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The opening of the Declaration asserts that voting rights are a natural right, questioning how consent can be legitimate if some are denied the vote. **In simple terms:** Voting is a basic human right. Key Takeaway Fight for universal suffrage. Themes rights democracy equality citizenship political theory Mood inspirational determined Type historical political When to use this quote - Voting campaigns - civic education - policy advocacy - historical research Key Concepts Natural law social contract civil rights Questions to Reflect On - Why is inclusive voting essential for democracy? - How do we ensure all voices are heard? A Different Perspective The focus on voting may overlook other essential rights and systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballot Consent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballot-consent-4634549/) [Consent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent/) [Consent Governed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent-governed-577329/) [Consent of the governed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent-of-the-governed/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right Ballot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-ballot-4634550/) [Right Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-vote/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [For in reason, all government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/for-in-reason-all-government-without-the-consent-of-the-governed-is/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [We set up government by consent of the governed, and the Bill of Rights denies those in power any legal opportunity to coerce that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-jackson/we-set-up-government-by-consent-of-the-governed-and-the-bill-of/) [Robert H. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-jackson/) > [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/cory-doctorow/governments-are-instituted-among-men-deriving-their-just-powers-from-2/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers gave us a democracy. It was based upon the simple, yet noble, idea that government derives its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/two-hundred-years-ago-our-founding-fathers-gave-us-a-democracy-it-was/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > ["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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) ## More by Susan B. Anthony > [I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/i-stand-and-rejoice-every-time-i-see-a-woman-ride-by-on-a-wheel-the/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Nothing is hopeless that is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/nothing-is-hopeless-that-is-right/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [It has always been thought perfectly womanly to be a scrub- woman in the Legislature and to take care of the spittoons; that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/it-has-always-been-thought-perfectly-womanly-to-be-a-scrub-woman-in/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [It is cruel for you to leave your daughter, so full of hopeand resolve, to suffer the humiliations of disfranchisement she already feels so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/it-is-cruel-for-you-to-leave-your-daughter-so-full-of-hopeand-resolve/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/let-me-tell-you-what-i-think-of-bicycling-i-think-it-has-done-more-to/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [The only question left to be settled now is: Are women persons?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/the-only-question-left-to-be-settled-now-is-are-women-persons/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [“I was born a heretic. I always distrusted people who know so much about what God wants them to do to their fellows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/i-was-born-a-heretic-i-always-distrusted-people-who-know-so-much/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Many abolitionists have yet to learn the ABC of woman's rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/many-abolitionists-have-yet-to-learn-the-abc-of-woman-s-rights/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [To no form of religion is woman indebted for one impulse of freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/to-no-form-of-religion-is-woman-indebted-for-one-impulse-of-freedom/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/it-was-we-the-people-not-we-the-white-male-citizens-nor-yet-we-the/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [I shall never pay a dollar of your unjust penalty. All the stock in trade I possess is a $10,000 debt, incurred by publishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/i-shall-never-pay-a-dollar-of-your-unjust-penalty-all-the-stock-in/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Whichever way I turn, whatever phase of social life presents itself, the same conviction comes: Independent bread alone can redeem woman from her curse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/whichever-way-i-turn-whatever-phase-of-social-life-presents-itself/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Oh, if I could but live another century and see the fruition of all the work for women! There is so much yet to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/oh-if-i-could-but-live-another-century-and-see-the-fruition-of-all/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [To be wedded to an idea may be, after all, the holiest and happiest of marriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/to-be-wedded-to-an-idea-may-be-after-all-the-holiest-and-happiest-of/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [For twelve successive Congresses we have appeared before committees of the two Houses making this plea, that the underlying principle of our Government, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/for-twelve-successive-congresses-we-have-appeared-before-committees/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) [Explore all 186 Susan B. Anthony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) ## 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": "Here, in this very first paragraph of the Declaration, is the assertion of the natural right of all to the ballot; for how can 'the consent of the governed' be given if the right to vote be denied?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Susan B. 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