Country Quote by Tan Cheng Bock
“At 18, they're old enough to drive. The girls enter university, and the boys enter into National Service. Since they have a duty to defend our country, these 18-year-olds should also have the right to elect their leaders. They are mature enough.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Address, Singapore, 2011
Young adults at 18 are considered mature enough for civic duties like voting, as they already bear other responsibilities.
In simple terms: 18‑year‑olds should vote because they’re mature.
Key Takeaway
Grant voting rights at 18.
Themes
civic duty
political participation
age of majority
Mood
thoughtful
optimistic
Type
political
motivational
When to use this quote
- university enrollment
- military service
- first-time voters
- policy debates
Key Concepts
democracy
responsibility
maturity
Questions to Reflect On
- Does responsibility in other areas ensure political wisdom?
- How to educate new voters?
A Different Perspective
Some argue age does not guarantee informed voting.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
