--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No man can be a good citizen unless he…" description: "\"No man can be a good citizen unless he has a wage more than sufficient to cover the bare cost of living, and hours of labor short enough so after his d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/theodore-roosevelt-218_bears_no-man-can-be-a-good-citizen-unless-he-h_207907.jpg" --- # No man can be a good citizen unless he has a wage more… ![“No man can be a good citizen unless he has a wage more than sufficient to cover the bare cost of living, and hours of labor short enough so after his day's work is done he will have time and energy to bear his share in the management of the community, to help in carrying the general load.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/theodore-roosevelt-218_bears_no-man-can-be-a-good-citizen-unless-he-h_207907.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/theodore-roosevelt-218_bears_no-man-can-be-a-good-citizen-unless-he-h_207907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/theodore-roosevelt-218_bears_no-man-can-be-a-good-citizen-unless-he-h_207907.jpg) > “No man can be a good citizen unless he has a wage more than sufficient to cover the bare cost of living, and hours of labor short enough so after his day's work is done he will have time and energy to bear his share in the management of the community, to help in carrying the general load.” [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A good citizen needs a livable wage and reasonable work hours to contribute meaningfully to community governance. **In simple terms:** Fair pay and time enable civic participation. Key Takeaway Advocate for living wages and work‑life balance. Themes economics laborrights citizenship community socialjustice Mood optimistic inspirational Type political social When to use this quote - policy making - union negotiations - community organizing Key Concepts basic income time poverty civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure wages and hours support civic duty? - What policies best balance work and community involvement? A Different Perspective Economic constraints limit participation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Citizen Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen-unless-2153897/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Cost of living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost-of-living/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Good citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-citizen/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Labor Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor-short-2153898/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Load](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/load/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) [Sufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufficient/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time and energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-energy/) [Unless Wage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless-wage-2153899/) [Wage Sufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wage-sufficient-2153896/) ## Related quotes > [That provision in the constitution which requires that the president shall be a native-born citizen (unless he were a citizen of the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-george-tucker/that-provision-in-the-constitution-which-requires-that-the-president/) [St. George Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-george-tucker/) > [The first requisite of a good citizen in this Republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-first-requisite-of-a-good-citizen-in-this-republic-of-ours-is-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The establishment of the National Park Service is justified by considerations of good administration, of the value of natural beauty as a National asset,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-establishment-of-the-national-park-service-is-justified-by/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The object of government is the welfare of the people. 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They raise the cost of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/actually-high-housing-prices-don-t-help-the-economy-they-raise-the/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [Now, California is a big state, we're a very diverse state, full of diverse communities with local variations in the cost of living and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-padilla/now-california-is-a-big-state-we-re-a-very-diverse-state-full-of/) [Alex Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-padilla/) ## More by Theodore Roosevelt > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Get action. 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